Going to Pepsi 400 and advice

[Byershome]

I have gotten hold of a couple of tickets and am going to my first Nascar race. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. How late can we get there and still not have to fight our way in. Things to see while we are there before the race. Best place to park. I was considering coming in from west on back roads rather than coming down 95, bad idea , good idea? I am going to drive down Sat. sometime... my daughter in law says they will be there about 5:30 PM (they have gone before on several occassions) but that seems a little late to me, I really hate heavy traffic.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Don't know about access and traffic at the Daytona race, but I can tell you that at Bristol, Talladega, St. Louis, Memphis, Texas Motorspeedway, Martinsville, and Kansas City, 5 hours before the flag drops, the traffic is at a standstill on all roads around the track as people are getting in to park.



The earlier the better. Tailgate party!

 

[crobertson1]

I went to the 2000 Daytona 500. We parked in a grass field with about a million other fans across the street from the speedway and walked a ways. We got there pretty early too. There is a lot to see, so getting there early is a good idea. I don't think avoiding traffic is possible.



That was the year Geoff Bodine had his horrible crash in the truck race. Some yay-hoos started a fire on the old grandstands down by turn 4! What a GREAT time though. I'd love to go to the Pepsi 400. Have fun.

 

[BNH4221]

I really hate heavy traffic.

Your'e goin to the wrong place then. 200,000 fans in one spot and all want to leave at the same time.

I did the 500 in 1994. Stayed in Kissimmee which is what, 30 miles or so down the road? Took 4 hours to get back after the race.



To get a good parking spot and avoid the traffic get there last Wednesday.



Seriously,

Take your time, enjoy the show and be prepared for a loooong wait to get out of there.

Bring plenty of $$ for food and trinkets to take home. Earplugs if you have sensitive ears.

The speed is incredible. It will make you a fan.



HAVE FUN



Steve

 

[nickleinonen]

Earplugs if you have sensitive ears.

i was thinking that too. .



i drove by the toronto indy race 2 years ago while they were practicing, and my ears were ringing after a few minutes of listening to them... foam earplugs are cheap, or you could go with the big ear muff's but your pick

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I forgot to mention - TAKE AN UMBRELLA!!

 

[Byershome]

"TAKE AN UMBRELLA!!"



Now what sort of Diehard Nascar fan would that be... . those bunch of Rednecks would have laughed me out of the building(P. S. like many stadiums they are not allowed)... ..... :-laf I noticed Harvick had one during introductions :-laf



Me and the daughter just sat there like men and women for two hours in the rain..... but it sure was worth it Oo. Oo. Oo. Yeeee Haaaaa



As too traffic, I dropped in at about 2:30 PM with no traffic to speak of, I came in off 95 to LPGA blvd and parked at lot 7. What a mud hole that was after 4 or 5 days of rain :-laf (Man was I glad I had the beast CTD with me) Got lucky and parked 3 cars over from the exit road. Left right after the finish while the fireworks were going... ..... hustled back to the shuttle buses and was gone ahead of the crowd... ... ... ... ..... clear sailing home



Now that I have my daughter hooked on Nascar time to reel in the wife

 

[crobertson1]

Dang rain delay! I set my Tivo to record the race and the program after it, just in case, and still only got about an hour recorded. At least Jr. had a good finish. Poor Mark Martin can't get a break at Daytona.



Hope you had fun.