The Race Fan’s Lifestyle By Bruce Cameron, The Racing Reporter

Although attendance is noticeably down at recent races, the contingent of hard-core race fans is ever-present. Who won the races was inconsequential. What matters is the lifestyle and the experience. Let’s go on a little ride through the infield of Texas Motor Speedway and experience in a small way what it’s like to be near the nucleus of NASCAR action.

Core Party Site in Infield Near Turn 3 TMS. Photo by Bruce Cameron

Two weeks prior to the race, a small city emerges on the infield and at the surrounding camping areas of TMS. Tens of thousands of RV’s, campers, tents, trucks, buses and throngs of Nascar citizens move in. The smell of “NASCAR Napalm” hangs in the air. NASCAR Napalm is a combination of grill smoke, dirt and various waftings of propane, gasoline for generators and 90 weight “whale oil” used in the rear end of the race cars.

Doug Long (left) owner of a Solid Surface Company in Elizabethtown, NC comes early on Friday to Texas to See The Truck Series. Photo by Bruce Cameron

This RV has the Grill Built-In, Parked Trackside Photo by Bruce Cameron

The mood Friday was festive as it was Halloween. Prior to the truck race, costumed kids were seen trick-or-treating throughout the infield. At the conclusion of the truck race, it was the adults’ turn to do their own version of trickin’ and treatin’. Naughty Nurses, Ozzy and Sharon types and others displayed their energy atop million dollar haulers, cheap campers or old converted school buses. The tops of campers and scaffolding made a convenient staging area for the 2 story beer bongs.

Every night, there were cheers, loud music, and merriment from the Crown Royal Coaches on turn 1, make-shift night clubs near Turn 3, and campsites everywhere. With NASCAR fans, it’s all systems go.

There were Marti Gras beads adorned by men and women, along with various levels of dress. Most NASCAR fans express their allegiance by wearing the colors of their favorite driver or his sponsor. T-shirts, hats, flags, and pajamas of all colors covered the infield. One woman got attention with her shirt that asks Dale Jr., “Do you want to Mount An Dew Me?”

A Lady Fan Showed Me Her Campground (She Has One at Home) "Jimmie Johnson Love Nest" . Photo by Bruce Cameron

If you are rich enough to be near turn one and have pavement, you can easily ride your bike, motorized beer cooler or skate on a rip stick to your site. Many others ride bikes as a necessity for food, bathroom access or visitation. Golf carts clog makeshift roads and passageways. Some fans who needed a lift, would grab a rope and a skateboard to be pulled to their destination by one of the motorized carts or pit bikes. People have been known to be intoxicated, go to neighboring camps, knock on doors and ask to borrow your gas-powered cart to “drive around and drink beer.” The incredible part of this in addition to their blood alcohol level is their sense of entitlement.

Many camp sites were enjoying multi-player games such as Wii sports. These don’t go so well if you are under the influence. Several players were in deep denial and continued to play despite their very poor performance (with the game and otherwise). Other games were played where intoxication was not quite a hindrance – dice were rolled to determine how many drinks were to be consumed, cards were dealt to determine who consumes, etc. Jello shots were consumed by the hundreds along the backstretch.

These Ladies "Roughed It" from Highland Park- Emerging to the Rooftop for their Command Performance. Photo by George Walker

Last year a couple married atop of an RV at Turn 2, you know, near the family that has the lit palm trees. This year, one bold fan proposed to his girlfriend on camera during the pre-race show. (She said “Yes”). How romantic.

Young Love from Atop of an RV in the Infield. Photo by Bruce Cameron

Race Pool. Each person puts in $10 to 43 (drivers) participants in the pool. Each person draws a number 1 to 43. The first person gets to nominate their winning driver and so on. After the 10 draft, the pickings get slim. Most infield campers play winner-take-all.

Redneck Golf, AKA Blongo Golf or ladder Golf was a popular way to pass time. The rules for playing are simple and easy to learn. Officially, the goals should be 25 feet apart, but one reason the game is so popular with so many different groups is that the distance between goals can also be closer. Two balls, connected by a rope, are thrown by holding one ball in your hand and swinging it slowly back and forth underhanded. When ready, throw the ball at the opposite goal releasing so the ball flies with a backward rotation. Points are scored when the ball hangs from one of the horizontal bars of the goal. The game is played until one person or team reaches exactly 21 points.
You may throw a ball and knock your opponent’s ball off of a horizontal bar. This removes the corresponding points from your opponent’s total and is a legitimate defensive strategy. Are you hooked yet?

