This picture has nothing to do with the post other than it’s a favorite of cars on track at Laguna Seca that I have taken. This was taken during the 2012 ALMS race in what I believe is turn 7 but I could be wrong about the turn number. (Photo Credit: Amy K. Marbach)

So several weeks ago I promised you all a story at the end of this post about the first Chase race. Really it’s the story of my first ever race…and I am not talking my first NASCAR race.

Not so long ago in a galaxy not so far away- back when the IRL series was known as the CART series, my dad decided that my fandom of motorsports was not a flash in the pan and I think secretly he was thrilled.  The Indy cars were coming to Laguna Seca- which is very close to where we lived.  At the time I was into that series (I lost interest in it when CART split into IRL and CHAMP and half of my favorite drivers went one way and half went the other way). Since I had always shown a love of racing and specifically CART at the time- my dad laid down what I know was big bucks for him at the time for weekend grandstand tickets in Turn 11 as well as weekend paddock passes for the two of us for the race in Monterey.  I was a teenager at the time- so it was probably somewhere around 1990-1991 I think.  My parents even excused my absence from school so that we could take full advantage of our weekend tickets. (more…)

While I didn’t watch the truck race at Talladega- I did hear about the last lap melee that ensued and it had me sitting down on Sunday with my usual trepidation about Talladega. I know you probably think I kid but this track makes me very very nervous. From what I heard of the ending of the truck race- I had every reason to be worried.  Luckily there wasn’t anything major that happened. Well if you don’t count Austin Dillon’s little flight on the last lap.

Austin Dillon, driver of the #14 Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 Chevrolet, looks on prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty Images North America)

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I didn’t really watch the race at Charlotte (I know- shock and surprise) but it sounds like to me if I was going to pick a race not to watch the Charlotte one was the one to miss.

Here are some pictures from the race though:

Mark Martin, driver of the #14 Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images North America)

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In my journeys on the internet last night I found some fun Mobil 1 related stuff that I wanted to share!

The first comes from Mobil 1 Racing’s The Grid- it’s a behind-the-scenes look at the Jenson Button/Tony Stewart Mobil 1 commercials:

What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall during those shoots (I am unclear if Jenson and Tony were ever actually in the same room as each other- for some reason I get the impression that perhaps they weren’t).  But I would still like to be a fly on the wall of BOTH of the shoots if indeed they weren’t. Judging by some of the clips they show- either some really funny stuff got cut out or perhaps (fingers crossed) another commercial is in the works.

Also last night I was surfing a major news site that shall remained unnamed when I came across a news story out of Smithfield, VA.  The one and only Guinness Book of World Records recently certified the world’s biggest bottle of motor oil which happens to be at Smithfield Fast Lube.  That world record bottle just happens to be a really REALLY big bottle of Mobil 1 (there is a video included in the news article- I tried to embed it but for some reason the embed code they gave would not work for me).  I think I heard them say that the bottle is 400 times bigger than the standard Mobil 1 bottle that you can pick up at your local automotive parts retailers and “contains 757 litres” (not sure how much that is in gallons) of new Mobil 1 motor oil that they install into the cars having their oil refreshed.  That is a lot of oil!  I wonder how long it would take them to go through the whole bottle.

Mark Martin, driver of the #14 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet, pulls into the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 13th Annual Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 5, 2013. (Photo Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images North America)

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The closer you are to death, the more alive you feel. It’s a wonderful way to live. It’s the only way to drive. – James Hunt, Rush 2013

I have been giddy like a school girl ever since I found out about Ron Howard’s Rush. I might be primarily into NASCAR these days- but my first race was open wheel (CART) and I am willing to watch pretty much anything with wheels if given the opportunity- whether that be at the track, on television or yes in the movie theater. I don’t go to many movies in the theater so when Misty mentioned maybe going to see Rush while I was in town for a visit and the truck series race I practically screamed affirmations at her with excitement  since she obviously wanted to see the movie too. (more…)

I am going to admit it- it has been a long time since I have been to a Truck Series race- especially a truck race at Las Vegas!  So when Misty mentioned us applying for credentials to cover it I was totally for it!!

One of the best things about the truck race at Vegas is that they let anyone in the NEON GARAGE which is one of my favorite parts of Las Vegas Motor Speedway because you can look right in to the garage bays and watch the crews work on the trucks! The kids their with there parents wandering around the Neon Garage seemed to really enjoy the “behind the scenes” views- and they especially enjoyed it when the drivers would wander over to the autograph windows at the rear of each garage bay between practices.  Sometimes the garage passes are a bit pricy for the cup races and might prevent families from enjoying the garage area. The fact that the neon garage was free was great because the kids could experience the garage area for free which makes the event family friendly! And that is how you hook a young race fan.  You let them into the garage area.  Trust me. I know these things.

It was also fun to watch some of the pressers- some of the younger drivers in the series are far less media saavy than more experienced truck and cup drivers (I am especially thinking of Ryan Blaney here- I don’t know if he is shy or what but he hardly looked up at all during his presser znd his hat was screwed down tight on his head- you could barely see his face).

But everyone, fans, drivers, media: was there for one reason! THE RACE. The race was awesome and did NOT disappoint. Race winner was a very excited Timothy Peters!

Here are some pictures from here and there around the track:

Monitors in Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s Neon Garage. (Photo Credit: Amy K. Marbach).

Many more pictures after the jump…

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Ryan Newman was in the Big Apple yesterday helping Wheat Thins promote Wheat Thins BIG Bag Bold Flavor. I really want one of these big bags for no other reason than the fact that they are indeed What Thins in a BIG bag! They are available throughout the month of October at your neighborhood 7-11 in the following flavors: Chili Cheese, Spicy Buffalo and Zesty Salsa for the awesome price of 2 for $2.00!! Personally I am a Zesty Salsa girl- but I must say I don’t recall ever tasting the Chili Cheese flavor. At that price why not says me!!

Here are some pictures from the event:

What? No Slurpees? This 7-11 turned to an all Wheat Thins store for the day in NY. (Photo Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images on behalf of Wheat Thins).

Hey Ryan Newman- That is one BIG bag of Wheat thins you have there! NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Ryan Newman Teams Up With Wheat Thins to take over 7-Eleven Store on October 2, 2013 in New York City. (Photo Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images on behalf of Wheat Thins).

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