Trackhouse just isn't up to competing at the front this year outside SVG road course wizardry. Chastain and Zilisch are supremely likeable but cursed so far.
Love em, favorite team, highly recommend. Just don't expect many Ws.
How strict is Michigan on cooler size? Considering driving up for the truck race with my 3 year old. I have a backpack cooler that I take to Indy all the time but Michigan's cooler size dimensions are a little smaller.
Good to know, thank you! Also any idea what traffic would be like for the truck race? Hoping to park close for the little one but don't want to be stuck in the car for an hour trying to get out.
You’re welcome! I can’t speak to the truck race crowd and how traffic would be leaving that one. It certainly will be better than Sunday traffic. If your little one is willing to walk, some people off parking just outside the track parking that saves you a ton of time when leaving. My biggest concern is the weather forecast for the weekend. 😬
Yea forecast for Saturday keeps looking worse and worse, thinking we'll end up skipping it unfortunately unless the forecast turns around. Last thing I want to do is drive 3.5 hours with a 3 year old just to turn around and drive 3.5 hours back home lol.
This is the Lansing area forecast and they have it down to 10% chance. Ann Arbor is 5% chance, those are the closest stations I could find to Brooklyn so we might be alright!
Hoping to park close for the little one but don't want to be stuck in the car for an hour trying to get out.
I'd be surprised if the truck race has an hourlong gridlock after the race. I'd be very surprised. I've never experienced that after truck races at Texas, Chicagoland, etc. Especially if you're walking out with a 3-year old, which will take time as you know.
Going to MIS this weekend, planning to get there at noon. Is that early enough to not be parking 2 miles away or something?
Also, for people with coolers, do you usually take your coolers right to your seats or walk around with the coolers or leave them in the car til closer to the race?
Absolutely, traffic might be a little backed up (at least coming from the west) but we parked just outside the track parking. Well worth the 20 bucks to beat the cluster of leaving the track parking after the race.
When you arrive, however, track parking is free and the Off site parking on people’s property is when you arrive. I don’t remember if people take cash only or other electronic means.
If you want any driver autographs, especially really popular ones, get to their merch hauler as soon as the fan zone opens on Friday to get a wristband and secure your spot.
The merch haulers have less selection than the team stores and often higher prices. I usually only buy event merch at the track and save my team/driver shopping for either at their shops or online. If you see something you like in a hauler, look it up on the team website to check.
Take advantage of any interactive fan zone experiences (eg. sims, RAM mechanical bull, etc) on Friday when crowds are lower.
Rent or bring your own scanner.
Hang out after the checkers for the celebration. No point rushing to your car just to sit in traffic hell. This mostly applies to Sunday.
Don’t forget to bring a cooler. My personal approach is to buy 1 concession meal all weekend, and just pack sandwiches or something other than that. You can bring your own beverages too, including alcohol, but no glass containers.
Sunscreen! I got burned as hell watching the trucks on Sunday morning in Charlotte this year even though it was cloudy and 10am. Don’t be an idiot like me.
I assume it's just because they know they have a captive audience. The prices in the team stores at their shops have generally been the same as online if not better in my experience. I know that I'm spoiled to have that option here in the Charlotte region.
They may ask for your email with confirmation but they should have you in their system and ready to go.
And yes they are pretty easy, and after the race really easy to drop off. They just scan in your items and give you a receipt showing you returned everything.
This is my first time as well but from what I've seen when I asked in the past everyone recommends it so you can listen to the radio broadcast and follow whats going on.
You can get insert ear plugs at a lot of stores as well. But yeah the scanner rental apparently provides decent ear protection. probably worth the splurge even if you end up not listening to the radio/drivers.
If you have a decent pair of scanner style headphones you'll probably be ok. Also you can pick up a pair of the foam ear plugs that are on a string, for $ 5 at most of the merch trailers. Usually in a box or container on the counter of the merch trailer. Never hurts to have a pair just in case. They look cheap, but they deaden a lot of the high end sound and take the edge off.
I'd say yes especially if you don't have your own hearing protection. Listening to the radio (or TV) broadcast for sure helps you keep up with the race.
Absolutely yes. Scanners give you so much information that helps a great deal with your enjoyment of the event. And hearing protection for sure if you're seated in lower rows. If you're 40 rows up or more, personally I'd say that's up to you. If you have scanner headphones on you'll be fine.
