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