my last off day of the spring season

and so it is finally upon me - the last day I go without live racing in the spring season...

...of course Sunday will begin another off-season until I get to Pocono Raceway for the newly named "Party In The Poconos 400" June 7 weekend.  It's a much shorter off season for me - 5 weeks opposed to these past 8 weeks I had to suffer through.

Doc's Place

I have an 11:30-1:00 meeting, have myself some lunch and then hit the home stretch until my 5:00 bell rings!  I'll then make my way home to walk my dog, Don Mattingly (yes, I was a huge fan of the "Hitman"), on this beautiful April Thursday afternoon.

Don Mattingly

It looks as though the weather a little further south in Richmond, VA is even nicer per @RIRInsider's photos.

Then it's time to pack my bags, eat some dinner and head to sleep a little early for the 4:45 AM wake-up call.  Thank God the airport is only a 20 minute drive from home.

See you tomorrow, Richmond International Raceway!

- @themike79

greater Richmond area map

...continued from Race #2 @ Richmond International Raceway

I promised a map of the great Richmond area so here it is - showing some of my favorite places and the proximity of everything (one of the reasons I chose RIR as my first planned trip).

@themike79 's map of the greater Richmond area

Richmond International Raceway   @RIRInsider

   600 E Laburnum Ave            Ricmond, VA

Richmond International Airport      @Flack4RIC

   1 Richard E Byrd Terminal Dr   Richmond, VA

Downtown/Shockoe
   Omni Richmond Hotel    
          http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/Richmond.aspx
   The Tobacco Company  
          http://www.thetobaccocompany.com/
   Sine Irish Pub              
          http://www.sineirishpub.com/
   City Dogs                      
          http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Dogs/153572520666

Buz & Ned's                                 http://buzandneds.com/
   1119 North Blvd                  Richmond, VA

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery   @Hardywood
   2408 Ownby Ln                  Richmond, VA

Sweet Frog                                  http://sweetfrogyogurt.com/

my last off weekend of the spring season

So here we are with NASCAR heading into America's heartland @ Kansas Speedway after the first night race of the season...
I always look at the Texas night race as a warm up for the NASCAR schedule's prime night racing season which starts @ Richmond International Raceway next weekend, then passes through Darlington, Daytona, Bristol, Atlanta and then culminating w/ that one last race to make the chase back at Richmond.

Entering Kansas, I have a few questions (all relating to Denny Hamlin):

   How much media will Denny Hamlin garner this weekend? (after all, he did win this race last year)
   Would Denny have been a favorite @ Kansas if he were racing?
   Will this be Denny Hamlin's last off weekend of the spring season?

He tweeted this week asking NASCAR for the points they took from Penske:

In the NYC area, this time of year provides us with our first glimpse of spring - warm weather, trees starting to bloom, boats going back in the water and me wearing flip-flops & shorts way too early.  And oh yeah, it's the time of year where I get to make my first visit of the season to Richmond! (will we see Denny there?)

Richmond International Raceway (Spring 2011)

I am more than excited that I'll be hopping on a plane in less than 7 days (6 days & 14 hours to be exact) - this is the first time since the spring 2010 race my wife will be accompanying me.  This time we won't be partaking in the Richmond 2 Person Tailgate since we're bringing another couple along for the experience.  It will be their first time to a NASCAR race and I'm willing to bet not their last.

On Friday morning, we'll make our way into the downtown area known as Shockoe Slip to check into our hotel.  It's a great downtown neighborhood w/ hotels, restaurants, bars and adorned w/ great architecture & cobblestone streets.  It's a great place to stay during race weekend - the best of both worlds w/ the city night life & restaurants combined with America's #1 sport within a 5 mile drive.

Shockoe Slip

After checking out the downtown, we'll probably head over to grab some lunch at  Buz and Ned's Real BBQ which has been featured on the travel channel (most likely because I had been there previously).  Immediately following lunch, we'll make our way over to the track for some tailgating w/ friends, which is definitely better than the Richmond 1 person tailgate I had last September on my last (of 4) bachelor party.

the Richmond 1 person tailgate

It looks as though if I'm craving some more BBQ while tailgating, I'll be able to get my fix at the track:  RIR Local Food.

The first round of tailgating (which is a warm-up similar to the night race @ Texas Motor Speedway) will be short lived as it's time to head into the track to watch some qualifying and then some NASCAR Nationwide Racing.  Here's to hoping this spring's Nationwide race is as exciting as last year's!

Dale Jr Coors Light pole winner @ RIR 2012

Following the Nationwide race is when the fun escalates to a new level - I'll follow up with a story on that one...  ...or follow it live @themike79.

See you in less than a week, Richmond! 

my second to last off weekend of the spring season

This past weekend was the 6th race of the season I watched from my couch since being at the 2013 Daytona 500.

