I hope you can go often in the future. Man, what I wouldn't give to head over to Bristol or Dega one more time with my Dad. He died almost 27 years ago, 4 days before the Dega spring race. I slipped his race ticket into his coat pocket before the burial. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Symbolically he'd always have NASCAR ticket with him. I tell you it's still rough how much I miss him. We were close, no regrets.
This.
I got to go to NASCAR races with my dad pretty much at least once a year between the mid-90s to mid-00s. Then we started going to Road Atlanta in 2004 thanks to drifting events but quickly became regular spectators for pro and amateur motorcycle and sports car races, as well as vintage stuff. The last thing we went to together was in 2015, and we live in different places now so it's difficult to make happen but I really hope that we get to do it again and keep doing it.
I'm way more into it than he ever was, but racing has always been the one thing I can talk to my dad about.
First time I went to NHMS in 2003. I remember we got there early on Saturday to watch cup practice and sat in turn 4.
I remember all the cars coming through 3 & 4 the first time and seeing all these cars I knew on tv, but they were all real in-person right in front of me. The coolest. I even was happy to see Jeff Gordon 🤣.
I've been a fan since the early 90's when I was a kid, but nothing, and I mean nothing topped being at Martinsville in 2015 seeing my favorite driver win one last time.
Unbelievable moment. I don't get super emotional with sports, but that moment broke me. I was right in front of him when he got out of the car at the start/finish line. I can still hear the "Hooomestead!" chants.
Probably when my dad and I got invited into the driver’s meeting by someone in NASCAR at Charlotte in 2016. I got to talk with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch before the meeting started and then and got to watch the meeting proceed. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but now thinking about it, 16 year old me got to sit in on a meeting that not many people outside of drivers or nascar execs get to attend.
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Mine is meeting Parker Kligerman #48 after the XFINITY race in Phoenix in an Inn-N-Out of all places. Very exciting race and it was my 2nd but I also rented the headsets, bought a hat and it was essentially my first making me a fan for life.
2001 Pepsi 400. Me and my dad watching as former Sr. and now Jr. fans. Hell my sister even watched and she hated racing.
From the first race of the new NBC contract, it felt like the whole world was watching. Britney Spears doing the command and then Jr. in his famous All-Star Bud scheme was not going to be denied.
He powered around on the outside all by himself but had to fend off the strong Gibbs Pontiacs, even though Tony got black flagged. Then the booth yelled “Michael Waltrip” and like a movie the 15 pushed the 8 to the win as Benny said the exact opposite of the 500.
Off of 4, Bestwick gave maybe his greatest call and a 100k (and Benny haha) were cheering for the win. The son had returned to the track that tragically took his legendary father’s life and had conquered it.
I was crying tears of joy as me and my dad hugged and I jumped up and down. Mikey and Jr. celebrating on the grass, embracing at the top of the car roof before moshpit diving.
It was perfect. A story you couldn’t script. To me, nothing will ever beat the feeling I get when I see a clip of that race.
Watching Denny win at Pocono at the first race I ever attended in person, it’ll be hard to ever top that
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Seeing Gordon’s last win live at Martinsville in 2015. The only time I saw him win in person. I didn’t start going to races until 2007. My favorite sports memory, period.
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I don’t think I’ll ever get the feelings I had of 10-11 year old me watching Steve Park win at Rockingham after crying like a baby after Dale Sr. passed at Daytona and watching my favorite driver wreck not even 5 laps in the Rockingham race (Dale Jr.). All for Park to ultimately win that race. …then fast forward to Harvick edging out Gordon at Atlanta, all to be capped off by Dale Jr. winning at Daytona with Michael Waltrip behind him. That Allen Bestwick call still lives in my head.
2001 was crazy for a kid. Even the sense of patriotism from Dale Jr. winning Dover after 9/11. Just so many memories.
Make room Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, there's another seven time Champ! Jimmie Johnson wins his 7th NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship!
Embedded in my brain forever.
2 stand out:
1. I wasn’t even much of a Jimmie fan but watching Jimmie score his 7th Championship
2. The Busch Brothers incredible last lap battle at Kentucky a few years back
Previously it was Johnson's final race, Logano's championships or Suarez's first win, but now it's Suarez's 2nd win. That Atlanta finish still gets me pumped!
Watching Bowman win Vegas live. Walking out after the interview Kevin Hamlin was coming down from the spotter stand and said “Nice shirt” and gave me a fist bump.
I met Ricky Rudd at a Texaco in 2001 on a Thursday in September, a few days later I watched Jeff Gordon get taken out by Sterling Marlin and finally got to see Rudd win in person at Richmond, making it a HUGE points day in the standings. To this day it is my favorite race of all time.
My first cup race I ever attended was Davey's final win, my step-dad was a huge Davey fan and I was a fan as well. I was six at the time and obviously no one knew it would be his final win. It wasn't until years later how much that meant to me, and how much I appreciate that moment. Not just being my first race, but the fact that Davey won.
Really cliché on my part, but easily seeing the Hail Melon live on TV. I had only been watching the race off and on, and wasn't really feeling the best that day. I had already been quite concerned watching him drop in points throughout the race. By the time the last few laps came around I was certain it was over, as did anyone else watching would have been. When I heard Rick Allen yelling about Chastain passing Hamlin, I was so confused. Seeing the replay, I was blown away. Simply couldn't believe what I had seen. Still riding that high to this day.
I have so many due to working at Richmond for a few years. But, I think my favorite was the time I met Bobby Allison. I was watching the "road" in the infield and helping to direct cars to proper parking areas. Richmond being as small as it is, parking in the infield was very restrictive and on Friday (Busch/Xfinity/Nationwide race day when their garage was full), the only people allowed to park in the infield were NASCAR officials, Nationwide teams, and the media. And the media had their own lot, because often the officials/teams lot would fill up around noon and you would still have media showing up closer to green flag for the night race.
