The band "Kansas" performed a concert prior to the start of the race at the Kansas Speedway

People swarmed to listen and stayed after for the introduction of the drivers. This was open to the everyone without having to purchase any additional tickets.

Prior to the race the crowd around the stadium were entertained by a group of the top Moto Cross Drivers doing high flips and stunts.

Going to a  Sprint NASCAR race is more than going to see 43 cars go around an oval track. i had the good fortune to be given tickets for the race at the Kansas Speedway for my first NASCAR Race. Like many people i have talked to prior to going to the race, my expectations were about seeing cars wreck, spin out, and roll over. How wrong I was.

If you are going to a NASCAR race be prepared to go early. The race may start at noon or there abouts, but don't plan to arrive at the last minute an expect to be seated at race time. Don't think you can park and walk right in, and if you plan to tailgate with a group plan to arrive early.

I arrived at 9:30 AM and the parking lots were full up to lot 15. So if I parked in the designated parking i would have about a 20 to 30 minute walk to the track area. I was fortunate that I followed other drivers and parked in a field next to the entry and my walk was only 15 minutes. i didn't plan to tailgate but i wish i had come much earlier. to be able to take everything in I should have been at the track by 7AM.

 My walk to the track took me by several family and friends tailgating and at many i would stop and ask "Where's mine?" To which the replies were, "How do you want your steak? ' or "What kind of beer do you drink?" Or "We have plenty have a seat". The friendliness of everyone was like one big family getting together for a family outing.

Everywhere you looked you saw the flags of the different drivers, people wearing the jacket or shirt of the driver they liked, Windows were painted with slogans, flag poles were draped with banners of other races attended. Trucks, cars, and RVs intermingled with the occasional bike. people were happy and looking forward to the race. if the economy was bad don't tell this group they weren't aware of it.

Just outside the track were a stream of Semi Trailers each with the logo's and images of the driver who's memorabilia they were selling. All the drivers were represented and at each trailer was a line of people making purchases. You could find a T Shirt, Sweatshirt or a coat, a hat, replica car or mug. It was fascinating to watch as people shouted over the noise of the other activities and pulled out their check book and credit cards. i got in the game too, I rented a set of head phones to listen to the drivers during the race.

Away from the Semi Aisles were the places you could visit and sign up for information about the sponsors of the drivers and cars. i visited the Jack Daniels tent and tricked the cute girls into a kiss on the cheek. I guess i looked harmless as an old man and they went along with it. i also got my picture taken with the hand form hamburger helper, along side car number 9, and with one of the sprint girls.

There was a band playing country music, a booth handing out Tums samples, Another booth offering a chance to win prizes by tossing beans bags. You could stand in line and have the chance to drive in a simulator with a big screen track to follow, They had booths for the kids to play games and win prizes as well.

And like so many events they had food booths where you could get pizza from Papa Johns and look at his famous car. Oscar Myers had the wiener mobile there, and many more throughout the area. Because i came so late there was not enough time to take it all in.

Once inside the seating area you are quickly overcome by the smell of food. You have your choice of so many things like smoked turkey legs, polish sausage, hot dogs, pizza, taco's, nachos, kettle corn, and much more. For drinks you could have beer, wine, mixed drinks, water, and a variety of soda's. The down side was the cost. Drinks were $6 or $8, and food was the same. But like the semi trailers there were lines everywhere and people spending money like there was no tomorrow.

The seating at the track runs from the end of Turn four to the end of turn one. My seat was high up right at the finish line,  I could see the entire track as well as the infield and the pits. The gates were open to the public so that you could go on the infield and listen to the band "Kansas" play and then be there for introduction of the drivers. for those on the ends of the seating there were two giant screens to view the happenings and the race.

With all the people walking a sitting on the infield you might expect trash everywhere, but as the people were asked to return to their seats a crew of many walked behind and picked up everything and it looked as if no one had been there. I was amazed.

I had seen many things and was content to this point but I was not prepared for race beginning.As the cars traveled the track heating up the tires, and getting into position the noise level began to build and when they dropped the green flag and everyone was standing and cheering the 43 cars roared by with such a thunderous din that I was unable to hear a sound from anyone around me. I was thankful that I had rented the head sets as the noise was muffled to a level I could hear again.

While this race was uneventful as races go the last ten laps to the finish was exciting for evryone. Tony Stewart was victorious in the end and he seemed to be a crowd favorite. My personal favorite was Mark Martin, I wore a cap from the time he was in car number 6.

Remember what i said about the parking and getting in, well getting out is when the fun begins. Everyone is in a hurry, cars are cutting each other off, horns are blaring, and people get frustrated. You can tell the ones who have had to much to drink by the glazed look in thier eyes. They have been in the sun for four hours and the drinks have taken effect. They have the race on their minds and become wanta be NASCAR drivers,

We were again fortunate that we had parked on the grass. Many of the cars had already left and it was easy to get in line to leave. They offer a lot of traffic controllers and keep the cars moving at a good pace. We were out of the area in less than 5 minutes. had we been in the interior parking it might have taken hours.

So if you are going to the races remmeber: Go early, take losts of cash, Use sunscreen, carry a jacket and sunglasses. If you want to see the action up close bring binoculars. Use ear plugs or head sets to help with the noise. Have fun.