First time at a NASCAR event - Any tips?

[CJJ*]

My 3-year-old son is really really really into NASCAR; he buys the little cars at Target, knows all the drivers and numbers, and when we go to the Home Depot, he calls it "The Tony Stewart Store". He even got to stay up late for the Coca Cola 600, and remarked that Casey Mears was running out of gas when he crossed the finish line.

Before this year, I didn't know a thing about NASCAR, and I can't really say I'm a fan now. But the boy likes it, so I'm planning to take him out to the Joliet Speedway when the Sheetrock 400 is on in mid-July. I think we'll just go for some of the qualifying on Friday (its cheap, and I think he's just interested in seeing the cars rather than watching the whole race).

Anyway, can anyone here who's attended a NASCAR race (better yet if you've been to Joliet) give me a few tips in navigating an event so that he can get the best experience? What kid-friendly stuff is there to do? Is there any way he could safely get close to a real racecar? Please remember, he's only 3...

[commasense]

I haven't been to a NASCAR event, but I have been to many Champ Car and IRL races, which I suspect are similar in many respects. (If I'm mistaken about how NASCAR does things, I hope someone will correct me.)

First, great idea going on Friday. It will be a lot less crowded and easier to navigate with the kid. And you'll almost certainly be able to sit anywhere you want in the grandstands. IME, seats are only reserved on the actual race day.

Check the schedule to see when cars will be on track. There will be practice and qualifying sessions for the main event and probably for the support races, too. There may even be a real race of one of the support series. Plan to arrive about an hour before the start of the first track session you want to watch. There will be booths and displays and food stands and whatnot outside the track, but don't be too distracted by them first. Go into the track and look around for a good place from which to watch. Probably under the cover on the front straight.

In racing, unlike almost all other spectator sports, the best seats are at the back, not the front, because the seats in the back are highest and give the best view of the whole track. So climb up to the highest seat you can drag the kid to. But don't spend the whole session in the back row. At some point while the cars are still racing around, walk on down to the bottom of the grandstand and just stand there as the cars go by at 160 mph. The sound and feel is unbelievable.

Watch the first practice session, then go out and explore the paddock and the exhibit area. The paddock is where the teams' trailers are all parked. There may be a separate admission to this, but if it's not too expensive it will be the highlight of your son's day. The trailers are high-tech mobile garages and machine shops, and are a sight to behold for any gear head, like your son. You won't be able to get really close to the cars: they put up ropes to keep spectators out of the working areas.

You may see a driver or two in the paddock, although from your self-description, you may need your three-year-old to identify them for you. Look for large crowds of people standing around--always a sign of a famous face. And keep an eye on people riding on scooters in the paddock. Often drivers or other VIPs.

Out in the exhibit area you'll find all sorts of attractions. There will probably be show cars that your son can get up close to, possibly even in. Stands selling shirts and souvenirs, and lots of other fun stuff for a boy and his parent: cars, rides, food, drink, girls, etc. Something for everyone.

After an hour or two of this, it may be time for another practice session on the track. You might want to watch this one from a different location, just to see how the cars go through a different section of the track. You'll know best how much fun the little guy can handle.

Obviously, you'll be spending the day outside, so bring water, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, etc. And before race day, go to a the gun section of your local sporting goods store and buy some foam earplugs. You'll definitely want them -- especially for him -- while watching the cars on track. (You'll be able to get any of those things at the track, but at greatly inflated prices, of course.)

One last bit of advice: if you happen to know anyone connected to any of the companies that sponsor cars, see if you can get passes to their VIP chalet. If you can wangle it, it's like flying first class. It will probably include a free paddock pass, and you'll have a place you can sit down and get free food and drinks anytime you want. It's sweet.

Have fun!

[sleestak]

I'll second the ear plugs. In fact you might want to invest in some over ear protectors. MASCAR races are way louder than you would expect. They are louder than Indy cars, mainly because (at least at the Indy races I've been at) the Indy cars are more spread out. I think the Indy cars themselves are louder than NASCAR cars but, man, the NASCAR races are LOUD.

I haven't gone to qualifying and imagine the noise is quite a bit less but it will still be loud.

Slee

[gulliver]

Thirding the earplug/headphone suggestions.

Also, if I may, if he's really up on seeing a race, consider the Busch companion race rather than the more expensive and longer Cup race for his first time. The Busch race is generally just as exciting as the Cup race (and in some cases, more esciting), many "Buschwhackers" are involved and usually up front so there is some star quality, and the crowds are a bit smaller. Getting to and from the track on race day is generally easier, and it will make for a much better day.

If you enjoy yourselves, then get yourselves to a local dirt track at some point in the summer. THIS is where the real racing is.

Make sure he pees before you get to your seats. The lines at the restrooms can get long, especially under caution.

[RogueRacer]

I went to this race two years ago. The tips you've been getting are mostly very good. Has anyone mentioned hearing protection? You're going to want it. Use it even whenever you are on the track side of the stands and cars are on the track, even if you haven't found your seats yet or are leaving your seats.

Originally Posted by commasense

First, great idea going on Friday. It will be a lot less crowded and easier to navigate with the kid. And you'll almost certainly be able to sit anywhere you want in the grandstands. IME, seats are only reserved on the actual race day.

This is NASCAR. It's very popular right now. The seats are reserved all weekend. However the advice sort of works, since a lot of people don't bother to show up for practice and qualifying, so you can usually chose your seats. You might not be able to get to some of the best terraces, etc., because workers will check your ticket. You also may have to move several times as people come and claim their seats.