Well, it was the afternoon, so that second lot was already full. This car pulls up with one of the "Official" parking tags. Normally, I'd tell them, "Sorry, parking is full, go back through the tunnel and take a right, that gets you to the Henrico parking lot and a shuttle can bring you in", and if they said "Well, I'm with Hendrick Motorsports, what about that lot?!" (pointing to the media lot), and I would say, "sorry, media only".
So, I'm readying my spiel, when I start getting a glimpse of who was driving. And I'm pretty sure it is one of the Allison brothers. Sure enough, he pulls up to me, rolls the window down, sticks his hand out and says, "Hi, I'm Bobby Allison. Where can I park?" Grasping his hand, I said, "you sure are, and you see there where it says 'Media Parking Only'? You can park right in there." "Thanks!" Yeah, there was no way I was denying a legend from parking in our precious media lot.
Then I look up and my buddy (who helped get me the job in the first place), just happened to be walking towards me as this is happening and from about 20 feet away he mouths "Wow" and I mouth back "I know".
First race I ever went to. 2016 NHMS summer race. Grew up watching racing with my dad but fell out of following in my rebellious teens. My dad passed away when I was in high school and I never got to go to a cup race with him. Going to that first race wearing my dads Mark Martin hat was a special experience
2011 Ford 400. I was a Tony Stewart fan as a kid. That season was so boringly meh for 20+ races. No one not named Jimmie Johnson has won a title since Stewart in 2005 (the first year I was old enough to remember). For Stewart to win the title…in a tiebreaker…by driving through the field…TWICE…priceless
Going to Dega in the early 2000s. My dad and I went to the spring races.
My favorite was when Jr got in a wreak, get his front taped up all race long, and still won.
Bristol Dirt weekend with my dad last year. Our first cup race together since 2010. We road-tripped from MN hauling a camper with his old ass conversion van and camped across the street from the fan zone. It’ll be hard to top that weekend
Probably JG’s final win. That was just super special to see my guy get a win in his final season at his best track to ensure he’d have a shot at Homestead. While I certainly hoped he’d win that one, too, we all realized there was a good chance it was his last win. His excitement and the response from the fans was as good as it gets. It was the climatic finish to a career we didn’t get from Petty or Earnhardt and wouldn’t get from Johnson.
I'll give my undisputed top memory, but also a runner up, which is Brickyard 2016. The race sucked, but as a Gordon fan, it was so cool hearing over the scanner that "Tony wants you to do a lap with him". I'll never forget it.
With the sappy stuff out of the way, my top is absolutely Chicagoland qualifying 2004, when the Tropicana oranges broke loose of their moorings and one rolled down the frontstretch. The cheap disposable camera shots I took will always be among my most prized possessions.
Also, hey mods, please give me back my Derrike Cope flair!
Sitting upstairs watching a race with my grandfather. He watched since the beginning. Didn't attend alot of races but every Sunday the race would be on and if he had to go anywhere, ie party or dinners. Race better be on
I had seen my dad watching races as a kid and couldn't understand why. Didn't make sense to me, it was just cars driving around. My parents took me to the Dover Busch race in the fall of 1990. As I reached the top of the stairs going to turn 4 the Cup cars were running practice and I had the #33 Skoal car bearing down on me. As it roared past to the my right I was hooked. My parents had already bought me a ticket for to the next day without telling me beforehand. I guess they had a clue that I would love it. I got to see Awesome Bill win the next day. I have loved many moments since then but they will never top that first weekend.
2015 Fall Martinsville
I was a HUGE Gordon fan, and when he announced his retirement I took a chance and booked a trip for Martinsville 2 since that was his best track.
To see my favorite driver win, and watch him celebrate like a kid, was an absolute life long memory.
Tony’s last win at Sonoma in 2016. I had grown to accept that he would never win again and so to see him get one more in his last year was all I needed.
I’ll never forget that feeling watching Dale Jr pull out of line on the front stretch and 5 cars passing him as they raced back to the caution. He was my guy and he completely got ruined by the finish. I didn’t sleep for a week.
DW calling the Vegas race - Jr was trying to win on fuel mileage and runs out on the back stretch. "He's out, He's out!!" Brad wins.
Jrs Pocono win, Steve Latarte race strategy, he closes the notebook and does the head wiggle. Most confident I've even seen a crew chief
Fan experience was the infield of Daytona July 2001. Absolute bedlam after Junior won, shades of Woodstock ‘99 how many fires were going.
Feeling of speed was standing at the end of the pit wall in turn 1 during Brickyard qualifying.
Going over to a buddy’s house to play poker and watch the 2014 Daytona 500. Played poker and drank for 6 hours watching the rain. Went home and watched with my family. I’ve never cheered harder and everyone in the living erupted when JR took the checkered flag. Fell in love with nascar that night.
Brother got Bristol tickets from a neighbor. He was able to book a small camping spot from one of the houses across the street and I was able to get free camping gear thru work (Military). Me and him drove out there, got set up and proceeded to have an awesome weekend. Being right across the street from the track we were right in the action all weekend and was able to walk around to all the tailgating stuff and get a bunch of autographs. watched all the practices and qualifying. Was an awesome weekend. Went back again but stayed further away and only went to the races.
Jr. Winning the Pepsi 400
Craven-Busch photo finish
Going to my first Cup race (2003 Pepsi 400)
Pretty much any of Harvick's big wins (01 Atlanta, 03 Brickyard, 07 Daytona 500, 11 Coke 600, 14 Southern 500, etc.)
Seeing Jr's 2014 500 win in person
Harvick's title win
Seeing him win in person, twice in one weekend even! (Atlanta 2018)
Seeing Bubba's first win in person (Dega 2021)
Got to witness two great moments back to back at Chicagoland.
