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BoyntonSteve

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Hello all,

I finally made it to a Talladega race a couple of weeks ago and was surprised at how "controlled" fan access is. It felt like I was at Disneyworld, visiting an attraction, rather than at an actual NASCAR race. I bought cheap seats (down low, they were great), and the NASCAR Experience. It came to nearly $400 for the two of us. It seems the "NASCAR EXPERIENCE", is a way to sell VERY limited access to, what used to be called pit passes, for a WHOLE LOT more.

About a decade ago, I went to a couple of races at Homestead, and one at Daytona. I remember walking around the track and having free access to any area I wanted to go.

If that's how it's going to go from now on, I've been to my last race and will enjoy NASCAR from the comfy confines of my family room and my 75" TV.

Am I correct that access has been GREATLY tightened up, or am I remembering the past incorrectly?
 
I don't know what kind of access you had a decade ago, but as a whole access at NASCAR races (which was never great anyway) became MUCH more difficult after 2002. That was when NASCAR started issuing hot and cold passes, and it became MUCH harder to get into certain areas, even when working in support series at the same event. That was also the year when many of the contingency sponsors bailed on NASCAR because the cost of participation went WAY up, and yet they were allowed to do FAR LESS hospitality at the track and FAR FEWER garage tours etc. I understand that the volume of people makes it more difficult at times, but even at its best, the NASCAR fan access model stinks compared to what the NHRA and the sports car series do. Even at most of the tracks built from the mid 90's on, nothing in and around the garage areas were built with fan access and viewing in mind, which is really disappointing to me. Just another case where the decision makers don't quite get it, despite what they say.
 
Formerjackman said:
as a whole access at NASCAR races (which was never great anyway) became MUCH more difficult after 2002.
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Sept. 11, 2001, to be specific. Along with lots of other security and access changes, I remember huge piles of hard-sided coolers abandoned at the gates. They'd been acceptable at spring races but were banned by the fall.
 
Out of all the tracks I have been to, Homestead cooler access sucked the most. I have not been to a race there for a long time, maybe it has improved. The last time I was there they would not let you bring 12oz. plastic bottles of water in, you had to buy everything inside at stupid prices, coolers were pilled up at the entrances.. After the race, traffic control was as stupid as I have ever seen. The last race I was at there, they sent all parking to Florida City, did not use the 4 lane road coming to the track from the Turnpike in Homestead.
 
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Charlie Spencer said:
Sept. 11, 2001, to be specific. Along with lots of other security and access changes, I remember huge piles of hard-sided coolers abandoned at the gates. They'd been acceptable at spring races but were banned by the fall.
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Well, as much as I disagree with the cooler rules, you DO have to blame all the idiot fans that bought tickets and never bothered to read the fine print on what is and isn't allowed. That's standard procedure with me, whether it's a race, concert, car show or whatever.
Many of the 9/11 security procedures were a complete joke. For ARCA, at the short tracks, nothing changed at all. At the speedways, they started giving the crew members coming into the track the TSA style searches, but usually ONLY on the first day at the track when there were often NO spectators there to speak of, and nobody EVER checked the transporters, leading me to gleefully tell the security people, "If I were going to try to blow up the race track, don't you think I would put the bomb in the transporter, not my gear bag?"
While 9/11 may have played some part in the access rules, I think the huge crowding at times in certain areas was a driving reason. At places like Michigan and Pocono where Happy Hour used to immediately precede the ARCA race, there would be so many people on pit road that it would be nearly impossible to get the pit stalls set up, a total circus, but at times when I was able to get VIP access, I was one of those same people getting in the way of someone else. The biggest problem was that none of the tracks were configured to handle all the people. And THEN, NASCAR got greedy with the contingency sponsors, which was the beginning of there being almost no stickers on the front fenders of the car today. Barnes Group (Bowman Bolts) was a long time contingency sponsor and they used to bring thousands of people to the track every year and give pit and garage tours. I was one of their guests multiple times. NASCAR raised the price and restricted how much access they could get, and they just threw in the towel and left the sport. The exact same thing happened to Lawson Fasteners in the Truck Series. I went to the first half dozen Truck races at IRP, and a few at Michigan after that as a guest of Lawson. They got priced out of the deal too.
 
Formerjackman said:
Well, as much as I disagree with the cooler rules, you DO have to blame all the idiot fans that bought tickets and never bothered to read the fine print on what is and isn't allowed. That's standard procedure with me, whether it's a race, concert, car show or whatever.
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My cooler wasn't one of the lost children. I don't recall how I and my buddies knew to not bring them but we definitely had brand new softies for Rockingham in Nov. 2001.

Speaking of The Rock, something about this thread reminded me of the signs on the souvenir haulers, "We will close at start of race. Leaving for Phoenix!"
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Speaking of The Rock, something about this thread reminded me of the signs on the souvenir haulers, "We will close at start of race. Leaving for Phoenix!"
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That seems odd to me because I would have expected the souvenir haulers in that era to do quite a brisk post race business. Certainly enough to make it worth not getting on the road a few hours earlier. The evolution of the souvenir rigs is kind of interesting to me. When I went to my first Cup race in 83' at Michigan, it was mostly privateer guys in hot dog trailers. In 1989 I bought a Rick Mears hat from his family trailer, and it MAY have been his mom that sold it to me. Then we saw the big 40' trailers towed by a dually, and then the rigs that mimicked the race transporters. I remember when Dale SR, Jeff and later Jr. would have multiple trailers and probably half the Cup guys would have a trailer to themselves. The last race I went to, (Indy 2019) I think only Chase, Jimmie and KB had trailers of their own.
 
