If You Haven’t Been to a NASCAR Race, You Must Go
The NASCAR Cup Sequence first launched on the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, for the inaugural EchoPark Automotive Texas Grand Prix in 2021. Its fourth 12 months in, NASCAR plus Texas continues to be a heady mixture and getting higher on a regular basis. Its newest NASCAR occasion passed off final Sunday, and I received to convey two very particular visitors to the race with me: my mother and pop.
Toyota Motorsports communications supervisor Sam Mahoney met us on the circuit and guided us by the gauntlet of badge-checking and wristband-getting and made certain all of us had a good time. Neither Mother nor Dad had ever attended a NASCAR race earlier than this, and it was an journey. Truthfully, they couldn’t cease smiling.
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NASCAR Nonetheless Thrills
I divested myself of any preconceived notions about NASCAR occasions and its followers a number of years in the past after I attended my first race with Lexus on the Sonoma Raceway. It was there that I met Hailie Deegan, a member of racing royalty and now a racing star. I additionally met Jill Gregory, then the top of NASCAR advertising and marketing and later the final supervisor and govt vice chairman of the Sonoma Raceway itself.
This time, I joined Toyota for a Sunday filled with fast-paced leisure. Whereas the final viewership of NASCAR has been trending down these days, it’s removed from going away any time quickly. As automakers like Toyota proceed to compete and innovate with new options and engineering, there’s at all times alternative for progress.
Actually, Toyota is killing it on the monitor as the one producer competing in NASCAR with three completely different automobiles throughout the three nationwide sequence. One is the Camry (NASCAR Cup Sequence, which is the one I watched in Austin), the GR Supra (NASCAR Xfinity Sequence) and the Tundra TRD Professional (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence). Over the past 17 years, Toyota has notched 180 wins and three championships within the NASCAR Cup Sequence, 228 wins and 9 Truck Sequence championships, and 4 titles within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence. Very spectacular.
Should you’re questioning how the standard Camry sedan may presumably be a rowdy monitor monster, you’re not alone – I questioned the identical factor. Outfitted with a robust V8 engine and particular handbook transmission, the NASCAR model of the Camry seems acquainted, however it acts very in a different way. Sort of like NFL participant Travis Kelce on the soccer area versus his gentle-giant demeanor round his girlfriend, Taylor Swift.
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We Met Toyota Driver Christopher Bell
Within the Toyota suite, we met Christopher Bell, who competes within the quantity 20 automobile for Joe Gibbs Racing. The Oklahoma native smiled all through the meet and greet, patiently taking images with each household who approached him after a quick question-and-answer session. He could have a child face, however the 29-year-old has been married to his longtime girlfriend, Morgan Kemenah, since 2020 and has earned a powerful variety of wins thus far.
Christopher is understood to be a doting husband. Throughout our meetup, he talked about that his spouse travels with him and made it clear that she is a crucial a part of his life. She understands the enterprise of racing because the daughter of dash automobile crew chief Brian Kemanah and niece of dash automobile driver Chad Kemenah.
After assembly Christopher, my mother and father and I headed to the storage, the place we received to see the automobile earlier than it went out on the monitor. Then, we walked alongside pit street to look at the crews and drivers get able to rumble. Sam led us to our seats for the beginning of the race, which was a uncommon deal with – sitting behind the crew chief and an array of screens proper there behind the pit crews. We donned headphones linked to a radio so we may hear the dialog between the drivers and crew.
After all, we have been cheering for Christopher Bell and watched intently.
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The NASCAR Pit Crews Are Unreal
One of many coolest issues to look at at a NASCAR race is the pit crew in motion throughout a tire change and gas cease. Whereas road automobiles have 5 lug nuts holding the wheel in place, NextGen NASCAR automobiles modified to a single, highly effective lug nut in 2021.
Each time a automobile stopped in one of many pits close to us, we craned our necks to gawk on the unbelievable athleticism of the crews tasked with altering 4 tires and fueling up the automobile in about 10 seconds. We may inform when the crews have been ramping up for a cease as a result of hoods would go up, helmets would go on, and fireplace aprons could be donned. Some bounced on their heels, prepared to tear as quickly because the automobile pulled up.
The tempo is dizzying and wonderful, as these extremely educated folks used high-powered instruments to make sure their driver may get again on the monitor as rapidly as attainable.
Professional Tip: Go VIP, if You Can
NASCAR is a singularly thrilling expertise. You possibly can completely purchase cheap seats on the garden or within the bleachers, and the tracks do a terrific job offering household enjoyable, meals, and actions for everybody. However for those who can swing it, splurge for a spot in one of many VIP suites, which value upwards of $900 at COTA. That features meals, meet and greets just like the one we had with Christopher, and entry to a few of the greatest seats in the home.
In the long run, Christopher received the primary stage and positioned second within the championship. Watching my mother and father cheer for him was superior for me; I’ve a grateful coronary heart that I may do one thing particular for the individuals who raised me to like automobiles. Due to Toyota, we received to create household reminiscences I’ll always remember.