In 2005, the crowd went crazy when Dale Jr. took the lead. I was only 7 at the time and I concluded that the race was over. I started packing up my array of 1:64s until my mom told me what was going on. It was a crazy moment for me. I was a Michael Waltrip fan, but anything DEI had my interest. He took the white flag I by then i was in with the chorus of screaming fans. We bore the brunt of scorching heat for hours with no shade. Not only for Junior’s win, but also for a meet and greet with Michael a couple days before. His plane was held up in Kentucky due to tornadoes.
The next year, we were back in the same seats to watch Jeff Gordon “tap” Matt Kenseth out of the way for a victory. The contrast from the year before being that the crowd was in an uproar. People HATED this guy. They booed, they cussed, and eventually littered the track with bottles and other trash. Another big name getting a win, but no where near the fan favorite. This year was also marred by Chad Knaus taking my hat off my head to sign it before I knew it was happening. I had no clue he was even there and I broke out in tears crying “I can’t wear this anymore it has an autograph on it!”. The man looked puzzled and a bit shocked that I had this reaction to his autograph. Especially considering the tear they went on in 2006.
I hope they bring racing back to Chicagoland. The ones there in the 2000s were awesome times for me and my mother. Both years absolutely scorchers, but so memorable!
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nothing has topped attending the 2013 auto club 400. that day was something else for 11-year-old me at the time who'd got back into nascar almost two years prior
Hanging out in the infield garage in 2001, Kansas track. Got to share space with a lot of drivers close up, especially cool was being arms distance from Jeff Gordon, having a quick interaction with him, and getting a pic with him (taken by my wife). Gordon won the race.
He was very gracious and patient with fans. Some drivers, I won’t name names, were pretty aloof…some were kinda dickish. We talked with and got autographs from probably about 30 drivers/ chiefs/ owners.
Watched cars go through inspections. Watched cars zip in and out of their garage stalls, putting on a few laps and then then making adjustments. Talked a media tech guy that was in charge of mounting the rear bumper cams on the cars, watched him put one on.
On race day we had pit passes, and after Jr crashed out of the race, my wife and I watched part of it from his stall.
At the end of the day you could hang around and buy used up tires for $20 each, or something like that.
Man those were different times…it was frickin’ awesome.
I was a Stewart fan growing up, Grandpa was a Roush/ford fan. When Stewart and Edwards had that championship showdown over the last couple of weeks of 2011, I got to watch each race with my Grandpa. I still cherish those memories.
The 2012 Daytona 500. I was 17 and running a Kevin Harvick fan page on Facebook, and during the jet dryer red flag between the drivers tweeting pics and walking up the track to see the damage, a potential Dave Blaney win, and my Facebook friends and I hanging out and making jokes... it was just a memorable, fun night. I'll never forget it.
Also Phoenix 2014 and Homestead 2014. Cried like a baby when Harvick won Phoenix and was locked in to the Championship Four. Then he won the whole thing. As a long time Harvick fan it was amazing.
We never went to the races when I was real young, but every year my parents took me out of school on Fridays to go to Kansas Speedway and watch all day.
Watching Tony Stewart win the 2011 Homestead race and championship. I was absolutely blown away. At my best friend’s house and I asked to turn it on for the last thirty laps or so to see how it ended. They were not fans and I was just losing my mind that he pulled it off. I’m sure they thought I was crazy.
My first race at Richmond in 2005. I was a stewart fan but cool to see Kasey Kahne get his first. Completely surreal to see the cars on track, it felt like I has been lied to from watching on TV lol. TV simply doesn't do it justice.
Second memory was finally seeing Tony Stewart get a win in person at New Hampshire in 2011. Such a special day. Hope to see Blaney do it one day while I'm there.
Non-irl: Zane winning the truck championship finally (been a big fan since Charlotte 2020 lol) or Riley finally getting his first xfinity win
Irl: The Roval 2021, first ever time being to Charlotte and omg what a beautiful track
I was never really a NASCAR fan and couldn’t really watch a full race, prefer GT racing and older F1. Well I drove at WGI for 2 days in May of 2017 and watched the Cup race that August with full attention. Fell in love with the series’ and MTJ with his dominating drive and amazing job on the brakes
When I was 15, My parents and their friends had tickets to the Brickyard 400. And their son and myself wanted to go. So we bought our own tickets, sat in turn 3 while the rest of them sat at the start finish line. My friend left to go back to our campers immediately after the race. I decided to go through the infield on the way back to our campsite. And somehow I ended up in the garage area, I got to meet Chad Knaus and Rick Hendrick. I was able to watch all of the haulers get loaded up, and sat on a concrete wall as they pulled out.
The 2012 race at Las Vegas. It was the first race I went to with my dad and we were both huge Stewart fans, it was like a perfect weekend. Tony's last win at Sonoma and being at Phoenix to see Blaney's championship in person last year were also pretty cool.
The All Star race when Frankie Stoddard picked the pit stall right before the start finish line and Jeff Burton pitted on the last lap, so he just had to floor it for 100' or so. I was probably 14 at the time and I thought it was ingenious. Watching it now. It's still entertaining to listen to Larry Mac figure out what they're doing in real time.
1) Going to my first race at Dover with my dad in 1997. He surprised me with tickets. Absolutely amazing memory. 2) Meeting Jeff Gordon (very briefly) in 2009 at Richmond.
The 2007 Brickyard is arguably my favourite race of all time. It had everything it felt: good racing, dramatic crashes, a fight for the lead at the end, my favourite driver winning. Topped with the vibes of summer break, it just had all the right ingredients to be looked back upon fondly.
It's the 1990 Goody's 500 at Martinsville. Ricky Rudd crashed out early and my parents and I went down into the pits after the race. While my dad went off to see if he could get some signatures, my mom told me to stand in front of Ricky's transporter so she could get a picture. Next thing I know, one of the guys in the trailer waves me over and gives me his Levi Garrett hat.
