The 10 Things I learned at Chicago Speedway

2009-07-14T10:08:16-04:00

2009-07-13T14:51:46-04:00

2009-07-13T14:55:08-04:00

2009-07-14T10:08:16-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/809/626/thumb/2764d.jpg 1 KY

RLynn

Lawrenceburg 810286

3 thanks for the article about the things that go on before and during the race. I love the "close encounter" experiences. Please keep them coming! 6079767

2009-07-13T17:03:09-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/345/11/thumb/citadel_image.jpg 1717 CA

noydbyj

San Francisco 34615

2 Well look on the bright side. He's better than Lars Anderson. Of course, my 6 year old cousin (who doesn't watch sports) is better than Lars Anderson. 6073124

2009-07-13T16:47:25-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/567/088/thumb/Soccer_Team.jpg 451 GA

22GA

Down South in 567568

1 Who is this guy?? I never read such BS in my life. 6072823

<div class="photo_container image_right" style="width: 300px;"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/38621/patrick-stewart-pabst.jpg" alt="Patrick-stewart-pabst" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Dan Patrick and Paul Pabst made a swing through Chicagoland last weekend -- a trip that included a stop at Tony Stewart's motorcoach. </div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align:right;">Courtesy of Paul Pabst </div> </div> 1. NASCAR offers great access: Dan Patrick: and I stopped by Tony Stewart's motorcoach for a visit (check out pictures from the Chicagoland race <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0907/dan.patrick.race/content.12.html" target="_blank">here</a>). When we got there Tony was talking to a group of contest winners. Earlier, we saw Sam Hornish Jr. taking questions from fans in the Mobil1 tent. Everywhere you look, fans had access to their favorite drivers for pictures or autographs. No other sports gives fans this kind of access on a weekly basis. 2. Killer motorcoaches: Speaking of the driver's motorhomes, a Sprint Cup weekend has the feel of a million-dollar camp out. We were talking to J.R. Rhodes outside Dale Earnhardt Jr's coach, while Junior's crew was cooking out on the grill that popped out of the side of the coach. The insides are even better, but unfortunately pictures are not allowed. 3. Sprint Fan View still dominates: The handheld Sprint Fan View is still the best way to see the race in person and get the in-car audio for that extra entertainment. While in Hornish's pit, we got to use the Fan View and toggle between his in-car audio and other drivers. I'm sure the NFL will do this someday…but for now, NASCAR has the market cornered on personal entertainment while on site. 4. A lot of fans love to boo Kyle Busch: I hear it on TV each week, but to hear the outpouring of boos when Kyle was introduced was something else. He handles it well. He waves and smiles. I guess getting booed is better than hearing silence. 5. NASCAR drivers are even more competitive than I thought: There was a fun contest where NASCAR drivers raced Smart cars vs. celebs. So when Kurt Busch, David Stremme and Hornish showed up (they were discussing how this car moves in first gear, how it corners), Busch asked if Dan Patrick's S-curve cones were more spread out than his. At the end of the short race, they were supposed to back the tiny Smart cars in between two tightly-parked cars. Dan tried a traditional back in, while Hornish darted in to the spot head first to get the win. 6. Dan Patrick incident: Dan Patrick had never spent a race on pit road before Saturday. Prior to the race, he was walking around, saying hello to some of the drivers he knows. Moments before Jimmie Johnson got in his car to start the race, Dan strolled over to say hello. Most people stand to the side of the car. Dan was behind Jimmie's car and he began to lean on the wing. A NASCAR officially quickly scolded Dan. "Don't touch the spoiler, please." I thought he was going to give DP a forearm shiver. Dan jumped back and luckily Jimmie didn't see it. Jimmie finished in 8th on Saturday, but I can't help but think… 7. Invisible: If you ever want to feel invisible, stand next to Junior as you pass a gaggle of fans. When the drivers' meeting broke up I happened to be walking next to Junior as we passed a large group of fans. They were screaming his name and pushing out things for him to sign. I think they thought I was his agent or something. Pretty funny.   8. Nothing beats the view from atop the pit box: Thanks to Mike Arning, a.k.a "Hank Hill", who works with Tony Stewart. He let Dan and me sit atop the Office Depot-Old Spice pit box for the first 30 laps of the race. Even better than the rumble you feel in your body as 43 cars scream by, is watching the pit crew do a stop underneath you. They are waiting calmly for 25 laps, then when the caution flag comes down, they scramble into position. The car slides and the entire crew leaps over the wall and into action. Fast and fascinating every time. 9. You don't get used to a Stealth Bomber flyover: You may be able to look away from the Blue Angels or a helicopter flyover, but when the cartoon-like Stealth comes across the sky….your jaw still drops open…you're catching flies. 10. That NASCAR smell: When I headed back to Chicago post race, my shirt smelled like a combination of the following. exhaust fumes, Budweiser, smoked sausage and BBQ sauce. One whiff of me and you knew where I had just come from. It wasn't a bad thing. http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/346/588/thumb/pabst3.jpg 2568

ppabst

346988 70161