BlongoBall- A Nascar Campground Favorite. Photo by George Walker

Greg and Leah McCann have a nice full-sized RV next door to the Crown Royal party coaches. Their openness, friendliness and enthusiasm was entirely self-generated. After spending time with this couple, I know they are the “real deal”. Both shared part of their past that took a toll on their marriage but conversely allowed them the choice to become more involved in their faith. They met at Filthy McNasty’s Bar in Arlington years ago, realizing that this was not the best foundation for a productive marriage. With time, wounds healed and now they witness to others in a very genuine way staying focused on the Lord, but also mindful of the time because the race will begin shortly after the REO Speedwagon concert on the track.

The McCann’s host the only church services available to the infield inhabitants. After years of camping in the infield they became aware of the availability of church services for the drivers in the garage area, but none in the infield. The McCanns stated that they have been NASCAR fans since 1991. They are members of 121 Community Church in Grapevine, Texas and are truly blessed to be able to have the space, interest and participation of the Race Track Chaplain, Tony Edwards to conduct a Sunday Service at 10am. Raceway Ministries furnishes Chaplain Edwards and flyers to advertize services. “Flyers have to get delivered before too late the night before, while folks are still sober. We used to start at 9 a.m., but of course, no one was awake yet. People ask us if they can bring their beer to service. We want people to know about Jesus and share the gospel. We have no dress code, just come. Our largest attendance was close to 35 people.” I attended the service and counted 25 in attendance. There were others standing nearby in the perimeters. Attenders left with energy and enthusiasm. No beer was seen at this service, though I suspect several of the attendees began their alcohol consumption shortly after the conclusion of the service.

Greg and Leah McAnn on their Church/RV at TMS 2009. Photo by Bruce Cameron

Where is the gratuitous Penthouse or Joe Francis “Girls Gone Wild” part of this story? With hard economic times and reduced attendance, a veritable “sausage-fest” was created. Many of the women present in the infield camp sites came with their men, or were part of a corporate situation, that inhibited them from going all out. What ever you came to the track with is what you got.

Not Quite the Church Group on This Infield RV. Photo by Bruce Cameron

As predicted, pre-race activities ensued. TMS President Eddie Gossage thanked the crowd for coming to the race, despite hard economic times. Carl Edwards, number 99, won just as he did in April. At the conclusion of the race the infield got very quiet, as many people packed up and rolled on out of the track, flooding Highway 114. I went to the track, picked up some lug nuts for my friends and family, turned in the race scanner and got in the traffic line behind them.

Bruce Cameron,  The Racing Reporter

TMS President Eddie Gossage Conquering Cancer

Irving Texas
”Gossage made his first public appearance Thursday since revealing in July that he had cancer, though at the request of his family hasn’t disclosed the type diagnosed last fall.”You may not recognize me,” said Gossage, who wore with his customary dark suit a NASCAR Sprint Cup cap on his mostly bald head that resulted from chemotherapy. “I spent the summer pulling my hair out over the lack of media coverage of the new Cowboys Stadium.”That lighthearted jab at the Cowboys, the popular NFL team in the same market as his 1½-mile track, was classic Gossage, the showman known for his enthusiasm and promotional stunts.Gossage took a leave of absence in June after the IndyCar Series race at the track. He returned to work in August and his first public appearance since was to promote the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nov. 8 race at Texas.”

Eddie Gossage covering Pre-Race Issues 2009. Photo by Bruce Cameron

I feel great, better than I have in years,” Gossage said.The 50-year-old’s hair is starting to grow back, though his dark beard has been replaced by a goatee that is predominantly gray — “I haven’t seen my face since the 70s,” he said. Gossage has also slimmed down, losing about 30 pounds after not wanting to eat for five or six weeks during his treatment.Gossage has been in Texas since the track’s inception, initially promoting a construction site in a rural area north of Fort Worth with the promise of races to come. The first NASCAR race was in April 1997.Among things Gossage has done to promote events at the track include escalating Danica Patrick’s light shove of Dan Wheldon on pit row at a previous IndyCar Series race into a weeklong “Rumble at the Speedway” buildup, and billboards for a NASCAR race that raised the ire of the Earnhardt family.Gossage once offered NASCAR drivers $15,000 for throwing a helmet in a fit of anger during competition (he got no takers), and tried to lure open-wheel drivers Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr. out of retirement to race with sponsorship offers. There was an all-female pit crew for a NASCAR truck race, prerace motorcycle jumps by Robbie Knievel, and much more.Track officials long lauded the fact that eight Texas Stadiums could fit on its infield. The Cowboys make their regular season debut in the new nearly $1.2 billion stadium this week — Gossage has said 4½ of those would fit.While Gossage said he got a few new ideas while away from work, there was plenty of time he didn’t even think about the job.”Honestly, I put my mind in idle and just didn’t think a lot about it,” Gossage said. “There were a few weeks there where I was so sick that I didn’t think about it. … I didn’t worry about the speedway because (the management staff) had it well in hand, and that helped me focus on my recovery.”Sprint Cup drivers Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin, who were on a teleconference from New York with Texas media members, warmly greeted Gossage when introduced Thursday.Gossage described the outpouring of support during his illness as “pretty amazing.” He said he got cards and letters from people worldwide, including drivers and fans.