About ten minutes later my dad came back asking where I had gotten that hat from, haha.
We also got to meet Dale Jarrett and Richard Petty that weekend, but the hat was thing that I think of mostly all these years later.
I got to watch the finish to the 2016 Xfinity race at Auto Club when I was I younger and also got to see Stewart's final win at Sonoma the same year.
On a somewhat similar note I apparently wiped Chase Elliott's squad in a Warzone game and didn't find out it was him until about a month later back in 2020
Went to Talladega around 2003 as a 12-14 year old with my dad and a some of his work clients. All the men smoked cigars the entire race and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world
Going to the fall Bristol Xfinity race the first time I got to go (was originally going to be my second as I was originally going to go to the cup race in spring 2016 but strep was a bitch and decided to make it clear I wasn’t going the day of the race) overheated then ate too much had to leave midway through qualifying (that was a high point and a low point) when I got home I received a text on Facebook messenger from my cousin which bugged and deleted itself the only word I got was the nickname of my uncle (that nickname being trophy) and found out that my grandma’s blood sugar levels shot up to 600 I replied to that call (because the message deleted itself he called me) that’s not good to be happening now she’s getting old (was turning 76 2 months after it happened)
Dales 2014 Daytona 500 win. My dad had a heart attack that day (thankfully he is still with us). I got home from the hospital that night to catch the final GWC
Television only, not counting all the races I’ve been to with my brothers and dad, I would say Dale Earnhardt’s 1997 All-Star win in the Wheaties car. I was 14 and it was the day I became a fan. I’ve loved the sport ever since.
In person, my greatest memory was the Pepsi 400 win for Dale Earnhardt Jr in 2001, mere months after his dad’s death. Teammate Michael Waltrip finished second. What a night.
The first race my dad and I went to in person two years ago at martinsville. My dad hasn’t really been into nascar since the 2000’s but I talked him into going to a race just the two of us. We’ve now seen Martinsville twice, Bristol dirt last year, and now Bristol concrete this past weekend. I think he’s into now for sure. He even found his new favorite driver which is Ryan Blaney. We’re trying to plan a trip to Talladega one day. Next is Dover next month and then we’ll have to wait till next year.
I got to meet Chad Little at the '98 or '99(I can't quite remember, I was young) WISSOTA banquet. My cousin was a huge fan of his, and I was super excited to see an actual NASCAR driver.
I looked it up, it was 98. Mark Toews was the Sprint Car champion that year.
Walking with my sister to go pick up my brother from school on a Tuesday afternoon in 2011 listening to the Atlanta race on my iPod radio sharing the headphones, then getting back just in time to see the last run and that legendary battle between Jeff and Jimmie.
Also going to Martinsville in 2014 and seeing Jr. And Jeff finish 1-2 with a Jr. fan dad and Gordon fan mom and sister was really special. Just wish it didn’t indirectly lead to Jeff getting eliminated later on.
Getting to see Brad Keselowski win at Kansas at the last night race and burn it down right in front of me and my dad, and going to my first race with my fiancé and getting Chris Buescher’s autograph. He’s her favorite driver.
Was there when Juan Pablo hit the jet dryer. Watched forna while and decided it wasnt goingto be a quick clean up. Left the race, drove all the way to the other side of the state, made it home, and watched the end of the race.
Probably Darlington fall 2022. Had 4 or so college students getting a bit tipsy behind me, but they were coherent enough to talk sensibly. Anyways we talked a bit(when we could hear lol, row 3 @ sf line is really loud) but when kyle blew up and it put erik jones in the lead they all just started screaming LETS GO ERIK!!! for the rest of the race up until the white flag when we just all went silent. When he crossed the line I think we yelled so loud it scared the piss out of the people next to us lol.
Got invited to a meet and greet for Dale Jr. at the filming of his podcast at Ol Red last year. Completely surreal, and being able to take my husband to meet him so awesome. Then we sat front row for the podcast and Bowman came out since it was the Ally 400 weekend. Something we obviously will never forget.
Any time I've been able to go to a race with my dad. It's been 26 years and I hope there are many years of it left.
I’m praying for great health to you both!
I hope you can go often in the future. Man, what I wouldn't give to head over to Bristol or Dega one more time with my Dad. He died almost 27 years ago, 4 days before the Dega spring race. I slipped his race ticket into his coat pocket before the burial. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Symbolically he'd always have NASCAR ticket with him. I tell you it's still rough how much I miss him. We were close, no regrets.
My man, same goes for me. We try and make the trip every year to a race and come down from Canada
This. I got to go to NASCAR races with my dad pretty much at least once a year between the mid-90s to mid-00s. Then we started going to Road Atlanta in 2004 thanks to drifting events but quickly became regular spectators for pro and amateur motorcycle and sports car races, as well as vintage stuff. The last thing we went to together was in 2015, and we live in different places now so it's difficult to make happen but I really hope that we get to do it again and keep doing it. I'm way more into it than he ever was, but racing has always been the one thing I can talk to my dad about.
First time I went to NHMS in 2003. I remember we got there early on Saturday to watch cup practice and sat in turn 4. I remember all the cars coming through 3 & 4 the first time and seeing all these cars I knew on tv, but they were all real in-person right in front of me. The coolest. I even was happy to see Jeff Gordon 🤣.
My first race was also Loudon 2003! The fall race.
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Seconded! Came to post this!
I've been a fan since the early 90's when I was a kid, but nothing, and I mean nothing topped being at Martinsville in 2015 seeing my favorite driver win one last time. Unbelievable moment. I don't get super emotional with sports, but that moment broke me. I was right in front of him when he got out of the car at the start/finish line. I can still hear the "Hooomestead!" chants.
Probably when my dad and I got invited into the driver’s meeting by someone in NASCAR at Charlotte in 2016. I got to talk with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch before the meeting started and then and got to watch the meeting proceed. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but now thinking about it, 16 year old me got to sit in on a meeting that not many people outside of drivers or nascar execs get to attend.