The last 2 years the Xfinity Series has come to Portland the paddock area is completely fenced off so you can't get near the cars. Last year the ARCA cars were in a separate area and we could get close to the cars and some of the crew members were very friendly and would talk to us. This year ARCA cars were behind the fence with the Xfinity cars. Very disappointing.

I go to all the major races at Portland and buy paddock passes so I can get close to the cars. Willing to spend the money for the same with Xfinity but that's not an option.

Oh, and not a souvenir trailer for any driver or the series itself to buy anything!
 
My Neighbor has told me many stories of going to the Michigan race and going to the pits. Many times they partied with drivers. One of the drivers stole a pair of her undies and ran them up the flag pole. They always camped in the infield. Her favorite driver is and will always be Buck Baker. She is in her late 70's and those races are her favorite memories.
 
MRM said:
Maybe you should find a way to get an infield pass for Bristol. There are always lots of people in there on Cup race days.
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NASCAR used to promote unrealistic race weekend advertisements often showing the "average" fan interacting with the drivers and enjoying pre and post race activities. Fortunately they have cut back on this type of promotion...at least based on what I am seeing.
I understand why the driver access is so limited. Unfortunately there are many individuals that for various reasons do not respect drivers space, time and privacy.
If you want real fan/driver/team interaction head to your local short track or a High Limit or WOO series race.
 
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Formerjackman said:
I don't know what kind of access you had a decade ago, but as a whole access at NASCAR races (which was never great anyway) became MUCH more difficult after 2002. That was when NASCAR started issuing hot and cold passes, and it became MUCH harder to get into certain areas, even when working in support series at the same event. That was also the year when many of the contingency sponsors bailed on NASCAR because the cost of participation went WAY up, and yet they were allowed to do FAR LESS hospitality at the track and FAR FEWER garage tours etc. I understand that the volume of people makes it more difficult at times, but even at its best, the NASCAR fan access model stinks compared to what the NHRA and the sports car series do. Even at most of the tracks built from the mid 90's on, nothing in and around the garage areas were built with fan access and viewing in mind, which is really disappointing to me. Just another case where the decision makers don't quite get it, despite what they say.
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Thanks for your reply. As a younger guy, I spent a lot of time at local tracks. Five bucks to get in, another couple for the pits. I know times have changed, and I'm not really bichin about the money, just about what I got for the money. I didn't much enjoy my Talladega visit, as I went for the track, not so much for the race. And didn't get to see much of the track.
 
sdj said:
Out of all the tracks I have been to, Homestead cooler access sucked the most. I have not been to a race there for a long time, maybe it has improved. The last time I was there they would not let you bring 12oz. plastic bottles of water in, you had to buy everything inside at stupid prices, coolers were pilled up at the entrances.. After the race, traffic control was as stupid as I have ever seen. The last race I was at there, they sent all parking to Florida City, did not use the 4 lane road coming to the track from the Turnpike in Homestead.
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Thanks for your reply. I tend to get to events early and have had no problem with traffic at Homestead. Not with coolers, either. Guess it's hit or miss.
 
DIDIT said:
NASCAR used to promote unrealistic race weekend advertisements often showing the "average" fan interacting with the drivers and enjoying pre and post race activities. Fortunately they have cut back on this type of promotion...at least based on what I am seeing.
I understand why the driver access is so limited. Unfortunately there are many individuals that for various reasons do not respect drivers space, time and privacy.
If you want real fan/driver/team interaction head to your local short track or a High Limit or WOO series race.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply. I understand the security need, but the fun factor got messed with, big time, during my visit. Probably not again. Back to the local tracks (disappearing) for me.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
That's an interesting statement that I don't think I understand. Is that like going to a Packers game to see Lambeau Field?
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Exactly. Like New York for the Empire State Building. I've seen lots of races, but not so many speedways. When our kids were young, we'd bring goggles and stand behind the jet cars staging, and taking off at Moroso Dragway. Awesome. Did a non-NASCAR event at Homestead years back, and the whole place was open to the fans. That's what I was expecting at Talladega. And yes, I'd like to tour Lambeau, too. 😉
 
Charlie Spencer said:
@BoyntonSteve , check out an IMSA or IndyCar event. I'm pretty sure they have more open access than Cup.
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The IMSA (and Grand Am before it) model is quite good. One would have THOUGHT that Jim France would have brought some of that over to the big show. These has to be a way to do nice grid walks and some mandatory autograph sessions, especially since the crowds are a fraction of what they once were. Perhaps do away with the garage model at most tracks and put the cars under canopies where fans can get MUCH closer, the way IMSA, NHRA and some others do.
 
BoyntonSteve said:
Thanks for your reply. As a younger guy, I spent a lot of time at local tracks. Five bucks to get in, another couple for the pits. I know times have changed, and I'm not really bichin about the money, just about what I got for the money. I didn't much enjoy my Talladega visit, as I went for the track, not so much for the race. And didn't get to see much of the track.
Click to expand...

I get what you’re saying about maybe not getting enough bang for your buck. I always felt I got great value when I was at the track but that was many years ago. I realize time changes many things. I hope you go back to the track and really have a good time.
 
Formerjackman said:
The IMSA (and Grand Am before it) model is quite good. One would have THOUGHT that Jim France would have brought some of that over to the big show. These has to be a way to do nice grid walks and some mandatory autograph sessions, especially since the crowds are a fraction of what they once were. Perhaps do away with the garage model at most tracks and put the cars under canopies where fans can get MUCH closer, the way IMSA, NHRA and some others do.
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Thanks. Yes, we did the ST. Petersburg Grand Prix several years ago. Zero restrictions (with pit pass), went everywhere.
 
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