Jimmie Johnson's winning #48 car c/o mopar1

Even though she is into a different type of racing, my wife Danielle (Life Love and Long Runs) watched the race w/ me until about 20 laps to go and then went up to get ready for bed.  She is a bit of a swimmer, cyclist, runner - these athletic people are known as triathletes. (not something I was familiar with before I met her)

I soon followed her to bed following the race (which was easy due to the race's winner) because I was planning on waking up at 5:30 Sunday morning to watch her race in the Fitness Women's Half Marathon in NYC.  FYI - I'm into watching all types of racing.

We left our house at 6:00 AM and made our way into the city, where I dropped her off to meet a friend who was also racing.  I then made my way into Times Square, which is a very different place at 7:00 AM, to #FlyYours - see @RIRInsider #FlyYours on twitter.

I was already in "only one more off weekend to go" mode and getting amped up for NASCAR's next night race at America's Premier Short Track in Richmond, VA!

During the half marathon, I usually only get to see her twice.  Unlike during the IRONMAN where I saw her about 15 times since it was 14 straight hours of exercising!!!  I'll be sure to write about that race spectating in the future.

Danielle @ Mile 9

Danielle set a personal record for her half marathon time!  It was now time to get back to the "burbs" and watch the Masters (after completing the "honeydo" list of course).

12 days from then, I would be leaving for Richmond and my spring off-season would nearly be over!

Richmond International Raceway

2007 Autism Speaks 400 @Dover International Speedway

Race #3

continued from Race #2

In the wake of Martin Truex Jr's 2nd place finish (minus the penalty points) in the NRA500 @ Texas Motor Speedway, I'll tell you about my first trip to Dover International Speedway in 2007.

My friend Mike (that I watched my first Daytona 500 with - see my journey), my other brother and I decided to go down to Dover for the spring race on the first weekend in June.  We left CT early Saturday afternoon, drove (2 1/2 hours) down the NJ Turnpike and stayed in the Philadelphia area since all hotels in the Dover area were sold out.
We of course went into Philly to eat some dinner (wiz wit) at Pat's King of Steaks since Geno's is 2nd rate. (my opinion)  We had a great evening out and about in the greater Philly area, then went back to the hotel to get some shuteye before the next day's festivities.

(what we thought would be) Raceday
We woke up and made our way out to breakfast.  Since we don't get to Philly too often, we decided to go back to Pat's for breakfast.  How could you say no to this?

Pat's King of Steaks (wiz wit)

After our Richard Simmon's approved breakfast, we made the 1h15m drive to Dover.  The skies were overcast and the rain was on and off but we had hopes of actually watching a race that day.  We made it over to one of the parking areas to the east of the track (across route 1) when the skies started to open up.  We went to the store grabbed some beers in the hopes we would get back to the track for some tailgating.  The weather of Tropical Storm Barry kept getting worse and we had no hotel to head back to so we went over to Buffalo Wild Wing's for some lunch.  After deciding we would all call into work for Monday, that lunch turned into dinner which turned into us closing the place down.  With no hotel, we decided to sleep in the car out in the parking lot.

Oh yeah - this is the car that 3 men slept in (1 in the back seat and 1 each in the front seats).

All would have been fine if we could leave the top down but with the weather, the top stayed up!  It was a rainy humid overnight so I recall opening the window or door every so often, falling asleep and then having the rain wake me up.  But who cares - I was going to get to watch my 3rd live NASCAR race!

Raceday
We woke up Monday morning to clear skies!  It was my first time to a concrete track - the type of concrete that rips apart tires and sends rubber drifting into the first 20 rows.  Leave a cup of beer in front of you for a few laps and it will soon have a black film across the top.  Dover is a 1 mile track - similar to the bull ring known as Bristol Motor Speedway but much faster.
We were there to see Martin Truex Jr's first ever win (@ his home track) in NASCAR's premiere series (and only to this day).  The beating and banging we saw in that race and the confrontation between Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart (confrontation at Dover) was enough to bring me back.

NASCAR, I'm addicted!

next up: Race #4 @ Pocono Raceway (my wife's first NASCAR race)

2007 Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 @ Richmond International Raceway

Race #2

continued from Race #1

Richmond International Raceway

It was early 2007 and I had just watched one of the closest Daytona 500 races ever with Kevin Harvick edging out Mark Martin by 0.02 seconds while Clint Bowyer came sliding across the finish line on his roof.

NOTE: Clint walked away from the crash

By that Monday after the Daytona 500, I had the itch to go see another race for 5 months. (since my Race #1)  It was still cold in the northeast so it was hard to imagine going to a live sporting event that time of year.

I started researching tracks and after a few weeks decided to make Richmond International Raceway the venue I would see my second race.  It would be the first race (of many) that I set up all travel arrangements (since Race #1 was planned by others).