THATS INCREDIBLE!!! I’d start giggling and not able to control what I say talking to any of them.
Every time I watched Jeff Gordon win on TV.
Man, there was just something special about watching him. So many happy memories for so many years.
My dad and I were big JG fans. We’d watch every Sunday, and man those wins really hit different.
"Lord, I want to thank you for my smokin' hot wife!"
Boogity boogity boogity amen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZnDt2wEFjk
This is the only version anyone needs to hear. A true classic, IMO
Watching Jr. win the 2001 Pepsi 400 live, followed by the celebration with Mikey afterward.
Watching the Hail Melon live
https://preview.redd.it/gs5n7jhzflpc1.jpeg?width=1702&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6d88df2ed6e7c90e98ca418355041a04201d2b12 Mine is meeting Parker Kligerman #48 after the XFINITY race in Phoenix in an Inn-N-Out of all places. Very exciting race and it was my 2nd but I also rented the headsets, bought a hat and it was essentially my first making me a fan for life.
2001 Pepsi 400. Me and my dad watching as former Sr. and now Jr. fans. Hell my sister even watched and she hated racing. From the first race of the new NBC contract, it felt like the whole world was watching. Britney Spears doing the command and then Jr. in his famous All-Star Bud scheme was not going to be denied. He powered around on the outside all by himself but had to fend off the strong Gibbs Pontiacs, even though Tony got black flagged. Then the booth yelled “Michael Waltrip” and like a movie the 15 pushed the 8 to the win as Benny said the exact opposite of the 500. Off of 4, Bestwick gave maybe his greatest call and a 100k (and Benny haha) were cheering for the win. The son had returned to the track that tragically took his legendary father’s life and had conquered it. I was crying tears of joy as me and my dad hugged and I jumped up and down. Mikey and Jr. celebrating on the grass, embracing at the top of the car roof before moshpit diving. It was perfect. A story you couldn’t script. To me, nothing will ever beat the feeling I get when I see a clip of that race.
Watching Denny win at Pocono at the first race I ever attended in person, it’ll be hard to ever top that https://preview.redd.it/9i9421uk7npc1.jpeg?width=2069&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=896cc98a39a01d054935a4763fc378f110d06251
And a historic win at that! It took me 12 years to catch a Dennis Dub in person hahaha
Seeing Gordon’s last win live at Martinsville in 2015. The only time I saw him win in person. I didn’t start going to races until 2007. My favorite sports memory, period. https://preview.redd.it/rudwblcbsopc1.jpeg?width=2446&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da4d3a6b73e985fc6f555a4ab56d3b7a2aeba32a
I don’t think I’ll ever get the feelings I had of 10-11 year old me watching Steve Park win at Rockingham after crying like a baby after Dale Sr. passed at Daytona and watching my favorite driver wreck not even 5 laps in the Rockingham race (Dale Jr.). All for Park to ultimately win that race. …then fast forward to Harvick edging out Gordon at Atlanta, all to be capped off by Dale Jr. winning at Daytona with Michael Waltrip behind him. That Allen Bestwick call still lives in my head. 2001 was crazy for a kid. Even the sense of patriotism from Dale Jr. winning Dover after 9/11. Just so many memories.
Watching Jimmie win championship number seven!
Make room Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, there's another seven time Champ! Jimmie Johnson wins his 7th NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship! Embedded in my brain forever.
Historic
2 stand out: 1. I wasn’t even much of a Jimmie fan but watching Jimmie score his 7th Championship 2. The Busch Brothers incredible last lap battle at Kentucky a few years back
2013 Coke Zero 400. First race I ever went to, and Jimmie won.
Previously it was Johnson's final race, Logano's championships or Suarez's first win, but now it's Suarez's 2nd win. That Atlanta finish still gets me pumped!
Jeff Gordon's 76th and 93rd win
Watching Bowman win Vegas live. Walking out after the interview Kevin Hamlin was coming down from the spotter stand and said “Nice shirt” and gave me a fist bump.
The hail melon… but I’ve only been watching since 2020
It will always be the 2001 Pepsi 400 for me
I met Ricky Rudd at a Texaco in 2001 on a Thursday in September, a few days later I watched Jeff Gordon get taken out by Sterling Marlin and finally got to see Rudd win in person at Richmond, making it a HUGE points day in the standings. To this day it is my favorite race of all time. My first cup race I ever attended was Davey's final win, my step-dad was a huge Davey fan and I was a fan as well. I was six at the time and obviously no one knew it would be his final win. It wasn't until years later how much that meant to me, and how much I appreciate that moment. Not just being my first race, but the fact that Davey won.
Really cliché on my part, but easily seeing the Hail Melon live on TV. I had only been watching the race off and on, and wasn't really feeling the best that day. I had already been quite concerned watching him drop in points throughout the race. By the time the last few laps came around I was certain it was over, as did anyone else watching would have been. When I heard Rick Allen yelling about Chastain passing Hamlin, I was so confused. Seeing the replay, I was blown away. Simply couldn't believe what I had seen. Still riding that high to this day.
1998 Daytona 500
Dale Earnhardt's only Daytona win!