Virginia Native Hamlin Wins Chevy Rock & Roll 400; Chase Field Set

Virginia Native Hamlin Wins Chevy Rock & Roll 400; Chase Field Set

Text Adapted from NASCAR

RICHMOND, VA. – The Chase is on.

Twenty-six races into the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, there are now 12 drivers with a chance to win the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

The suspense of who would make that field culminated Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway.

Denny Hamilin 2009 Photo by Bruce Cameron

Local native Denny Hamlin from Chesapeake finally won a NASCAR Sprint Cup race at his home track after coming “oh, so close” so many times before. He also did it in convincing style, battling door-to-door with Jeff Gordon along the way. It was Hamlin’s second win of the season in his FedEx Toyota. He won earlier this year at Pocono.

Denny Hamlin. File photo by George Walker.

Hamlin is one of the 12 Chase participants but his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch didn’t make it. Hamlin had locked in a spot before the race but Kyle needed to finish well ahead of Brian Vickers to make it. Kyle finished fifth but Vickers was seventh and wound up grabbing the 12th spot by eight points over Busch.

Kurt Busch finished second and made the Chase. Jeff Gordon was third and in The Chase.

Everybody’s favorite, Mark Martin, was fourth and secured a Chase spot and there wasn’t a happier man in Virginia on Saturday night when this race ended.

Kyle finished fifth and Clint Bowyer was sixth. Vickers was seventh and former Indianapolis 500 winner Sam Hornish finished eighth. Kevin Harvick was ninth and Ryan Newman 10th, which earned him a slot in the Chase, along with his car owner Tony Stewart, who had a rough night and wound up 17th.

Jimmy Johnson finished 11th and he’s in the Chase, along with 12th-place finisher Kasey Kahne and 13th-place finisher Greg Biffle. Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya also made the Chase. It will be Montoya’s first Chase as well as the first for team owner Chip Ganassi.

Former series champion Matt Kenseth finished 25th and failed to qualify for the Chase for the first time.

The first race in the Chase begins Sunday, Sept. 20 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Saturday night’s race at Richmond had so many scripts, you couldn’t keep up. If so-and-so finished 20th or better, he made the Chase. If another driver finished 32nd, he made it.

This one was one for the record books, as only four drivers were guaranteed spots in the Chase to the NASCAR Sprint Cup and another eleven were in position to make it with either good luck for themselves or bad luck for others.

The ageless Martin, hoping to be one of the 12 contenders, started from the pole position after a late shower wet the track and delayed the start.

Martin kept the lead with local favorite Hamlin in his shadow. Hamlin passed Martin on Lap five.

Scott Speed brought out the first caution when he lost it off Turn 4 and hit the outside wall.

Hamlin maintained the lead after a restart and at 40 laps led Martin, Gordon, Martin Truex Jr., Kahne, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Vickers, Harvick and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Another caution slowed the field at Lap 46 when David Stremme, Reed Sorensen and Stewart tried to maneuver Turn 4 while three abreast. Sorensen and Stewart spun.

Hamlin went out front again when the race restarted on Lap 50. Another caution was necessary when Regan Smith’s Chevy lost power on Lap 57.

On this restart at Lap 67, Hamlin held the lead with Gordon next, followed by Martin, Truex, Kurt Busch, Earnhardt, Harvick, Johnson, Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Montoya, Kahne, Vickers, Marcos Ambrose and Jamie McMurray. The Roush Fenway Racing drivers, at this point in the race, were pushing it to make the Chase with Edwards 20th, Biffle 24th and Kenseth 25th.

Gordon went back in front of Hamlin shortly before the 100-lap mark. A caution fell again on Lap 107.

Gordon held the lead until Hamlin slipped past on Lap 147. Another caution flew on Lap 173 for debris.

Casey Mears and Jeff Gordon Know that Hamlin is a Force to be Reckoned With..Photo by Bruce Cameron

At the half-way point of 200 laps, here’s how things stood: Hamlin continued to swap the lead with Gordon and Martin ran a strong third.

Another caution fell shortly after halfway when Regan Smith’s bad luck continued and something broke on his car.

Nascar and Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine would not ordinarily be associated with NASCAR.  But recently it’s been quite the news item with the Jeremy Mayfield procedings.  The sport is all about safety for drivers and fans.  How could this drug become a part of an otherwise family-friendly culture?  When drug tests reveal the presence of these or other chemicals, then the stories fly.  This article will take a brief look at “meth” and why it might be used by a race car driver…to get high or was it a performance enhancement?

