NASCAR in the Great White North

Apparently, folks in Montreal love their NASCAR. They turned out in droves to watch the NASCAR Nationwide series qualifying on Saturday in the rain and again on Sunday for the race, partly in the rain.

But the race faithful in Canada got to see a great race, lots of caution flags fly, and our hometown representative in the NNS show a good finish.

Yeah. Let native sons of Canada lead lap after lap, then in the end, cars slide all helter skelter into each other, only to have an Australian and a guy from the US Heartland battle it out for the win.

And Jacques Villeneuve - son of the man for whom the track is named - finishes fourth.

If sentimentality won races, surely Villeneuve would have appeared in Victory Lane. Of course, if sentimentality counted for anything, Mark Martin would have a championship by now.

Actually, watching the waning laps of the caution-riddled race reminded of sitting in NASCAR simulators at Lowes Motor Speedway with two friends, squealing and laughing while we hit the walls, hit each other, drove over pretty much everything and proved we should never be allowed behind the wheel of a race car. As for me, well I may have come in last among the 10 simulators, but I protected the equipment. I drove most of the race through the grassy infield.

But, back to racing in the real world.

We in the Tri-State should be fairly proud of "our" car in the Nationwide race. After qualifying 37th, Herd Racing and driver Brett Rowe not only finished the race and protected the car, but came in 21st. Not bad for a Barboursville boy! Yay Brett.

He beat out my buddy Boris Said, the road course ringer, some say. I was pulling for both, but I was wearing my SaidHead shirt and earrings. Sorry, Brett and Crew Chief Dana Tomes. Tear at my loyalties, will you?

I've kind of joked about him driving a road course for a week or so. Think about it. Roads around Cabell County aren't exactly wide and straight now, are they?

Actually, I have a friend from Georgia that the first time she visited Wayne County to meet her future husband's parents, it was so twisty she got car sick.

So if a guy from this area is going to be a racecar driver, doesn't narrow with lots of turns make sense to you? It did to me.

Hey, I just like seeing a local fella do well and our Herd make a good showing - anywhere, anytime, in any sport. (Did the guys at Joan C. Edwards Stadium hear that?)

Notes from the stands

Bristol bash?

Well, it was for Mikey Waltrip. Ouch. You don’t really appreciate how steep the Bristol banking is until you look at a still photo of it. His late-race wreck was just off to my right, as the photo shows.

Then there’s something I haven’t seen at any other track – fistfight in the stands. Don’t have a clue as to what led up to it, but maybe adult beverages were involved and disparaging words about someone’s driver, or maybe girlfriend. Or maybe about their choice of adult beverage.

Which leads me to observe, Bristol is a circus-like atmosphere. Although, I will say the “show us your……” signs and Mardi Gras beads were missing on the drive in to the track. It was disappointing to the men on the bus, but a relief to the women. At the track however, there was plenty of skin showing. I didn’t realize women could cover their parts with a couple of blocks from a checkered flag.

And some men are better left covered up. Seriously guys, if you’re carrying a six-pack, consider whether it’s in your hands and inside your abdomen or on the outside of your abdomen. Leave your shirt on accordingly. Please. Seriously.


Occasionally, statements are made with clothing and accessories – like the guy with the Dale Junior hard hat. As you see, it’s uniquely decorated with a hangman’s gallows with a little Kyle Busch in the noose. He was quite popular with the crowd.


Inside, the pre-race ceremonies were proudly patriotic – American flags in the grandstands, a huge flag unfurled on the track and the ever-present card stunt in turns 1 and 2 of the flag. The American Flag was brought to the infield by paratroopers, which, too, is quite a sight to behold. Attack helicopters flew overhead after the flyover by military jets. I swear, it rattles your chest when the pass.

Then, there was a race. Gee I love the double-file restart! It sets up some beatin’ and bangin’ for position and a shootout for the win.


Sorry Mark Martin, it may have been your 1,000th start as a driver, but Kyle got past and won. Back to the “Shrub” as Tony Stewart calls him. We were waiting for the Busch Brothers to take each other out. They battled all night for position and a few times looked mighty close to contact. Back and forth, pass and pass. Well, maybe another time. But it’s gonna happen, you know it’s gonna happen. And they’ll be called to the Big Red Truck for a discussion.


Despite too much skin showing, too many adult beverages for some people, too many unkind words and the crowd's sentimental favorite losing, Bristol is fun anyway you look at it.

An offer hard to refuse...

The PT Barnum of NASCAR is retired, but here’s an offer worthy of Humpy Wheeler – the Victory Lane Club at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which probably will again be known as Charlotte Motor Speedway. Lowe’s decided not to re-up the name licensing.

It’s kind of season tickets for the superspeedway alone. It includes the All-Star race, Coke 600 and the fall race, with a lot of perks. Best of all, you can purchase the package interest-free in 3 payments.

I got a promotion on this a week or so ago, but didn’t really look into it. Now, after reading the Web site and talking to the ticket office, it looks like a good plan.

Now, I'm not in the business of selling this stuff, but I do appreciate a good bargain. With the economy the way it's been the last couple of seasons, tracks are looking at ways to get the fannies in the seats. Apparently the $59 all-you-can-eat deal didn't draw enough takers, so it's gone. Of course the seats weren't that good (Diamond Tower) but the concept worked at Major League Baseball.

I still contend, what other sport gets 160,000 to 200,000 fans to a venue to watch it live? Granted, it took until last week to sell out the Bristol race this coming Saturday night. But, it sold out - 160,000 people at Thunder Valley.

Since I’ve talked at length to my LMS ticket agent Asa, here’s what I know.

The Victory Lane Club is a perk of purchasing a ticket to all three races or renewing your ticket to all three races but it has to be to all three.

If you sit in the Diamond Tower, your cost is much lower (around $130 for the three events) than in the GM Grandstand at the start-finish line (my personal favorite spot, about that same price only for one race - so factor by three). Right now, it looks like I’ll be in GM Section H row 27 aisle seats. Not bad. Pricy, but not bad. You can see everything there – the garages, pits and of course, double wide restarts and the race winning moment.

This is a shot at last year's All-Star from those seats. Not bad, eh? Worth it, so totally worth it.


Now, here are the perks:

• One free ticket to either a Nationwide Series or Camping World Truck Series race. That’s one for the season, so choose wisely.
• Free pit pass to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, again choose wisely. I’m partial to the All-Star race, everyone is much more relaxed.
• Free entry to fan appreciation event on Friday of the Coca-Cola 600
• Free six-month dining privileges at the Speedway Club
• A complimentary breakfast on race day in the Nationwide Series garage
• Personalized Victory Lane Club hard card. This is not the NASCAR hard card with all access, essentially a membership card you need to get into the special events like the breakfast and Speedway Club.
• VIP reserved parking throughout the year, still being discussed as to location, but will probably be somewhere near your seats.
• Access to press conferences and exclusive events
• 10 percent off future ticket purchases
• 10 percent off merchandise at the Lowe's Motor Speedway gift shop

If this interests you, call the LMS ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS and speak directly to a ticket representative. I think Asa is a pretty good rep – call for him!