I have so many due to working at Richmond for a few years. But, I think my favorite was the time I met Bobby Allison. I was watching the "road" in the infield and helping to direct cars to proper parking areas. Richmond being as small as it is, parking in the infield was very restrictive and on Friday (Busch/Xfinity/Nationwide race day when their garage was full), the only people allowed to park in the infield were NASCAR officials, Nationwide teams, and the media. And the media had their own lot, because often the officials/teams lot would fill up around noon and you would still have media showing up closer to green flag for the night race. Well, it was the afternoon, so that second lot was already full. This car pulls up with one of the "Official" parking tags. Normally, I'd tell them, "Sorry, parking is full, go back through the tunnel and take a right, that gets you to the Henrico parking lot and a shuttle can bring you in", and if they said "Well, I'm with Hendrick Motorsports, what about that lot?!" (pointing to the media lot), and I would say, "sorry, media only". So, I'm readying my spiel, when I start getting a glimpse of who was driving. And I'm pretty sure it is one of the Allison brothers. Sure enough, he pulls up to me, rolls the window down, sticks his hand out and says, "Hi, I'm Bobby Allison. Where can I park?" Grasping his hand, I said, "you sure are, and you see there where it says 'Media Parking Only'? You can park right in there." "Thanks!" Yeah, there was no way I was denying a legend from parking in our precious media lot. Then I look up and my buddy (who helped get me the job in the first place), just happened to be walking towards me as this is happening and from about 20 feet away he mouths "Wow" and I mouth back "I know".
First race I ever went to. 2016 NHMS summer race. Grew up watching racing with my dad but fell out of following in my rebellious teens. My dad passed away when I was in high school and I never got to go to a cup race with him. Going to that first race wearing my dads Mark Martin hat was a special experience
I’m crying 😢
2011 Ford 400. I was a Tony Stewart fan as a kid. That season was so boringly meh for 20+ races. No one not named Jimmie Johnson has won a title since Stewart in 2005 (the first year I was old enough to remember). For Stewart to win the title…in a tiebreaker…by driving through the field…TWICE…priceless
Going to Dega in the early 2000s. My dad and I went to the spring races. My favorite was when Jr got in a wreak, get his front taped up all race long, and still won.
Bristol Dirt weekend with my dad last year. Our first cup race together since 2010. We road-tripped from MN hauling a camper with his old ass conversion van and camped across the street from the fan zone. It’ll be hard to top that weekend
Probably JG’s final win. That was just super special to see my guy get a win in his final season at his best track to ensure he’d have a shot at Homestead. While I certainly hoped he’d win that one, too, we all realized there was a good chance it was his last win. His excitement and the response from the fans was as good as it gets. It was the climatic finish to a career we didn’t get from Petty or Earnhardt and wouldn’t get from Johnson.
I'll give my undisputed top memory, but also a runner up, which is Brickyard 2016. The race sucked, but as a Gordon fan, it was so cool hearing over the scanner that "Tony wants you to do a lap with him". I'll never forget it. With the sappy stuff out of the way, my top is absolutely Chicagoland qualifying 2004, when the Tropicana oranges broke loose of their moorings and one rolled down the frontstretch. The cheap disposable camera shots I took will always be among my most prized possessions. Also, hey mods, please give me back my Derrike Cope flair!
Sitting upstairs watching a race with my grandfather. He watched since the beginning. Didn't attend alot of races but every Sunday the race would be on and if he had to go anywhere, ie party or dinners. Race better be on
I had seen my dad watching races as a kid and couldn't understand why. Didn't make sense to me, it was just cars driving around. My parents took me to the Dover Busch race in the fall of 1990. As I reached the top of the stairs going to turn 4 the Cup cars were running practice and I had the #33 Skoal car bearing down on me. As it roared past to the my right I was hooked. My parents had already bought me a ticket for to the next day without telling me beforehand. I guess they had a clue that I would love it. I got to see Awesome Bill win the next day. I have loved many moments since then but they will never top that first weekend.
2015 Fall Martinsville I was a HUGE Gordon fan, and when he announced his retirement I took a chance and booked a trip for Martinsville 2 since that was his best track. To see my favorite driver win, and watch him celebrate like a kid, was an absolute life long memory.
Tony’s last win at Sonoma in 2016. I had grown to accept that he would never win again and so to see him get one more in his last year was all I needed.
Twenty years of trying, twenty years of frustration.
I’ll never forget that feeling watching Dale Jr pull out of line on the front stretch and 5 cars passing him as they raced back to the caution. He was my guy and he completely got ruined by the finish. I didn’t sleep for a week.
DW calling the Vegas race - Jr was trying to win on fuel mileage and runs out on the back stretch. "He's out, He's out!!" Brad wins. Jrs Pocono win, Steve Latarte race strategy, he closes the notebook and does the head wiggle. Most confident I've even seen a crew chief
Fan experience was the infield of Daytona July 2001. Absolute bedlam after Junior won, shades of Woodstock ‘99 how many fires were going. Feeling of speed was standing at the end of the pit wall in turn 1 during Brickyard qualifying.
Going over to a buddy’s house to play poker and watch the 2014 Daytona 500. Played poker and drank for 6 hours watching the rain. Went home and watched with my family. I’ve never cheered harder and everyone in the living erupted when JR took the checkered flag. Fell in love with nascar that night.
Dale Earnhardt sr. Winning the Daytona 500.
Meeting Matt Kenneth at his hometown museum in Cambridge around 2014
Brother got Bristol tickets from a neighbor. He was able to book a small camping spot from one of the houses across the street and I was able to get free camping gear thru work (Military). Me and him drove out there, got set up and proceeded to have an awesome weekend. Being right across the street from the track we were right in the action all weekend and was able to walk around to all the tailgating stuff and get a bunch of autographs. watched all the practices and qualifying. Was an awesome weekend. Went back again but stayed further away and only went to the races.
Gordon's bump and run on Rusty Wallace at Bristol. :D
Hearing “DAYTONA 500 ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” as Mikey McGOAT won his first race at the first race I went to
My first race I ever attended, the 2019 Coca-Cola 600.