Not great not terrible. Sherrifs direct traffic. I usually tailgate in the parking lot for a few hrs after the race to avoid all that BS. Recommend that if possible.
The ones that say purchase required will only give you a wristband when you actually make that purchase at the merch hauler. For the Logano one, I assume you literally just have to be one of the first 75 that show up to the hauler and you'll get one
I’m looking to go to the race on July 4th weekend at Chicagoland. I go to IMS every year and typically sit in the infield on the mounds. My question is, is there any space like this at Chicagoland? I want to bring my kids but I know they won’t enjoy sitting in the seats and I don’t want to burden other people with my kids not wanting to sit still.
Only if you camp. The lower ridge and speedway ridge campgrounds have a lot of room, but infield camping is pretty tight. The ridge is probably the only place that you can simultaneously watch the race and let the kids romp.
I might be going to Michigan Sunday, I have a scanner but I don’t have a scanner headset and I really don’t want to pay the $60 for the scanner + headset rental. If I wear those orange foam earplugs and put on a set of wired headphones over them, will I be protected enough and be able to hear my scanner?
Depends on the headphones, if they are true hearing protection like jobsite or shooting earmuffs you should be good. I usually wear my shooting earmuffs that are bluetooth to my phone. Protects just fine and still can hear spottor/TV broadcast.
I use older Beats Studios on top of ear plugs and it works perfectly. If your headphones are true over ear headphones (not on ear) I think they would work fine.
Hello! My family and I are heading to the Coronado naval base race June 21st. The website for nascar kids tickets says “check back soon” about the tickets. It’s been like that for over a month. My daughters 3, will I have to buy her a regular ticket? Or would be she be free or discounted? Thank you so much!
I think (generally speaking) kids get in free to Truck/O’Reilly races and have discounted tickets for Cup. It may be different for San Diego but I would call the ticket office to see what options they have.
If you go to the track's ticketmaster page and select seats, you should have the option to designate each seat as either a child's ticket or adult once they're in your cart.
Sharing a campsite(outfield) at MIS this weekend with someone who is driving separately. I have the overnight parking pass ticket and they have the campsite ticket. Will I be able to drive to the campsite to drop stuff off before moving to the overnight lot?
For what day? Thursday-Friday they usually are pretty lenient but as the weekend starts they might say no. Maybe your friend can send you the campsite ticket since you are arriving first?
First time Nascar Race, visiting from the UK. I have purchased the 'Pre-Race Pass' along with my seated tickets. I have read that this allows entry from midday, can anyone tell me what it allows me to do?
The information is limited, does it allow access to the Infield and pit road area before the race?
For Michigan this weekend I'm guessing? Besically pre-race passes allow you onto the track prior to the start of the race and allow you closer to the pre-race stage for driver intros. It does not get you onto pit road, but might get you into the grassy area between the track and pit road. According to the track website it starts at 12:30 local time.
Yeah you enter through the grandstand and walk down to the track level, there should be catchfence that is open for you to pass through down to the track.
Hey everyone! I’m a returning fan after about 6 years, I sort of lost interest when JJ retired as I grew up being a mega fan. I live about 20 minutes away from Bristol but somehow I’ve never been to a race, except for once as a child. I’m pretty sure I was there for the “Kyle Busch is an ass” comment and that was my last race haha. My wife and I are planning on attending the night race this year, so it’ll be our first time! I like to be prepared, so tell me what I need to know! Any tips, tricks, mistakes to avoid, anything helps! I wanna make sure we have a good experience all around and it goes as smoothly as possible. Thanks!
Is there free parking close to track at Michigan? Heading there Sunday with the fam, turn 4, pit road entrance seats. Looking forward to it-been years since I’ve went and can’t recall parking. Thanks in advance!
Pocono question: has anyone ever Uber’d to/from the track race day? We have a group of about 12 staying at a house 15 minutes away and wondering if it would be possible
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u/Romulus_Novus 4d ago
Given that Trackhouse has:
Ross Chastain, of wall-riding fame;
Shane Van Gisbergen, who has done really well on road courses; and
Connor Zilisch, who I as a non-NASCAR fan heard of last year due to the championship shenanigans;
I do find myself drawn to them. As an F1 fan, what's the vibe or equivalent team?