Daytona 500

I feel like most people probably have a bucket list. Maybe not a formally written down list, but I think that everyone has things in their mind that they would like to do at least once in their lifetime. I happen to be one of those people. I don't have my bucket list written down, per-say, but I have some ideas in mind. Maybe one of these days, I'll actually write them all down.

This past weekend, I got to check something off of my bucket list and I was super excited about it! Being from the South, I am very familiar with the delightful sport we know as NASCAR. While I've never really been interested in watching a bunch of cars chase each other around at 200 mph for 4 hours, I feel like it really is a part of my redneck roots. Plus, I live like 70 miles from the location of probably the most important  race of the sport, so I decided that this was something I needed to add to my bucket list. Alas, attending a NASCAR race became a bucket list item for me.

About 2 weeks ago, my dad called me and told me that he had be given free tickets to the Daytona 500 and asked me if I wanted to join him. I was super pumped because I love accomplishing things on my bucket list. I was excited for this new experience and especially enthralled about the fabulous people watching I was going to be able to do. NASCAR fans are super entertaining...and the nicest people ever, I have a new found love for them.

Anyways, my dad and I ventured down to Daytona Beach for the race on Sunday. Upon our arrival, we were directed to a huge lot where we got to park for FREE and then very efficiently shuttled on a school bus to the speedway, also for FREE. Everything was so efficient, well organized, smoothly operating and free! I must say that this was the most effectively run sporting event I have ever been to.
 

Did I mention that you can bring your own food and drinks into the race? Every person can bring either a backpack or a cooler (14x14 max) into the race. As long as there are no glass containers, you can fill it with booze, food, whatever. So my ice cold 12 pack of Bud Light and I were happily welcomed into the race.  

Did I mention that this was the best sporting event ever? I'm in love. If I was still in college, I would totally suggest going to a NASCAR race in Daytona as a date function idea...just sayin :) 

When we arrived at the speedway, it was just barely sprinkling but it had been raining that morning so they were trying to dry the track. My dad and I made our way to our seats and watched the introduction of the drivers. We lasted in our seats for about ten minutes before the torrential downpour began. Don't worry, I got my photographic evidence that we were there!

We then spent the next 4 hours under the grandstand surrounded by 200,000 other race fans waiting for the rain to stop. Eventually, they announced that race was going to be postponed until Monday at noon. This was the first time that the Daytona 500 had ever been postponed in it's 54 year history. 

I was determined to accomplish this bucket list item, so I decided to go home for the night and try again Monday morning. My dad had to go to work on Monday, so I invited one of our friends who didn't have to work to join me. 

When I woke up on Monday morning, the torrential downpour was still in full force. Fail. We knew there was no way that the race was going to start at noon, so we decided to wait it out until they updated the race time and then we would drive down to Daytona later (I only live about 1 hour north of Daytona). Good thing we didn't waste our entire day hanging out at the speedway in the rain because they ultimately decided to move the race to a 7pm start on Monday night. This would be another 1st for the history of the Daytona 500, prime time racing at night. 

The rain finally stopped, the track was dried and it looked as though we were going to finally get to see this race. I embarked once again on an adventure to Daytona, this time with Boden, and both of us with a 12 pack in hand. 

Apparently I need to brush up on my NASCAR knowledge because I had no idea that they did a prayer before the race. Right before the National Anthem, we all stood while someone led us in prayer. Only at NASCAR. I thought that was super cool. I just love me some good ole' Southern values.

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Let's go racing boys!

We had quite a nice view from our seats...

Every time the cars drove by it was so loud...and so awesome. 

After so many hours of rain delays, I was so excited to finally get to see the race. Unfortunately, the race came to another sudden and screeching halt with only 20 or so laps to go. One of the race cars lost control and slammed into the back of a track service vehicle that was equipped with jet dryers. As 200 gallons of jet fuel suddenly flooded the racetrack, the vehicle burst into flames. Many believed that the race was going to end right then and there because of damage to the track. Luckily, the track workers we able to get the fire extinguished, the fuel cleaned up and track repaired in only 2 hours.

 Photo Credit: Nascar.com

Thankfully, no one was injured in the crash and the race was able to continue once again after the 2 hour delay. I honestly did not think that I would enjoy watching the crashes in the race, but I will admit that it was pretty exciting. We stayed until the very end of the race which technically wasn't until the early hours of Tuesday morning. I was so glad that we stayed until the end, even though that mean't not seeing my bed until 3:45am. However, It was definitely worth it to be part of such a historical Daytona 500.

I know that this experience was initially just a check on my bucket list, but I absolutely had a blast. It really was super cool. I think NASCAR may have just gained a new fan :)