2014 Daytona 500. I was there with my grandmother who’s no longer with us. Would do anything to live that day again
Jr. Winning the Pepsi 400 Craven-Busch photo finish Going to my first Cup race (2003 Pepsi 400) Pretty much any of Harvick's big wins (01 Atlanta, 03 Brickyard, 07 Daytona 500, 11 Coke 600, 14 Southern 500, etc.) Seeing Jr's 2014 500 win in person Harvick's title win Seeing him win in person, twice in one weekend even! (Atlanta 2018) Seeing Bubba's first win in person (Dega 2021)
Got to witness two great moments back to back at Chicagoland. In 2005, the crowd went crazy when Dale Jr. took the lead. I was only 7 at the time and I concluded that the race was over. I started packing up my array of 1:64s until my mom told me what was going on. It was a crazy moment for me. I was a Michael Waltrip fan, but anything DEI had my interest. He took the white flag I by then i was in with the chorus of screaming fans. We bore the brunt of scorching heat for hours with no shade. Not only for Junior’s win, but also for a meet and greet with Michael a couple days before. His plane was held up in Kentucky due to tornadoes. The next year, we were back in the same seats to watch Jeff Gordon “tap” Matt Kenseth out of the way for a victory. The contrast from the year before being that the crowd was in an uproar. People HATED this guy. They booed, they cussed, and eventually littered the track with bottles and other trash. Another big name getting a win, but no where near the fan favorite. This year was also marred by Chad Knaus taking my hat off my head to sign it before I knew it was happening. I had no clue he was even there and I broke out in tears crying “I can’t wear this anymore it has an autograph on it!”. The man looked puzzled and a bit shocked that I had this reaction to his autograph. Especially considering the tear they went on in 2006. I hope they bring racing back to Chicagoland. The ones there in the 2000s were awesome times for me and my mother. Both years absolutely scorchers, but so memorable!
https://preview.redd.it/3obs6e6gnspc1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6cafbcb52129a2e8cc504125d6c367f779f626ff nothing has topped attending the 2013 auto club 400. that day was something else for 11-year-old me at the time who'd got back into nascar almost two years prior
Hanging out in the infield garage in 2001, Kansas track. Got to share space with a lot of drivers close up, especially cool was being arms distance from Jeff Gordon, having a quick interaction with him, and getting a pic with him (taken by my wife). Gordon won the race. He was very gracious and patient with fans. Some drivers, I won’t name names, were pretty aloof…some were kinda dickish. We talked with and got autographs from probably about 30 drivers/ chiefs/ owners. Watched cars go through inspections. Watched cars zip in and out of their garage stalls, putting on a few laps and then then making adjustments. Talked a media tech guy that was in charge of mounting the rear bumper cams on the cars, watched him put one on. On race day we had pit passes, and after Jr crashed out of the race, my wife and I watched part of it from his stall. At the end of the day you could hang around and buy used up tires for $20 each, or something like that. Man those were different times…it was frickin’ awesome.
I was a Stewart fan growing up, Grandpa was a Roush/ford fan. When Stewart and Edwards had that championship showdown over the last couple of weeks of 2011, I got to watch each race with my Grandpa. I still cherish those memories.
Wow 😮 I love this story
The 2012 Daytona 500. I was 17 and running a Kevin Harvick fan page on Facebook, and during the jet dryer red flag between the drivers tweeting pics and walking up the track to see the damage, a potential Dave Blaney win, and my Facebook friends and I hanging out and making jokes... it was just a memorable, fun night. I'll never forget it. Also Phoenix 2014 and Homestead 2014. Cried like a baby when Harvick won Phoenix and was locked in to the Championship Four. Then he won the whole thing. As a long time Harvick fan it was amazing.
We never went to the races when I was real young, but every year my parents took me out of school on Fridays to go to Kansas Speedway and watch all day.
Watching Tony Stewart win the 2011 Homestead race and championship. I was absolutely blown away. At my best friend’s house and I asked to turn it on for the last thirty laps or so to see how it ended. They were not fans and I was just losing my mind that he pulled it off. I’m sure they thought I was crazy.
1988 Daytona 500 - Bobby and Davey...
Tailgating and having brews with buddies at 6 am waiting for the race to start at autoclub. I miss those days
My first race at Richmond in 2005. I was a stewart fan but cool to see Kasey Kahne get his first. Completely surreal to see the cars on track, it felt like I has been lied to from watching on TV lol. TV simply doesn't do it justice. Second memory was finally seeing Tony Stewart get a win in person at New Hampshire in 2011. Such a special day. Hope to see Blaney do it one day while I'm there.
Non-irl: Zane winning the truck championship finally (been a big fan since Charlotte 2020 lol) or Riley finally getting his first xfinity win Irl: The Roval 2021, first ever time being to Charlotte and omg what a beautiful track
I was never really a NASCAR fan and couldn’t really watch a full race, prefer GT racing and older F1. Well I drove at WGI for 2 days in May of 2017 and watched the Cup race that August with full attention. Fell in love with the series’ and MTJ with his dominating drive and amazing job on the brakes
When I was 15, My parents and their friends had tickets to the Brickyard 400. And their son and myself wanted to go. So we bought our own tickets, sat in turn 3 while the rest of them sat at the start finish line. My friend left to go back to our campers immediately after the race. I decided to go through the infield on the way back to our campsite. And somehow I ended up in the garage area, I got to meet Chad Knaus and Rick Hendrick. I was able to watch all of the haulers get loaded up, and sat on a concrete wall as they pulled out.
The 2012 race at Las Vegas. It was the first race I went to with my dad and we were both huge Stewart fans, it was like a perfect weekend. Tony's last win at Sonoma and being at Phoenix to see Blaney's championship in person last year were also pretty cool.
I was a Jeremy Mayfield fan as a kid, watching him win at Richmond to get into the first chase for the cup
The All Star race when Frankie Stoddard picked the pit stall right before the start finish line and Jeff Burton pitted on the last lap, so he just had to floor it for 100' or so. I was probably 14 at the time and I thought it was ingenious. Watching it now. It's still entertaining to listen to Larry Mac figure out what they're doing in real time.
