Pit Passes: If you get pit passes, try to go to the pits on qualifying days, while the drivers are qualifying. It is much less crowded in the pits on qualifying days, the drivers and crews are usually more willing to talk and sign autographs, etc. Also, as the drivers qualify, the current pole sitter and the top two or three drivers will park somewhere on pit road, get out of their car, and talk with SPEED reporters. After their interviews, they’ll sometimes talk to fans and sign autographs. Since the “current” pole sitter gets knock off by a “new” pole sitter, you cycle through 5-10 drivers that follow this process. Between Cup, Nationwide, and Trucks, you might fill up an autograph book in one weekend.

I would also take a sense of humor with you. Remember there are 43 drivers so there are fans of all 43 of them. It’s not like a ball game where there are ony 2 teams to pick from. Not every one is going to like your driver. Lighten up, take the ribbing and rib their driver back. It’s all fun!

All of my other suggestions have been pretty much been posted. Sun screen, water, camera and scanner. Oh, my advice on scanners, I program my channels by the driver car number. I start with most of them on scan. As they drop out I lock out their channels. I also program the MRN frequency as it is very hard to hear at most tracks over the roar of the cars. If you program the TV or MRN coverage into the scanner the addes bonus is when they go to a commercial you don’t heat the commercial but the back and forth banter. I have heard some pretty good stuff during commercials!!

Have fun!

Go to the website and read *carefully* what you are allowed to bring. All tracks are different and they WANT you to know the rules. Too many clueless people make security lines longer and their own experience more miserable. Not every place allows backpacks, even clear ones (at least, that used to be the case.)

Go early–we like to see what goes on in the garage & souvie areas before things get too busy on raceday or Saturday , depending on the race. Even if you don’t have autograph tickets, you can watch the drivers sign for others and talk to the crowd, and you can get good photos. Also, some communities have a ‘race night’ type of deal where there are autographs and show cars, etc. Bring a clear plastic bag for freebies just in case. As for the tailgating after the race–I have found that getting in line to leave is no different than waiting to leave–my exit time was the same, as long as you don’t mind sitting in traffic. But that largely depends on the track you’re at.

It depends on the track, but I never eat track food–too expensive. Bring sandwiches and granola bars, etc. Cheaper and easier (this would be Dover, Richmond, Watkins Glen). You can always have a bigger meal earlier or later. I get that some tracks don’t allow them (greedy SOB’s.) I love my scanner, but if you don’t have one, earplugs for the reasons others have mentioned.

Neon, there are groundhogs at Watkins Glen…real ones. Squirrels, etc…Pocono has deer & rabbits. But I don’t think I’ve seen Digger, lol.

I know this may sound a bit crazy, but instead of attending a cup race for your first, why not attend a Nationwide or Truck series race first. Depending on the venue, non-cup days can potentially be an excellent value. Look at the schedule from Saturday at California in the spring – multiple practices and qualifying, the Nationwide race, then the Truck race. Now that’s bang for the buck! It will also be less crowded, giving you more room to sit/stand.

Try to bring in as little as possible – remember that everything you bring in you have to lug around with you all day.

Don’t drink beer. There, I’ve said it. On a hot day, it just forces your body to dry itself out more than it already will be in the 90 degree heat. Plus, the extra trips to the restroom gets old (because they’re not always the cleanest places in the world). You will also have to drive home in very heavy traffic right after the race ends – not a good idea after a bunch of brews.

Bring a cooler with food and beverages with you to LEAVE IN THE CAR. This way there will be food waiting for you when you get back to the car to leave. And while tailgating after the race is a great idea, having to pack up that red-hot hibachi you’ve just barbecued on is bad. I use a Coleman camp stove instead – much smaller and cools off almost instantly. Also, don’t be in a huge rush to leave after the race – the traffic will be just awful.

And lastly, GET THERE EARLY. Between watching the teams on pit road through the fence, scrounging through the souvenir rigs, autograph sessions, the Speed stage, driver meet-and-greets outside the speedway, and the on-track stuff there is plenty to do all day. Like a 9AM to the end of the last race long day.