I'm going to my first race?

Question

This july I'm going to the pepsi 400 in Daytona. Ive never been to a race before, and I have some questions. What do you have to do to meet the drivers? and how loud is it? can you live without having to wear those ear cover things?

Answer 1

Hi, I usually go to the Pepsi 400 although I will not be there this year, I'm going to be in PA... Take alot of sunscreen! It is usually EXTREMELY hot but when race time rolls around, and the shadow of the back stretch casts over the track, it cools off somewhat. As for the noise, it is exhilerating! It is awesome, as is the smell of the fuel. You'll love it if you are a true nascar fan. Now, as for the signatures, many peoples answers were good. Go a day early, get a fan zone pass, watch for the special stages scattered around where tv people interview drivers, etc.

Just remember to be prepared to drink alot of water and little beer, you WILL dehydrate if you don't be careful. We usually walk over to Friendly's or other restaurants to sit in the AC for a while but they will be busy, Friendly's asks you if you mind sharing a bigger table with another party and we always get seated rather quickly and you end up sitting with another race fan anyway. It's different but its fun. LoL I think you will enjoy it but if you are not a Floridian, please please remember to drink LOTSA water, it is HOTTT! I live an hour south of the track so I'm used to it and I get miserably hot but have fun just the same. It'd suck if you'd get heat exhaustion and have to miss the race because you're in the hospital. LOL

Have Fun!! : )

Answer 2

I don't know how you can meet any of the drivers since I have never done so myself. Regarding the sound question, it depends on how close you sit to the track. If you are in the first couple of rows, you're probably gonna want to wear the earphones the entire time. If you sit a little off the track, the sound is still loud, but it's fun hearing the cars without ear protection. The V-8 roar of 43 cars really gives you a rush. I have been to about 7 races and love them. I'm going to Texas in a couple of weeks and Daytona in the summer. I can't wait!

Answer 3

if you've got pit passes (which i'm not sure daytona does, i could be wrong) it's going to be loud! But if you love noise, no need for earplugs.

As far as meeting drivers, the best way to call up the race shops and see if any of the drivers are having appearances in or around the Daytona area, as well as a signing @ their Merch. hauler. Most of the PR people for the drivers are nice.

If ya don't have the numbers to the shops, go here http://www.raceshops.com/

that gives ya all the numbers for the shops.

With Roush though, it send you to a switchboard, you have to ask for the shop.

Answer 4

If you arrive a day or two early, buy the local paper. They usually tell where drivers are appearing away from the track.

Never been to Daytona but pretty sure you will have only brief interludes with the noise at its highest level, but 43 cars passing by in 3 seconds makes a lot of noise. For most of the lap you should be able to carry on a fairly normal conversation. Since you have never been to a live race, I would suggest you be prepared to cover your ears if you find it unbearable. But you need to listen at least once, you will never forget that sound.

Forget about decibels, you don't just hear it, you feel it!

As the pack passes by, you could be yelling directly into your neighbors ear and they will struggle to hear you.

Answer 5

I haven't been to Daytona yet but I recommend taking ear plugs. You can decide not to wear them if you want but you probably will use them. I don't know about meeting the drivers, I only met Tony Stewart last week at a Home Depot appearance. Have a good time.

Answer 6

I went to my 1st race in Bristol two weeks ago. It is VERY loud. I recommend the ear pieces not only for the noise but for the commentary. It is SOOOOOOO loud that you can't hear anything but the engines. If you want to know what is going on you will need them. Like at the Bristol Busch race when there was an issue with the pit light not getting turned on in time and then NASCAR decided to leave the field as it was because the light was red when the leaders went by. We did not know what happened until we got home and ask someone who had watched it on tv.

Answer 7

OMG. It is so awesome. You will just love it and will want to go back every year. I dont know it is so hard to meet the drivers. Some of the drivers is at the haulers where they sell their stuff at. I got to meet Kurt Busch and he was so friendly. He is not anything like people think he is. My lil girl is a Kurt Busch fan and she got to shake his hand and he called her sweetheart and thats all she talks about from the martinsville race this year. But anyway yes it is very very loud. Yes, of course you will live if you dont wear ear plugs but let me tell you you gonna have a busting headache and your ears are gonna be roaring for a long time. Well hope i helped and hope you have a blast.

Answer 8

The use of ear phones and or ear plugs are optional.You will not lose your hearing going once.But if you do have sesitive ears by all means wear them.I myself do not and I'm at Talladega 2 times a year both in the stands and garage area.
As for meeting drivers most have an autograph session sometime around the race.Check around the souvier trailers to see if they have times listed or local papers for locations.
Good luck.
That's all I have to say about that.

Answer 9

If you want to meet the drivers, you have to get the pit passes. They aren't that much. Last time i bought them at daytona they were around $40 a piece.

Daytona is not that loud since the track is so big. If you go to smaller tracks, yes it is a lot louder. If you want to have a true NASCAR experience, ditch the earplugs.

Answer 10

I always go to Texas and i have sat on row one before and i did not wear ear plugs and i was fine. i would recommend getting a scanner to listen to the drivers. not to sure about how you meet the drivers at daytona. one thing you have to do is tailgate. its the best part of the race!!