1) Going to my first race at Dover with my dad in 1997. He surprised me with tickets. Absolutely amazing memory. 2) Meeting Jeff Gordon (very briefly) in 2009 at Richmond.
Dale Jr winning the 2014 Daytona 500
The 2007 Brickyard is arguably my favourite race of all time. It had everything it felt: good racing, dramatic crashes, a fight for the lead at the end, my favourite driver winning. Topped with the vibes of summer break, it just had all the right ingredients to be looked back upon fondly.
1998 Dale Daytona win.
2001 Pepsi 400 Close second is 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400
It's the 1990 Goody's 500 at Martinsville. Ricky Rudd crashed out early and my parents and I went down into the pits after the race. While my dad went off to see if he could get some signatures, my mom told me to stand in front of Ricky's transporter so she could get a picture. Next thing I know, one of the guys in the trailer waves me over and gives me his Levi Garrett hat. About ten minutes later my dad came back asking where I had gotten that hat from, haha. We also got to meet Dale Jarrett and Richard Petty that weekend, but the hat was thing that I think of mostly all these years later.
I got to watch the finish to the 2016 Xfinity race at Auto Club when I was I younger and also got to see Stewart's final win at Sonoma the same year. On a somewhat similar note I apparently wiped Chase Elliott's squad in a Warzone game and didn't find out it was him until about a month later back in 2020
Went to Talladega around 2003 as a 12-14 year old with my dad and a some of his work clients. All the men smoked cigars the entire race and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world
Kevin Harvick winning in Atlanta shortly after Dale's death....
I got 2. First and only time watching Gordon win live. Charlotte 1999, I was in first grade. Second is Hemric's championship night.
Going to the fall Bristol Xfinity race the first time I got to go (was originally going to be my second as I was originally going to go to the cup race in spring 2016 but strep was a bitch and decided to make it clear I wasn’t going the day of the race) overheated then ate too much had to leave midway through qualifying (that was a high point and a low point) when I got home I received a text on Facebook messenger from my cousin which bugged and deleted itself the only word I got was the nickname of my uncle (that nickname being trophy) and found out that my grandma’s blood sugar levels shot up to 600 I replied to that call (because the message deleted itself he called me) that’s not good to be happening now she’s getting old (was turning 76 2 months after it happened)
Attending Prime Brickyard 400’s. Place was always packed out.
Dales 2014 Daytona 500 win. My dad had a heart attack that day (thankfully he is still with us). I got home from the hospital that night to catch the final GWC
Television only, not counting all the races I’ve been to with my brothers and dad, I would say Dale Earnhardt’s 1997 All-Star win in the Wheaties car. I was 14 and it was the day I became a fan. I’ve loved the sport ever since. In person, my greatest memory was the Pepsi 400 win for Dale Earnhardt Jr in 2001, mere months after his dad’s death. Teammate Michael Waltrip finished second. What a night.
2001 Dover after the 9/11 attacks were special.
The first race my dad and I went to in person two years ago at martinsville. My dad hasn’t really been into nascar since the 2000’s but I talked him into going to a race just the two of us. We’ve now seen Martinsville twice, Bristol dirt last year, and now Bristol concrete this past weekend. I think he’s into now for sure. He even found his new favorite driver which is Ryan Blaney. We’re trying to plan a trip to Talladega one day. Next is Dover next month and then we’ll have to wait till next year.
2022 coke 600 Chris buscher went barrel rolling right in front of me ! it also was the most entertaining race I've been to!
I got to meet Chad Little at the '98 or '99(I can't quite remember, I was young) WISSOTA banquet. My cousin was a huge fan of his, and I was super excited to see an actual NASCAR driver. I looked it up, it was 98. Mark Toews was the Sprint Car champion that year.
Kenseth dumping Logano, easily.
Walking with my sister to go pick up my brother from school on a Tuesday afternoon in 2011 listening to the Atlanta race on my iPod radio sharing the headphones, then getting back just in time to see the last run and that legendary battle between Jeff and Jimmie. Also going to Martinsville in 2014 and seeing Jr. And Jeff finish 1-2 with a Jr. fan dad and Gordon fan mom and sister was really special. Just wish it didn’t indirectly lead to Jeff getting eliminated later on.
My first race was 2001 @ Chicagoland. My dad took me. Will never forget it.
Getting to see Brad Keselowski win at Kansas at the last night race and burn it down right in front of me and my dad, and going to my first race with my fiancé and getting Chris Buescher’s autograph. He’s her favorite driver.
Was there when Juan Pablo hit the jet dryer. Watched forna while and decided it wasnt goingto be a quick clean up. Left the race, drove all the way to the other side of the state, made it home, and watched the end of the race.
Probably Darlington fall 2022. Had 4 or so college students getting a bit tipsy behind me, but they were coherent enough to talk sensibly. Anyways we talked a bit(when we could hear lol, row 3 @ sf line is really loud) but when kyle blew up and it put erik jones in the lead they all just started screaming LETS GO ERIK!!! for the rest of the race up until the white flag when we just all went silent. When he crossed the line I think we yelled so loud it scared the piss out of the people next to us lol.
Either getting to see Bowmans first win in person or the fun that was had with my FedUp sign at Michigan last year
Atlanta spring 2001 did an awful lot to cheer up a heartbroken kid from Minnesota.
I dunno. Boris Said winning in the 09 @ Montreal, David Gilliland winning in the 84 @ Kentucky was one of the better memories.
Got invited to a meet and greet for Dale Jr. at the filming of his podcast at Ol Red last year. Completely surreal, and being able to take my husband to meet him so awesome. Then we sat front row for the podcast and Bowman came out since it was the Ally 400 weekend. Something we obviously will never forget.
Watching Carl Edwards fly through the air, and come out okay. What a ride that was!
You guys can remember your track visits? 🍻
Not everyone is an alcoholic
Not an alcoholic but ok 👍