Gentlemen, start your engines

Sunday, July 1 (Day 6) — Our day at the races began early and ended late. In between we saw some good racing action, spent too much, and waited in lots of humongously long lines. That is the life of a NASCAR fan. For us, it was an unusual side trip to our typical sightseeing vacation.

Roni had the front desk of the hotel send us a wake-up call at 7 a.m. I had worried even that would be too late, as we had attended two races at Sears Point (Infineon) Raceway near our home a few years ago and still remembered the three-hour line of traffic to the main gate. But because this race didn't start until 2:30 p.m., Roni figured we didn't want to leave too early and wind up waiting around the track for five or six hours. I deferred to her desire to get us the most sleep possible.

We were out the door by 8 a.m. for the approximately 65-mile drive from Lowell to New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H. The first thing we noticed was the storm clouds lurking to the north and the drops of rain on the windshield of our rental car. Not a good omen. The weather forecast called for clear skies with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. We hoped to drive out of it. Then we hoped maybe it would burn off. The last thing we needed was rain to postpone the race a day, because we have a long drive planned for tomorrow and would probably have to skip New York City. And besides, once you've battled through race-day traffic, you don't want to do it twice.

The drive into New Hampshire was pleasant and went quickly for the first 45 miles or so. We began to see more traffic on I-93 and figured it was race fans, as who else would be clogging a normally calm section of interstate at 8:30 on a Sunday morning? Roni said they probably weren't all NASCAR attendees, that some people in the world have a life that doesn't revolve around motor sports. But I knew otherwise. Sure enough, the knot of traffic thickened as we drew closer to Concord, N.H. We paid our 75 cents at the turnpike toll plaza and continued along to the track.

I have to give a lot of credit to the folks at NHIS for making what should have been a traffic nightmare mostly bearable. Perhaps it is the fact that they stage two races a year at the track. There was good signage and police direction to funnel tens of thousands of vehicles down what is normally a four-lane road, with two lanes each direction. They coned off one of the southbound lanes of Highway 108 and used the shoulder to create three lanes of northbound traffic. Although we slowed to a crawl near the track, very rarely did we have to stop. The final six miles seemed to breeze past.

As we got closer we noticed someone advertising $10 parking, where you could get a shuttle bus to the track. Why do that, we wondered? Parking at the track was supposedly free. As we got closer, the rates went up to $20, then $25, and at last a big construction sign flashed $30 parking. A horrible thought crossed my mind: Maybe the parking at the track wasn't free at all. I had Roni pull out $30 cash, figuring we'd be forking it over to someone very soon. But when we turned in at the main gate there was no one with outstretched palm. We proceeded east along the main road wondering if we had taken a wrong turn, as no one else had followed with us. Eventually we pulled in at Lot U1, where a parking attendant directed us into our spot and that was that. Hmmmm. It really was free parking. Proof that you shouldn't always believe the signs you see on the side of the road that advertise convenience for a price.

We wandered through a sea of RVs decked out with racing gear, some where folks had barbecues going. Flags representing just about all the drivers fluttered above the rooftops. We passed a few concessionaires where I picked up a commemorative race shirt, then wandered into another long alley where there were booths selling collectibles and various clothing. There were also a few haulers for several of the sponsors of some of the teams. We were all checking out one of the booths when across the aisle we heard an introduction for driver Ward Burton. Instantly everyone flocked to the Nextel booth to hear what the former Daytona 500 winner had to say about NHIS. I got some pictures and video.

Down the way the Speed Channel was setting up for its prerace coverage, tossing orange construction hats to the legion of fans hoping to be caught on TV. We briefly lost sight of Ben, who was doing his best to be in the crowd where the free hats were flying. He didn't get one of them. When we began to head back toward the track we happened upon the Crown Royal vodka booth where driver Jamie McMurray was in the middle of an interview. Ben was very disappointed because he wanted a chance to get up close to see Jamie, but the handlers at the booth wouldn't let him in because he is under 21 — the alcohol and promoting underage drinking thing. I managed to squeeze in among the crowd outside the tent and got some really bad photos of Jamie. Finally, as we left merchandise row behind and ventured toward the track entry gate, the throng parted for a golf cart and someone said "Wave hi to Casey." I looked up and it was Casey Mears, who drives the No. 25 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. Very cool seeing several of the drivers before the race.