My reasoning for choosing Richmond:

   -quick flight from New York City

   -proximity of Richmond International Airport to the track/hotels (Richmond Map)

   -NIGHT RACE!!!

I went with Chad and my brother who were the same fans I went to Race #1 with so I knew it wasn't just me that had the itch for another race.

The few months leading up to that race at Richmond were a huge turning point in my life.

   -I had met the woman of my dreams who would become my wife.

   -I went from a small architecture firm (my first job out of college) to my current job which I have     

    been happily employed at for over 6 years.

   -I was now a real NASCAR fan. (in my mind anyway)

September 29, 2012

The night before I was leaving for Richmond, Danielle (see "the woman of my dreams" above) and I went to a baseball game at Yankee Stadium.  Of course it was in the early stages of dating and we stayed at the bar late after the game.  I wasn't thinking about being so tired (hungover) the next morning because we were having fun.  To make a long story short, we nearly missed our Saturday morning flight to Richmond - we had to convince one of the gate attendants to let us on the plane. You will soon come to realize I am all about the parlay (usually NASCAR & golf).

We made it to Richmond and the weather wasn't agreeing with our or NASCAR's plans.  We tailgated for hours and had a blast meeting new people.  The tailgating at Richmond is reason enough to go back there time after time!  From the two person tailgates Danielle and I have had there to the huge tailgates we have been invited to join in, it's just an experience words can't describe.

the Richmond 2 person tailgate

So after Chad, my brother and I tailgated, we bought some ponchos and made our way into the track.  It was our first night race so were praying the weather would clear but forecasts didn't look so good.  We sat at our seats in turn 4 (now one of my favorite places to sit for races there) and were super psyched when the cars started up their engines.  I remember walking into the track on the backstretch and the national anthem started on our walk to turn 4.  Everyone and I mean everyone stopped what they were doing, removed their hats and addressed the flag that stands for the freedom we have in this great country.  It was a very moving experience and something that still gives me (good) chills when I think about the memory.  See "Patriotism at Richmond International Raceway" from Race #1 .

The cars started and made 12 laps before NASCAR made the call to postpone the race until the following day. We made our way back to the car in a light mist and proceeded to tailgate for a bit with our neighbors while cars dissipated.  After making our way back to the hotel and getting a good night's rest, we had to figure out how we would watch the race since our flight was scheduled to depart midway through the Sunday race.  My brother went online and found a reasonable rate for a one way rental to New York City.  Problem solved - we would get to see our first race at Richmond International Raceway!!!  We watched the entire race which I just watched again via youtube.  You can watch it here:  2007 Jim Stewart 400 @ RIR video

NOTE: one of the benefits of a Saturday night race - it can be postponed and people don't have to worry about taking the next day off from work.

The racing was fantastic and just what I had imagined a short track to be like.  This would be the first time I witness Jimmie Johnson win a race out of the 6 times he has won while I'm at a track.

Jimmie Johnson wins The Jim Stewart 400

We had such a great time that I didn't mind the drive home and would soon start planning my next trip to Richmond so I could see a night race!  I believe I have only missed 3 Richmond races since that beautiful May Sunday in 2007.  After all, it is America's Premier Short Track.  You can take my word for it since I have been to every short track (tracks under 1 mile in length) on the NASCAR circuit.

See you in 19 days, @RIRInsider !

   

not what I had in mind, Denny Hamlin

So when I wrote about Denny Hamlin atop the NASCAR buzz for the past 2 weeks, an injury is not what I had in mind...

Denny & Joey get into it @ Auto Club Speedway

...I thought maybe he would win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway and then head to his best track on the NASCAR schedule - the "paperclip" known as Martinsville Speedway .  Denny has an average finish of 7.7 at the track w/ 4 wins (12 top 10 & 9 top 5 in 16 starts).  What I'm basically saying is Denny Hamlin most likely owns a share of the track due to his domination.

Denny spent most his childhood in Virginia and loves racing at Martinsville & Richmond International Raceway - the track he hopes to return as the driver of the #11 FedEx car.  His doctor said the back injury he suffered at Auto Club Speedway on March 24 will sideline him for 5 races, which would bring him back for the race at Darlington Raceway on May 11.

Denny has other plans - see Denny Hamlin hoping for an early recovery to race at RIR on April 27.  I'll be there to see it live!  I'm not a Denny fan (and also don't dislike him) but when you have a driver that is so dominating, you want to see him at the track for every race - he makes racing that much better.

Seeing Denny behind the wheel at RIR won't surprise me the least bit considering his 2010 campaign.  In 2010 he raced with a torn ACL, had mid-season surgery without missing a race and finished the season with 8 wins - the man is a doer.

                                                         c/o @pixelcrisp

                                                 c/o @CopaCavanna

He is currently at Martinsville supporting his team so let's hope the crews can maintain balance in the garage.

                                                c/o @HHinsonPhoto

We'll see you in Richmond, Denny!