My trip

Jpshostr · May 30, 2001

I just got back today from my trip to North Carolina. Had a great time.

Thursday morning I got a personal tour of Bill Davis Racing from the general manager. Took us through every single part of the garage, engine room, etc. It sure was fun to walk through the doors that say "No visitors! Employees only!" It is unreal the amount of technology in that place. The whole Winston Cup garage is brand new, the old garage across the road is now for the Busch team. Right next to that is the engine complex, to which they are in the process of adding another 10,000 square feet in addition to the neighboring building that they bought. A very nice facility, I was drooling.

That night we went to the qualifying for the 600. Got there right at seven, just in time to sit through a rain delay. Finally they got the track dried out by 9-9:30 or so, those five jet engines sure dry it out quick. Bill Elliot was the first to go out, and let me tell you, he has more balls than I do. He laid it all out on the line even though he was the first driver, turned in a great time too. Dale Jarrett crashed on his lap right in front of us. You could really tell that he wanted the pole badly, he was flying. Ryan Newman than just shocked everybody when he flew through and took the pole. The whole stands was trying to figure out who he was, he wasn't even listed in the program anywhere. Right when we left it started raining, they finished qualifying with less than five minutes to spare.

Friday morning I got another personal tour, this time of Petty Enterprises from a guy that grew up with Richard and was now his personal assistant so to speak. He was a great guy, came in on his day off to show me around the place. We went everywhere imaginable in that complex. You could really tell how bad every one felt after the night before when only one of their three cars qualified. We went into the teardown room where they were taking Kyle's car from the night before apart. No one ever gets to go there either. There was a big difference between this shop and the Davis shop. This one was more sprawling, with more laid back people working there. The Davis shop on the other hand was all business, and sparkling new.

Finally, race day. Our tickets for the 600 were at the end of turn two 66 rows up. We could see the whole track from where we sat. It was awesome, I'm hooked now. I thought with 400 laps it would drag at times, but it sure didn't. You should have heard the crowd when Gordon got nailed in the pits, no one likes him, or Tony Stewert for that matter. My man Ward Burton was looking real strong in the sun, but once that sun set he faded, but still turned in a ninth place. Almost all the wrecks happened right in front of us. Labonte spinning out in front of us made me happy, I wasn't rooting for him to win.

A very enjoyable week. I know that the tours I got are a once in a lifetime experience and it took some connections from my uncle to get me in. He put countertops in both places and got to know both people that took us on the tour, so that is the deal with that. I'm getting kind of tired typing this, so if you want to know anymore details respond, I'll be glad to answer them if I can. I just did so much it is impossible to fit it in this one post.

bowtiefan · May 30, 2001

hey man sounds like you had a great weekend man the race shop tours must of been awesome. some day i will make it down to nascar country to watch the coca cola 600 that must of been awesome. the race was ok till lap 50 something when gordon got hit after that it sucked yes im a gordon:)fan and yes the fans down south hate him but there must be a few :)out there the last few years he has been voted 3rd most popular driver behind elliot and earnhardt.:)i have been to watkins glen the last 8 years i love it even know you cant see the whole track its just the point of being there. and another thing i hate tony stewart:(was hoping to see him hit the wall at indy and at charlotte.

MountaineerTom · May 30, 2001

Sounds like you had a great time. Glad you enjoyed it.

May 30, 2001

That is just too cool.

General Lee 01 · May 30, 2001

3 questions if you don't mind

Were any of the Drivers at the shops when you visited?

And if not, did you meet any Drivers at all?

Finally, Did you happen to stay at those suites in turns 1 and 2?

Jpshostr · May 30, 2001

Quote: from General Lee 01 on 11:57 pm on May 29, 2001
3 questions if you don't mind

Were any of the Drivers at the shops when you visited?

And if not, did you meet any Drivers at all?

Finally, Did you happen to stay at those suites in turns 1 and 2?

No, I didn't meet any drivers. Thursday when I toured the Davis garage they were at the track practicing. Friday at Petty's the drivers were no where around. All the guys working said they were there earlier and I wouldn't want to talk with them, they were not happy with their performance.

No suites for me. Section 232, row 66, seat 7 was where I was the whole race.

(Edited by Jpshostr at 7:02 pm on May 30, 2001)