Nascar Question

[WishingOnAStar]

I have been wanting to go to a race forever. The one in Dover falls near my birthday, so dh said we could go!

Here's my question - there's a Busch 200 on that Saturday and a Nextel 400 on Sunday. Will both races involve the same drivers? We'd like to see the "big names", but thought the shorter race might be better for the kids.

 

[btmfdr]

I have been wanting to go to a race forever. The one in Dover falls near my birthday, so dh said we could go!

Here's my question - there's a Busch 200 on that Saturday and a Nextel 400 on Sunday. Will both races involve the same drivers? We'd like to see the "big names", but thought the shorter race might be better for the kids.

We go to alot of races and hit the Spring Race at Dover every year... Depending on your favorite driver there is a good chance he will not be racing in the Busch Race on Saturday. The Busch Race is a great race to go to but less than 10 or 15 entrants will be Nextel regulars. With that said if it is your first race with children definitely go to the Bush Race. Dover tickets for children are $ 10 and adults are like $35 for the Busch Race, where the majority of the tickets for the Nextel Race are $ 70 and up, so the value for Saturdays Race with children is much greater. Quite frankly dependent upon the weather, Sundays Race is alot to ask for children to enjoy for 3 to 5 hours. Not to mention it will be MUCH more crowded on Sunday...

Also if your favorite driver happens to be racing in the Busch Race it will be in a different car, for example Stewart runs the Home Depot car on Sunday and the Old Spice Car on Saturday (When he races Busch).

 

[Poohnatic]

When the Busch and Nextel races fall at the same track on the same weekend, you'll see some of the top drivers in the Busch race. That said, depending on the big name driver you want to see, they may not be racing in the Busch series. For example, it's extremely rare to see Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr or Tony Stewart in the Busch races.

That said, I think the Saturday ticket is a better deal if you plan on spending the whole day at the track. You get to see Happy Hour practice of the Nextel Drivers in addition to the Busch race.

Enjoy Dover! It's an exciting racetrack! That and Richmond are my DH's favorites to be in the stands.

Suzanne

 

[ntburns22]

Do you have a local track you could take the kids too? To see if they would be ok watching for 2 hours or so first. Going to a Nascar race is a very long day even for me.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

What you need to do is first see if tickets are available. Many times the race is sold out long before it even comes to town. We go to Richmond, we have friends with season passes and they usually have extras. But many times the races don't have available seats for the NEXTEL Cup Races, but you can get them for the Busch Race. Those are actually good races to go to "To Get Your Feet Wet." Some races in NEXTEL can run 4 - 5 hours, but the Busch Race will only run about 3, sometimes shorter. If you go, get some earplugs, it can be very hard on kids ears and adults as well. I remember the first race I went to, I didn't take any and I couldn't hear anything for two days, my ears were in shock. Also, a word of warning.....Once you get that rubber and exhaust smell in your nostrils you will be hooked. We love racing.

 

[plutolovr]

Just to add to this. Although the races may be 3 to 4 hours long, the day is VERY long. We live in South Jersey, about an 1 1/2 hours from Dover. If we go to the Cup race, we leave the house at 6 a.m. to avoid traffic. We tailgate, shop the souvenier trailers, and take a nap. After the race we hang out in the parking lot until 8 p.m., again to avoid traffic. So it's a very long day. Also, as far as the kids go, yes, NASCAR is a family sporting event, but unless there is a family section the crowd can get pretty rowdy and drunk, and the language is "colorful." Some of the tracks have implemented family sections, with no alcohol allowed. I'm not sure about Dover though, but I though they had something like this for the Busch race.

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Thank you all so much for the advice- I knew you would be able to help out.

To answer some questions/clarify things. We don't have a local track nearby - that I know of anyway. I grew up on Long Island - right near the Islip Speedway and spend much time there as a child. I loved every minute of it!!! I thought the kids might, too (they are 8,9, and 10 years old.) However, I totally understand what many of you are saying and may have to rethink taking them. I hadn't realized it would be such a long day. The thing is, though- I HATE going to anything I know the kids would like w/o them. (Hence, I just can't vacation w/o them.) I end up spending so much time thinking about how they would like it that I don't enjoy myself.
As for the earplugs - I was already thinking we'd definitely need them.
They do have general admission tickets available for the 400. I just don't know what kind of seats those would be.
Ahhhh- decisions!!