Jeremy Mayfield April 2009 Photo by George Walker

Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, injected, or orally ingested. The preferred method of methamphetamine abuse varies by geographical region and has changed over time. Smoking methamphetamine, which leads to very fast uptake of the drug in the brain, has become more common in recent years, amplifying methamphetamine’s addiction potential and adverse health consequences.

The drug also alters mood in different ways, depending on how it is taken. Immediately after smoking the drug or injecting it intravenously, the user experiences an intense rush or “flash” that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting or oral ingestion produces euphoria – a high but not an intense rush. Snorting produces effects within 3 to 5 minutes, and oral ingestion produces effects within 15 to 20 minutes.

As with similar stimulants, methamphetamine most often is used in a “binge and crash” pattern. Because the pleasurable effects of methamphetamine disappear even before the drug concentration in the blood falls significantly – users try to maintain the high by taking more of the drug. In some cases, abusers indulge in a form of binging known as a “run,” foregoing food and sleep while continuing abuse for up to several days.

The psychological effects are notably powerful.  Users have indicated that meth fills you with pride, well-being, happiness, determination, and a huge self-esteem that the person is willing to protect by all means more than ever before. While you are feeling better then ever before, not realizing that you are actually falling, and in a sense becoming a different person, with a different personality, a whole new character, while the “true” you is still present, but being locked up behind a barrier that prevents any and all of your former morals, personalities, and beliefs from playing any roles within this new person. Like a glass wall leaving you at times able to see thru and sometimes feel from what you used to be, but never able to penetrate. It’s when you have your first experience with the feelings of your former self, which rarely happens, and for some, may never happen, that you first realize you are addicted.

I applaud NASCAR for it’s rigor in testing and perseverance, in attempting to keep (select) drivers safe from themselves.  Whether it be steroids or stimulants, the athlete always loses in the end.  And in this case, many fans and associates of Mr. Mayfield must be on an emotional roller-coaster that includes, anger, sadness, shock and perhaps a touch of empathy.  Many will have to recover from this episode. Let’s hope it’s the last of this variety in NASCAR.

Bruce Cameron, The Nascar Analyst

Tony Stewart Helps Bristol

(BMS) — NASCAR Sprint Cup point leader Tony Stewart knows how valuable tickets are to the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. That’s why he stopped by the World’s Fastest Half-Mile Thursday, July 30.

Stewart was in the Speedway ticket office, helping sell some of the remaining tickets to NASCAR’s most popular race, but some fans received a little something extra from him upon purchasing tickets. Stewart donated some his own Sharpie 500 tickets that he gave away to a few lucky fans that afternoon.

The Sharpie 500 Sprint Cup event is the last of four exciting night races that will take place at the BMS in August. Race week kicks off with a doubleheader Wednesday, Aug. 19 as the Whelen Modified Series takes to the track for the first time in the UNOH Perfect Storm 150, followed by the O’Reilly 200 Camping World Truck Series.

In the not so distant past, Bristol would be sold out a year in advance.  The last race held at Bristol did not sell out until the day before the race. Certainly, the economy has dealt a blow to the timeliness of the sell-out status.  Having Stewart come out and interact with fans was just a great win-win for Bruton Smith and Stewart Haas ventures.

The Nascar Golf Connection

NASCAR drivers love golf, especially in charity tournaments, when drivers routinely emerge from their cars to tee off in numerous charity events. Quite often these events are in Florida, a state where golf and NASCAR often dominate the sports pages. Texas is another possible venue for this to happen. The HP Byron Nelson is coming in May. Will there be Nascar celebrities at the Byron Nelson Pro-Ams this year on May 17-24th?

The Nelson is in Irving, Texas, only a few miles east of the Texas Motor Speedway. This is a good opportunity for Nascar drivers and executives to participate in a tournament that also has a huge impact on a charitable organization.

The Salesmanship Club has a rich history of serving children in our community. Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, a proud partner of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, currently operates innovative programs for children and their families, including the J. Erik Jonsson Community School in Oak Cliff (south Dallas), and child and family mental health centers in Oak Cliff and the Stemmons (I-35e) corridor. From educational services for at-risk kids to therapy services for troubled kids, the charity beneficiary of the HP Byron Nelson Championship has continued to serve Dallas kids and families since 1920.

I remember the Homestead-Miami Speedway Celebrity Golf Classic, for example. This event was held at Doral Golf Resort & Spa; some of the biggest names in all of NASCAR came to take their hacks for a worthy cause. The 2007 version included such hard-driving luminaries as Juan Pablo Montoya, Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace, as well as stars from other sports like Lawrence Taylor and Gary Carter.

Golf and Nascar can mutually benefit from tournaments such as these. With the DFW metorplex being the nation’s 7th largest media market, Nascar golfers might want to take a second look at larger tournaments. Thousands of fans might come to see their favorite Nascar celebrity while helping a great charity in the process.

Bruce Cameron, Nascar Analyst