In racing, unlike almost all other spectator sports, the best seats are at the back, not the front, because the seats in the back are highest and give the best view of the whole track.

In general I agree with this statement. If you've ever been to a track like say, Michigan, the sight lines are terrible from lower seats. Chicago is a new track though, and they seem to have done a great job with the seats. We had what I thought would be lousy seats in the fourth row from the bottom right at the exit of pit lane. I was surprised to find that we had a great view of everything from there. However, it was very loud being that close to the track.

At some point while the cars are still racing around, walk on down to the bottom of the grandstand and just stand there as the cars go by at 160 mph. The sound and feel is unbelievable.

Great suggestion, but definitely wear hearing protection when you're this close to the track. I can't stress this enough!

Watch the first practice session, then go out and explore the paddock and the exhibit area. The paddock is where the teams' trailers are all parked. There may be a separate admission to this, but if it's not too expensive it will be the highlight of your son's day.

They call these "the pits" in NASCAR terms. You will need a separate pit pass to get there.

My advice would be to check nascar.com and get a schedule for Friday's events. There will likely be both Busch and Nextel Cup practice. Qualifying itself is actually kind of boring (only one car on the track at a time), so watching the practice will probably be more fun. Get there an hour or two before the first practice session and use the time to check out the vendor and sponsor area. It will be huge. You could literally spend a whole day going through this stuff if you and your son had the desire. There will be plenty of show cars. There will also be dozens of team trucks selling driver merchandise. A driver like Tony Stewart will have at least three trucks in different places all selling his stuff. You can occasionally find some bargains in a half off rack or something, but mostly this merchandise is expensive. Early in the day is usually the best time to walk through these haulers. Occasionally there will be a driver signing autographs out of one of the merchandise trucks or sponsor areas. You will see an autograph line if that's the case. Speed Channel usually has a big set in this area too. It's kind of fun to watch them do a broadcast for a while.

When we went, we skipped Friday. We went to the Saturday and Sunday races. It's possible that on Friday they may be still setting some of the stuff up mentioned above. It was literally almost 100 degrees out and there is no shade in the grand stands. Drink a lot of water and use sun screen liberally. Go to the speedway's web site and read about the restrictions on what you can bring into the track. Bring plenty of money as concessions are not cheap.

One last thing to consider is renting a scanner. There will be booths with scanners and noise reduction headsets. These scanners will be preprogrammed with the frequencies for the various teams. It's fun to listen to what the teams are discussing while the cars are on the track. This might be lost on you and your son though considering his age and your newness to the sport, but it does have the added benefit of being excellent hearing protection.

Have a great time!

[Hampshire]

So are you going to the races anytime this weekend??

[Snickers]

Like commasense, I've never been to a NASCAR race, but I've also been to many many Champ Car (formerly CART) races and one F1 race. To add to everyone else's suggestion, I'd also consider keeping your son out of the infield if you do choose to go to the race itself. I know you weren't originally planning on attending the race anyway, but I thought I'd mention it for the future.

I don't know about NASCAR, and I don't even know if infield seating is allowed at this particular track, but the infield at Indy is (or rather, used to be) quite rowdy. There's a lot of drinking and general boisterousness, which is fine, but may be more adult than what you want to expose your 3-year-old to now.

As for seeing the cars up close, if you go during qualifying or practicing, you should be able to get quite close to a car - the real things will generally be roped off (and they ask that you don't touch), but the ropes allow you to get close enough to them to do so, if you're more of a rebel. Other tracks I've been to also sometimes have stripped down cars that you can climb into (if you're small) and touch and have photo-ops in. Not that this applies for NASCAR, but it's really surprising how tiny those CART cars are.

If you're really lucky, you might be able to speak with a driver or a member of his crew.

If you went, here's hoping the little guy had a hell of a time. But beware - races are addicting. You can't stop at one.

[Man With a Cat]

I've been to one NASCAR event ever, and it was in Joliet.

Here's my tip: Don't be in a hurry to get home afterwards, that track is surrounded by 2 lane highways in and out, and you get little choice which direction you get routed out of the parking lot going out.

[KneadToKnow]

My father took me to a stock car race (not even NASCAR, possibly even dirt-track) when I was very young (so young, I only know this story from his having told it), and used to love telling how I spent the entire time with my hands clamped over my ears.

So here's another vote for hearing protection.

[Hampshire]

Just want to pop in with a fourth on the over the ear protection. Without it you could do some serious hearing loss damage to a 3 year-old.
I've been to the Joliet race a few years ago (back when it was the Tropicana 400) and it's a nice track. Race day Sunday it will be packed and will take several hours getting to and from the place. Same for the Saturday Busch car race. I'd suggest going to the pole runs on Friday. You can get a ticket for $15 and your son can get in for free. All the drivers merchandise trailers will be open that day too. Pit passes are available Friday also but I'm not sure of their price. You can get them on the Chicagoland Speedway website.

[Cyberhwk]

Sounds like fun.

EVERY YEAR a couple people in my family decide it'd be fun to go watch a race, and every year the idea always falls to the wayside and nothing ever comes of it.

So did you watch the actual RACE or just the qualifying?

[commasense]

I'm glad you had a good time and that the advice we offered was helpful.

Originally Posted by CJJ*

...there was nothing that even came close to rowdy and no obnoxious grillers/vomit holes to dodge.

I'm guessing that if you had been there later in the weekend, things might have been a little rowdier. Another reason to go on Friday, not race day.