While my day job sucks like most, it apparently has it’s benefits. Thanks to my company’s FedEx rep, my buddy Vinnie and I were able to experience a race like most people never will, from inside the air conditioned FedEx suite. I’d like to share the experience the best I can.
Early view from the suite
Unlike most trips to the racetrack this one included zero
tailgating. Sort of depressing but we got it out of our system
after the Kid Rock concert on Wednesday. Instead we parked his
truck and just started walking in.
Denny Hamlin Q&A
Denny made his way up to the suite at about 10:00am. While he
seemed far less than thrilled to be there, and completely out of
his element, one question got a rise out of him. Someone said to
Denny, and I’m paraphrasing because I didn’t record it and my
memory sucks, ‘This is a real tight track... any chance we see some
payback?’ To which Denny laughed and responded ‘I just hope I don’t
even see him’. Turns out there wasn’t time for him to payback Joey
Logs because he wrecked on lap 5 which drew a standing ovation
inside the FedEx suite.
Thank god he had a silver Sharpie
I thought about buying a silver marker myself before we left for the track but it escaped me until that morning and the convenience store we stopped at to get ice didn’t have any. Thankfully Denny came prepared.
Our picture taken with Joe Gibbs
As cool as it was to shake hands with Denny Hamlin this takes the cake. Plus if you look closely, I got to hold/examine his Super Bowl ring, I don’t have the balls that Putin has though, probably why he’s the leader of a country and I’m begging you guys to share this site with a friend.
Garage/Inspection area
Unfortunately they wouldn’t let us past this spot. Side Note; this picture makes me seem tall.
Vin on the wall
My buddy Vinnie on the wall.
Me on the wall
Vin caught me a little off guard.
Exit of pit road
#48 pit box
#11 pit box
The host’s pit box
Inside the #15 pit
#39 pit box
Kevin Harvick’s #29 Chevy
I am as ready as anyone to see the #4 on the side of that Budweiser Chevy.
Tony Stewart’s #14 Chevy
If anybody over at Anheuser-Busch/Budweiser wants to hook us up with some Budweiser suite tickets to next year’s race, where hopefully Denny and Coach Gibbs will be replaced with Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart, please let me know.
View from the #14 pit box
This is what the crew chiefs are looking at throughout the race.
Vin in the #14 pit box
My buddy Vinnie inside Tony’s pit box.
Always label your tools
Early race action
Kasey Kahne leading Jeff Burton.
After finally making it past Bruton Smith back to our seats there was another round of free food. This time we were treated to chicken breasts, mac and cheese, and some delicious pulled pork. After that there were chicken fingers and buffalo wings followed by a giant tray of desserts.
Denny Hamlin on pit road
Sort of a rough day for the #11, whom had winning aspirations heading into the race. Some bad luck bounced him back a lap down before he battled back to the front before ending up finishing 23rd.
Brian Vickers wins
Can’t say I had him picked to win though after watching the NNS race I should have considered it.
Early view from the suite #2
When we got there they had gift bags and breakfast waiting for us. Round one of the free food included cheesy scrambled eggs, home fries, and sausages. Oh not to mention free cold beer even at 8am.
Our picture taken with Denny
After that someone got Denny to laugh he really cheered up. I had a quick conversation with him and he really seems like a nice guy.
AP3’s hat and my mini helmet
AP3 bought a #11 hat in Charlotte at the Coke 600 the least I could do is get it signed for him.
Joe Gibbs Q&A
Coach Gibbs arrived at the suite shortly after Denny departed and
just hearing him speak let’s you know why he has found so much
success. He is smart and very sharp; it shocks me that he is 72
years old.
Down on pit road
After meeting Denny and Coach Gibbs we were able to venture down to pit road for an experience every race fan should have at least once.
When we first got to the suite, they made us leave our cooler at the bottom of the elevator, which for the record worked out perfectly. Little tip if you ever find yourself in this situation... bring the cooler even though you can’t bring it up to the suite. It’s in a place where it most likely won’t get stolen and when you venture back down out of the suite you have free beer waiting for you.
View from the wall
This is the view the pit crews have right before they jump over the wall to work on their car.
View down pit road
View from the end of pit road
Blue Deuce pit box
The pit box of the polesitter.
Chad’s Office
What was really interesting was seeing the pit boxes of the highly funded teams compared to the not so well funded teams. Chad’s office has individual leather seats with giant monitors whereas some of the lesser funded teams sported bench seats that looked like they had been ripped out of a 1970’s pick up truck.
Clint Bowyer’s #15 Toyota
Ryan Newman’s #39 Chevy
I picked him to win this past week and while he struggled mightily early on, he managed to find himself up inside the top 10 before Kurt Busch and Matt Kenseth got into each other wrecking Newman. For the record, with the way the race ended the remainder of his season is probably going to get really depressing.
Danica Patrick’s #10 Chevy
Her car looks much better here than it did after she wrecked her boyfriend.
#42 pit sign
Of course this is Juan Pablo Montoya’s pit sign.
#14 pit box
Inside the #14 pit box
Don’t bother asking who that chick is, because I have no idea.
Me in the #14 pit box
Me inside Tony’s pit box and yet again Vinnie caught me off guard.
Bruton Smith
This guy cut in line for the elevator then clogged the hallway like he owns the place. By the way, the FedEx suite is right next to owner Bruton Smith’s and man did it look fancy.
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Kyle Busch makes his pit stop
Tony Stewart finally crosses the start/finish line after running out of fuel
Almost a perfect ending to our day. Our favorite driver, Tony Stewart lead for the majority of the tail end of the race before running out of gas on the green-white-checkered restart to finish 26th. Bad luck sucks but the trip was fun regardless.
#55 team pushes their car to victory lane
Tony wasn’t the only one to run out of gas. Luckily for Vickers he had enough to cross the finish line first.
Despite suffering such a let down when Smoke ran out of gas, this was a hell of an experience. I loved every second of it and can only hope to find myself back there at some point in the future. Thanks again to FedEx.
9.5/10
Saturday, July 20, 2013
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