EXPERIENCE

BY JARED TURNER

have – maybe even listen in on different drivers as they communicate with their crew chief.

2. PACK LOTS OF SNACKS AND BEVERAGES: Unless you just have an affinity for splurging and spending money for no good reason, you’ll certainly want to have plenty to eat and drink in your possession once you get settled into your seat on race day. Packing traditional food, snacks, sodas and water from home will enable you to avoid the ever so costly concession food and beverages that will quickly burn a hole in your wallet if you’re not careful. Plus, you can also steer clear of the lengthy concession lines.

NASCAR tracks permit fans to bring pre-packaged and sealed food and soda items in a soft-sided cooler and/or clear bag. If you choose to do this and pack enough that you don’t end up hungry or thirsty at some point during the race, you’ll have a lot more jingle still in your pockets by the time Monday morning rolls around.

3. DRESS LIKE YOU BELONG: Unless you’re trying to be Ebenezer Scrooge or you’d rather go incognito because you’re worried about some Denny Hamlin fan taking major umbrage with your Ross Chastain hat and T-shirt, there’s no good reason not to wear your passion for your favorite driver quite literally on your sleeve.

Anything less and you risk being considered a fair weather fan who doesn’t have a rooting interest or lacks enough gusto for their favorite driver to express support. And, let’s face it: If you’re sporting khakis and a polo instead of your Chase Elliott or Kyle Busch attire, you might just look a little out of place.

In short: Real fans make their allegiances known by proudly adorning themselves in their favorite driver’s car number and colors.

4. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES: No matter whether you’re at 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, .526-mile Martinsville Speedway or any NASCAR racing venue in between, you’re going to do a lot of walking when you’re at the track. It’s simply unavoidable.

To make your walking experience as pleasant as possible and hopefully avoid sore feet, be sure to wear a pair of shoes that’s fit for the occasion. So, in other words, leave the cowboy boots and the high heels at home. Unless you just crave misery on foot, a good pair of walking tennis shoes will serve you a whole lot better.

5. SHOW UP EARLY: Who really wants to arrive at their seats just in time for the national anthem, prerace invocation or the command for drivers to start their engines?

Hopefully, not a lot of people. If you want to get the full race experience and get your money’s worth, you’ll show up early enough to be in your seats at least a full hour before the race starts. This will allow you to take in driver introductions, sip a cold drink and chat leisurely with your friends or family members nearby.

After all, once the green flag waves, any conversations you have with your neighbors will likely be over text message or with pen and paper due to the roar of the engines that tends to drown out, or at the very least, severely muffle any verbal exchanges.

6. KEEP A PONCHO HANDY: Few situations are much more uncomfortable and aggravating than being soaking-wet at a sporting event because you forgot to bring the appropriate rain gear.

Rather than risking the possibility of this happening, it’s important to take matters into your own hands and have a poncho readily available long before the race begins – just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Umbrellas aren’t allowed inside race tracks, by the way, so a nice poncho purchased at the track or prior to your arrival will have to do. It sure beats no protection from the elements, though.