We had our bags searched at the security gate, then wandered under the main grandstand past the food booths and restrooms. The stands run nearly 50 rows deep, and they tower above everything. Beneath them is a network of steel girders and concrete walkways with signs directing fans to the rows of seating. We were located in Section K, Row 30, Seats 15, 16 and 17. We found our seats with nearly two hours to spare before the green flag. I ran down to pick up a couple of sausage sandwiches and a soft pretzel for myself and Roni, while Ben bought a Ben & Jerry's ice cream cone. There was a rock concert going on by the time Ben and I returned, a band called Hinder that has been featured at the start of all the TNT race broadcasts playing a cover version of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild." I'm not much of a fan of the group's style, which I find typically raunchy for a metal band. I was really blown away by our seats, however, which were to the south (or right) of the starting line and commanded a great view of most of the track. I took tons of pictures, watching the clouds gathering and praying there would be no rain.

Just a bit before driver introductions the rest of the fans began to arrive and take their seats. Suddenly there was some confusion and a recently arrived group asked whether they were in the right row. "Is this Section K, Row 30?" they asked. Why, yes, it is, but here are our tickets to prove these are our seats. We all compared ticket stubs, at which point one of the men noticed that we held tickets for Section K north.  Ooooops! This was Section K south. We were in the wrong seats and had to hustle to the other set of grandstands to the left of where we were. We grabbed our stadium seats and merchandise purchases and shuffled downstairs to the front walkway, then found Section KN. We settled in, and I quickly realized that although we were the same distance from the flag stand as with the other seats, our view wasn't as good. Still, we were high enough that we'd be able to see all the action.

Now we were right behind the TNT broadcast booth. I got a good look at announcer Kyle Petty getting ready for the TV telecast. We also saw driver introductions and watched them parade around the track on the backs of red, white and blue pickup trucks. I was intent on getting shots of Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon. So far away, but at least we got to see them in person.

The race started right on time, with Dave Blaney on the pole — the first time a Toyota had ever been on the pole for a Cup race. He didn't stay there long however, and it quickly turned into a race between Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the lead. The race was mostly caution-free for the first third of the 300 laps, which was good news from what I saw of the darkening skies. Yet whenever there was a caution, the restarts were occasion for every fan in the stands to rise. What's the point of having a seat if no one wants to sit in it? We never saw much on any restart, and our view of the scoring stripe was largely blocked because the cars run so close to the wall that you can't see them regardless of how far up in the bleachers you sit.

In the end it came down to some pit strategy on the part of Denny Hamlin's team, which won a thriller over Jeff Gordon who ran out of laps to catch Hamlin.

Whereas getting to the track had been a breeze, getting out was another matter. We returned to the car by 6:50 p.m., but didn't get out of the parking lot until 8:36. Most of that time was spent being trapped by cars on the main road. We couldn't even leave our parking space in Lot U1 for about the first half hour. I used the time to download some photos to the laptop while Roni read a book and Ben played his Nintendo DS. At last the parking attendants arrived to help direct traffic, and the flow speeded up. It felt good to finally be moving and away from the rows of drunken campers lining the banks near the roadside egging on women to flash their bare breasts. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper back to Lowell, although it flowed steadily. We got back to the hotel at 9:55 p.m., tired and hungry. Ben wanted me to open a birthday gift he'd bought for me at the track, but we were all in a cranky mood and I asked him to wait until tomorrow.

Yes, lost in all of the day's activity is the fact that I celebrated my 42nd birthday today. The race tickets were Roni's idea of a good birthday present. It was very enjoyable getting to attend a race at a track where we wouldn't normally get to go, and NHIS did a superior job making the experience a good one. But as for trying to fit the race in as part of this vacation, it feels wrong. I think we are all missing the leisure time that should come with a long trip from home. I am resigned to the fact that there isn't much leisure on the horizon. Tomorrow we head back to New York on what is expected to be another long drive. These late arrivals at hotels are driving us all crazy. We'll need to do a better job in the second week than we did in the first.

Roni is finishing up a load of clothes as I write this at 12:47 a.m. Ben had a rough time getting to sleep. My stomach is growling because none of us got dinner tonight. Now I'm heading to bed.