Racin' at The Rock

[B-flat]

Ok race fans!  This weekend is the Subway 400 at North Carolina Speedway, aka The Rock near Rockingham, NC.  I know that byrdr1 is on the way today and he's camping with a bunch of friends.  Anyone else going?  For some reason, there never seems to be a sellout of tickets at The Rock and that track is very competitive.  So, if you don't have tickets, go ahead and call and order yours and then pick up on the way in.  On the Hamlet side with the new seating and concessions stands, tickets start at $45 for the Sunday race and I think it's just $35 for the Saturday race.  Because of work I will miss Saturday's but I may have to stay home and watch on the big screen.  It will be shown on the Fox network.  For more information, go to:  //www.northcarolinaspeedway.com

[Gone-Camping]

You know... those are about the lowest price tickets for a NEXTEL Cup race I've ever seen. Considering I'm within a couple hours of the place, it probably would be well worth going. However, being as I JUST got back to having a regular paycheck after the Satellite Dish fiasco and going a month without any pay?!?!?! Ah well, maybe we'll still be able to buy RIR tickets from Louise!!!! (....maybe....)

[labontefan]

I wish!!  However, my available time off just covers my usual racing weekends...haven't figured out how to add any additional ones yet!

Just a little over a month till Bristol!!

[JonesFamilyJayco]

Should be a great race!  I think I may try to go.

[dee106]

we will be watching (on tv)

[Flacamper]

Today is the day.  GO #24

[tlhdoc]

Who Cares???  

[Flacamper]

Who Cares???

Hey, them's fight'n words:eek:

[B-flat]

Yeah, Tracy....better watch out trying to mess with racin' fans.    :eek:

Great job done by Matt Kenseth #17.  There was lots of fast action at the Rock today.  Little E came in 5th and I know a lot of fans were pulling for him.

[dee106]

kenny and gary are going to get ya!

[JonesFamilyJayco]

We had a GREAT time at the race today!!!  My son at first said he did not want to go, but he changed his mind early this morning as I was leaving.  I cannot leave my buddy behind, so I got a few things together & we left for the race.  Rockingham is about 2 hours from our home and the traffic was no problem (unlike my trips to Lowe's Motor Speedway).  

The track just emerges out of nowhere along rural US 1.  The whole area is thick with beautiful pine trees.  The campsites next to the track (private) were very nice.  From what I could see of the track's campground, it was nice, too (not as crowded nor as far away as in Charlotte).  We definately will be back next year & will plan on camping!

My son enjoyed the activites around the track & he did well in the stands for the race.  I had purchased a used scanner & 2 headphones from ebay & they made the race that much more interesting.  I like hearing the preparations & behind the sceen comments of the MRN radio broadcast.  We would switch over to the drivers during a caution; that is when they talked the most.  

I hope my buddy will grow up to be a big race fan & we can plan more trips to other race tracks.

[B-flat]

Well, boogity,boogity,boogity!  (Something only real race fans will understand.  Right?)  Tracy, go figure that one out.    

Great race report from JonesFamily and hope that you will go and camp next time.  I hope I will be there camping too.  It was a very nice day for the race and the Rock is rarely a sellout.  The traffic is really routed out of there pretty fast.  The choice camping fills us and is first come, first served on the private lands.  Track camping area is a bit more pricey but really not too bad.  On Friday night I was somewhere around the Cameron area south of Sanford and noticed lots of motor homes and several popups heading south to the track to get into place.  Traffic was also heading south at a steady pace from 8am onward for the Sunday race today.

Congrats to Matt Kenseth on his win plus we were put on the edge of our seats as #9 edged up on his right at the last split second! :Oops:  So much for Ganassi's whining.

[byrdr1]

HEY, HEY,HEYY.....
The races was great.....The camping was MUCH better............
JonesFamilyJayco I had your spot right next to us all picked out...
Started my trip to the what might be the LAST race at Rockingham at 5am Friday morning. Had one of the guys riding down sleep in the camper in my driveway Thursday night. We all got on the raod at 6am and made my way past BFlat's home or at least somewhere near where she lives. Nancy great breakfast at MAc's...
We got to the track at around 9am. Sites were up from $50.00 to $80.00 this is becasue this might be the last race and they onlyu have one a year now!
Found our spot near a lone pinetree andgot the camper set up in 15 minutes.
Spent the next 30 minutes getting my campsite racin' ready.. anybody thats ever been knows what this is...
We went up the track and what a show they going on. NEXTEL has stepped up to the plate here.... They did a good job as far as making things fan friendly..
Walked and checked out all the drivers trucks and bought a few goodies for my truck and t-shirts for the number one son....
We had a good time walking around and talking to racing folks. Got interviewed by FOX 8 News from HighPoint. Told us to watch the news at 5:30. to see it. Robert talked about 3-4 minute and one of the guys with said a few words. Guess who was onthe news, not Robert but the guy and the other had a voice over..
All in all this was one of the better races I have seen at the Rock. Plus the weather.... 65-70 All day friday, 45-50 that night.
75 Saturday and cold that night down to 35. Sunday was around 65 at race time.. HOt in the stands. I had to just wear a t-shirt until about half way then my sweatshirt...
Folks the only reason the Rock has a hard time fillingup is the weather is never what it should be this time of the year in NC. It is called the spring race, we are still in WINTER here. Calling for snow/ice mix later inthe week..
If this race was the last weeeknd in march or sometime inAPRIL it would be a sell out.. If it goes away..I am going to be POed.....This was the 6 year we have gone to at least one race at Rockingham and some years we have made both...
Cliff you should have come down it was nice...
I am rambling now.. SO Go Mark Martin who is not a cheater.....dumb rookies....

[B-flat]

Hey Randy.  Thanks for the heads up on the eating place.  Only people who love to eat know all the great eating spots. Right?  Well, I am glad you went while I was out working until 2:30.  Got home to grab some lunch and settle in about the time of the big wreck when Bobby Labonte was almost under 46.  #9 had everyone sitting on the edge of their seats at the end.  I'm yelling go, go, go when Kenseth was at the finish. :cool:   Sorry your buddy Mark didn't win.  I admire and respect him as a driver.  He's usually at one of the local eating places on Friday night.  Next time maybe we all go there to eat.  Is that OK with you and your crowd?   Yes, I know my racin'.