Monday, April 30:
This past weekend flew by, but we had a great time at the Talladega Super Speedway for the Aaron's 499. We arrived at the Track and got all set up on Friday before Cully arrived from Tennessee and we had just enough time to walk over to the Track to catch the last Practice for the Nextel Cup Cars.
Saturday - I was up bright and early and walking over to the Track at 7:00 a.m. to get myself on a Garage Tour with the Official Nascar Members Club ("ONMC"). I had pre-registered, but needed to check-in. I was the first one there in line to check in with plenty of time so after I got my wristband for the Garage Tour, I walked around the Driver Trailers and saw a line forming near Bobby Labonte's trailer so I stepped into line hoping that I would make it back to the ONMC booth at 8:00 for the Tour. I was successful at both of those agenda items. I got a ticket to come back after the Busch Race to get Bobby Labonte's autograph at the Trailer.
The Garage Tour was great, we got to see several drivers and crew chiefs and Cup cars coming out of and going into Inspection befor Qualifying and I got pictures of them too. I never saw Jeff's car and found out later that it was because he was already on Pit Road because he was the first car to Qualify. After the Garage Tour I walked back to the RV and we relaxed until Cully was ready to go over to the Busch Race. I decided to go to Bobby Labonte's trailer and when I arrived I noticed people lining up for his autograph and the Busch Race hadn't even started, so I got me a piece of cardboard and found a semi-comfortable spot with only 10 people ahead of me to wait for Bobby to arrive. It ended up that I waited there for 4 1/2 hours for Bobby to arrive because he WON the race. But we got is autograph on a die-cast car and on another item that I will use in my scrapbook pages with the pictures of Rudy shaking hands with him and talking to him, too!
After the autograph session we walked back to the RV and Rudy fixed us some supper.
Sunday - Race Day - I was up bright and early again, but I just went outside to read awhile so that they guys could sleep in some. We left for our walk to the Track around 10:30 a.m. so that we could go to the Vendor area and check out the Exhibits there. Rudy got a new pair of Crocs and we got to go in the AAA viewing booth, had our pictures taken with the Sprint-NEXTEL Championship Trophy and I also go my picture take at the # 24 Nicorette tent with Jeff and his Car. (its a tradition).
We went to find out seat around 11:30 so that we could be all settled in before Driver Introductions and eat our sandwiches that Rudy prepared before we left that morning. We had great seats in O.V. North Tower - Row 41, Seats 12, 13, & 14. We saw a lot of the pit action and could see the whole track from our seats!
After the Race we walked back to the RV for showers and Rudy fixed us chicken & potatoes on the grill and green beans! YUMMY!
We left the Track this morning at 7:15 a.m. CST and just down the road we lost an hour by going into EST. We stopped one time just south of Atlanta for a leg-stretch and bathroom break. We should arrive home around 7:00 tonight if all goes well and the traffic isn't too bad!
It was a great trip and with Jeff getting his 77th WIN when I am in attendance at the Track puts the icing on the cake!
This past weekend flew by, but we had a great time at the Talladega Super Speedway for the Aaron's 499. We arrived at the Track and got all set up on Friday before Cully arrived from Tennessee and we had just enough time to walk over to the Track to catch the last Practice for the Nextel Cup Cars.
Saturday - I was up bright and early and walking over to the Track at 7:00 a.m. to get myself on a Garage Tour with the Official Nascar Members Club ("ONMC"). I had pre-registered, but needed to check-in. I was the first one there in line to check in with plenty of time so after I got my wristband for the Garage Tour, I walked around the Driver Trailers and saw a line forming near Bobby Labonte's trailer so I stepped into line hoping that I would make it back to the ONMC booth at 8:00 for the Tour. I was successful at both of those agenda items. I got a ticket to come back after the Busch Race to get Bobby Labonte's autograph at the Trailer.
The Garage Tour was great, we got to see several drivers and crew chiefs and Cup cars coming out of and going into Inspection befor Qualifying and I got pictures of them too. I never saw Jeff's car and found out later that it was because he was already on Pit Road because he was the first car to Qualify. After the Garage Tour I walked back to the RV and we relaxed until Cully was ready to go over to the Busch Race. I decided to go to Bobby Labonte's trailer and when I arrived I noticed people lining up for his autograph and the Busch Race hadn't even started, so I got me a piece of cardboard and found a semi-comfortable spot with only 10 people ahead of me to wait for Bobby to arrive. It ended up that I waited there for 4 1/2 hours for Bobby to arrive because he WON the race. But we got is autograph on a die-cast car and on another item that I will use in my scrapbook pages with the pictures of Rudy shaking hands with him and talking to him, too!
After the autograph session we walked back to the RV and Rudy fixed us some supper.
Sunday - Race Day - I was up bright and early again, but I just went outside to read awhile so that they guys could sleep in some. We left for our walk to the Track around 10:30 a.m. so that we could go to the Vendor area and check out the Exhibits there. Rudy got a new pair of Crocs and we got to go in the AAA viewing booth, had our pictures taken with the Sprint-NEXTEL Championship Trophy and I also go my picture take at the # 24 Nicorette tent with Jeff and his Car. (its a tradition).
We went to find out seat around 11:30 so that we could be all settled in before Driver Introductions and eat our sandwiches that Rudy prepared before we left that morning. We had great seats in O.V. North Tower - Row 41, Seats 12, 13, & 14. We saw a lot of the pit action and could see the whole track from our seats!
After the Race we walked back to the RV for showers and Rudy fixed us chicken & potatoes on the grill and green beans! YUMMY!
We left the Track this morning at 7:15 a.m. CST and just down the road we lost an hour by going into EST. We stopped one time just south of Atlanta for a leg-stretch and bathroom break. We should arrive home around 7:00 tonight if all goes well and the traffic isn't too bad!
It was a great trip and with Jeff getting his 77th WIN when I am in attendance at the Track puts the icing on the cake!
If you'd like to see more pictures from our Talladega Race Trip go to the following websites:
http://my.onmc.com/Igo2C24 and/or http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v719/1GordonFan/Dega-April%202007/
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