I went to college in Daytona, it’s like a second home to me. This was my 23rd Daytona 500. This year I ended up winning a VIP Experience from Rowdy Energy. We drove from Maryland to Florida on Wednesday.
Thursday we picked up our credentials from the Speedway. We got to the track in the early afternoon and went into the truck garage. We walked amongst the teams as they were preparing for practice. Most drivers were heading to their trucks. I stopped to get some pictures with drivers such as Hailie Deegan, Carson Hocevar, Rajah Caruth, and a few others. Chatted with Rajah and his father. Joked with his father about DC traffic (believe me it sucks). But also asked his father about how fun it was to see your son go from playing a video game in the living room to racing at Daytona. He said it was pretty amazing. After truck practice began, we headed to pit road to get some photos. [Then] we headed to the stands to watch the duels. Enjoyed them but definitely more action in the 2nd vs the 1st.
Friday we arrived at the track in the early afternoon. We had a pre-arranged tour of the RCR #8 hauler thanks to the KB [Kyle Busch] VIP experience we had won. The RCR director of marketing met us. I was impressed with how organized everything was. Everything was labeled well and could be easily found. [He] showed us the remains of Kyle’s car from Thursday night, and then took us to the backup car that the crew was preparing. We were allowed to get right up to the car and look around. Richard Childress walked by and said hello. After the tour we walked around the Cup garage for a bit. Practice was going to begin after truck qualifying, so drivers were starting to file in. We were able to get autographs and photos with Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Travis Pastrana. At 4:30 we had a private meet and greet with Kyle Busch in the truck garage. Kyle was very friendly. He signed a couple of photos for me and we did a toast with Rowdy Energy. Kyle of course then had to leave to prepare for Cup practice. After Cup practice we went on the truck grid to get a photo by the KBM trucks. Kyle walked up and I was able to get one with him before the truck race began. After driver intros were completed, we headed up to the stands to watch the truck race. We had considered watching from the pits, but decided we would have a better view of the race. Once the rain and mist started, we sought cover for a while. We found a nice dry spot under the stands and waited out the rain until the race was called.
Saturday…we arrived about 30 minutes prior to the ARCA race. We watched the ARCA and Xfinity races from the stands.
Sunday morning we arrived around 9:30. I headed immediately for the Cup garage. Walked around the Cup garage, which by then was starting to slow down since several cars were already on the grid. Ended up going into the Fan Zone for a while and met up with some friends. Around 1 the grid opened up to non-hard card personnel. I went and got pictures of almost every car. I ended up getting interviewed by Black Rifle Coffee’s social media team since I mentioned that I was from Maryland and Travis Pastrana lived not far from me. I walked the grid until driver intros, then headed to Kyle’s car to get a photo with Kyle prior to the race. After the photo, I raced across the trioval grass to get up to the stands for the start. I made it just in time to get buzzed by the Thunderbirds.
First stage was a little like the first duel on Thursday. Guys riding and not wanting to tear up their car. Most of the drivers I was listening to on the scanner (Pastrana, Hamlin, Busch) all wanted to keep their car clean. Second stage was decent. Guys were starting to get more engaged and make more moves. We saw a few cars get torn up, but that’s part of the racing at Daytona. It seemed like a passive chess match in the first 2 stages – play conservative and don’t make any mistakes to give your opponent an advantage. Third stage was a lot of fun. I was on the edge of my seat.
With about 35 laps to go, I left the stands to get picked up by a member of the KBM team to go down to the infield in case Kyle won the 500, we would be permitted to go to victory lane with him. I almost didn’t want to leave the stands, but decided I didn’t know if I would get a chance to potentially be in VL after the race again, so I went. Our golf cart had a battery issue, so we ended up having to stop multiple times to quick charge it. When we attempted to cross through the turn 4 tunnel, the cart died on the way up the hill, so myself an another occupant had to get out and push. Never thought I would become a member of a pit crew (haha). I got to pit road with about 5 laps to go. I ended up behind Kyle’s pit, which was also right at the S/F [Start Finish] line. So I had a decent view of the S/F line. Unfortunately since Kyle didn’t win and the race ended under caution, it wasn’t exactly the best spot to be. But I was right in front of the entrance to victory lane, so I stayed to get video of [Ricky] Stenhouse’s car being pushed into VL by the tow truck. I then headed to the Cup garage and watched several cars that were involved in the last couple of lap crashes brought in on wreckers.
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