 

[btmfdr]

If we go to the Cup race, we leave the house at 6 a.m. to avoid traffic. We tailgate, shop the souvenier trailers, and take a nap. After the race we hang out in the parking lot until 8 p.m., again to avoid traffic.

Just an fyi, you are missing out on SO much by just driving in for the Cup Race... I suggest making plans for the weekend, either rent an RV, hotel room, whatever, get down there and Thursday and spend the weekend. The actual race is just a culmination of an 'All things Racing' experience. When the race hits Dover there is SO much to do that weekend between driver appearances, car appearences, adult nightlife, really a great, great weekend.... Just my $.02...

 

[ahutton]

General admission can mean space on a grassy hill, or in the case of Phoenix a rocky hill. Or it will mean seats on the back stretch and off the beaten path. I can't picture the track in my mind to help beyond that.

At that ages they are I would guess they will enjoy the Nextel Cup race. They will probably want to go down and walk around the trailers for a while to get out of the seats but it is very exciting and involved so it will usually hold their attention, especially if they have favorite drivers they see on TV.

Ear protection can be bought at the track or at a sporting good store (look in the hunting section for shooter ear protection) and is very inexpensive. We usually grab a pair and a spare in case one falls on the ground or something.

You can usually take in coolers of soft drinks and snacks but check the track policy, it is probaby on their website.

As someone else mentioned, it is a ton of fun to make a weekend of it and be there for Saturday too, and make sure to find out what events are going on in the area. Sometimes you can also see drivers at the souviner trailers during scheduled times. I've been lucky over the years to collect some great signatures and meet some really nice drivers. The sponsors usually have some type of signing events so you can meet the drivers, often at local retail locations. If you go to one there are often people there who will point you to others.

 

[tar heel]

I know nothing about your track, but . . .

At Lowe's Motor Speedway, there is a family grandstand for the Busch race. Ticket prices are significantly lower and no drinking is allowed. You might want to see whether something like that is available.

You also could try going to qualifying or a practice day. I know plenty of people who just plain can't tolerate the noise or find watching cars go round and round pretty boring, and I would hate to spend 100s and find out one of your family was in that category.

 

[plutolovr]

Just an fyi, you are missing out on SO much by just driving in for the Cup Race... I suggest making plans for the weekend, either rent an RV, hotel room, whatever, get down there and Thursday and spend the weekend. The actual race is just a culmination of an 'All things Racing' experience. When the race hits Dover there is SO much to do that weekend between driver appearances, car appearences, adult nightlife, really a great, great weekend.... Just my $.02...

I'm aware of the goings on during the weekend. In fact we sometimes go to Pocono just for quals and practice and buy pit passes. The race is pretty boring at that track in person, it's too big to see much. But Dover has no pit or garage access and I really don't need to get any more autographs. I have tons. Pocono on qual day is great for that. I'm also moving to the Charlotte area soon and will get to see more races since there are many tracks in that area.

 

[Devil_Dog99]

IMHO, if you can't make a weekend of it, or are not prepared to spend the ENTIRE (morning to late night) day at the track, go Saturday. I have been to Loudon for both a Busch race and a Cup race. Traffic leaving the track was excruciating (granted, in upstate New Hampshire it's only a two lane road) and the volume of people was incredible. You go Saturday, you see Happy hour, maybe qualifying for the Busch race (if its a one day deal for the Busch leaguers), you can get some pretty decent seats (or at least move to pretty decent seats) and the crowds at the souvenir trailers are not as bad. Plus you might get to see a Cup guy at his souvenir trailer (none of the really big names - I think) but I do know a few do make appearances.

Plus - traffic leaving isnt bad at all (at least for Loudon).

 

[WishingOnAStar]

Thank you again for all of the information. You have me even more excited about the race.
Who would have thought a Disney-based board could have so much other information?!