Whenever I roll through the tunnel at Daytona Internataional Speedway on twins day, I can’t help but think of the first time I covered a race at this track. It was for the two qualifying events in 2000, and I was as lost as lost could be.
Nothing could prepare me for how big the track was, how confusing the infield was, and hard it was for a first-timer to find his way around. I picked my way to media parking, got out of the car, grabbed my laptop bag—and proceeded to wander around the infield for over an hour, unable to find any media facility.
Granted, the media center back then was very small. But even so, I should have been able to find it without wandering through the driver/owner lot, past the care center, over to Lake Lloyd, and down the length of the garage. The security and parking folks were as clueless as I was. “Where’s the press area?” I remember asking a security guard alongside pit road. “Over there,” he said, pointing to the press box atop the main grandstand. Then-Busch cars were zipping along during a practice session. I thought: How am I supposed to get over there with all these cars on the track?
Luckily, after nearly 90 minutes, I found another writer who took pity on me and led me to the infield compound, which at the time was as cramped and crowded as the last chopper out of Saigon. So when they announced that we could cross the track to the more spacious press box, I obliged—not knowing that, because of truck practice, we wouldn’t be able to get back cross after the event. That led to another hour on foot, down through the tunnel, and back around to where my car was parked in the infield.
Rest assured, today’s commute went much more smoothly. But I have to ask—what’s the deal with speedway officials blocking off the old tunnel approach, across from Bill France Jr. Drive? Now you’ve got to make a right turn on the airport road and double back, and that right backs up to Cocoa Beach. I had to wedge my way into line in front of a pickup truck bigger than my house. But at least this time, I knew where I was going.
| More blogs from this member | |
| Go to this member's profile | Email to friend |
If you already have a NASCAR.COM account or ID, you can log in to the Community now!
If you do not have a NASCAR.COM account or ID, please register with NASCAR.COM now so you can join the Community and create your profile! It's free!
Final practice at Lowe's Motor Speedway for Saturday night's Bank of America 500 was highlighted ...
After a successful test at Iowa Speedway just two weeks ago, Canadian stock-car standout John Rya...
Having previously won both points races in a single season at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and having a...
NASCAR Hall of Fame executive director Winston Kelley announced Friday that the Petty Blue 1967 P...
All External sites will open in a new browser window. NASCAR.COM does not endorse external sites.
© 2008 NASCAR | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
NASCAR.COM is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
Powered by Cisco Systems, Inc.
2.0.5.4/467 Fri Sep 5 03:26:17 UTC 2008
3 Comments
AugustGTO
Feb 16 2008 19:40
I had a copilot
I won two tickets to the Rolex 24 earlier in the month and would have been lost if not for taking a friend. Question though, do people always fail to clean up after themselves when leaving. Really disrespectfu.
PoetSteffek
Feb 14 2008 11:32
I can imagine
Daytona is crazy! Thanks for sharing. Now I feel bad for Lee Roy Mercer, He is headed there as entertainment, Bet he calls me cursing, and lost,lol… Nawwww, Someone will help him and Jon out. But be on the lookout for NASCAR’s Prank caller, you never know who is on his list! I wrote a new poem about Junior winning the Shoot out. Only a NASCAR fanatic would do what I do for a living,lol.. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Raven73
Feb 14 2008 11:26
Thanks
Gives us a great mental picture of the necessity of “getting there”.
Rheda
Excellent!
Take care and be careful out there!