How to Attend a NASCAR race

NASCAR is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Currently, NASCAR has three major series: the Craftsman Truck Series, Nationwide Series and the Sprint Cup Series. NASCAR broadcasts it races to more than 150 countries, and there are an estimated 75 million NASCAR fans. An average of 200,000 fans attend Sprint Cup races 36 weeks out of the year. The following steps will guide you to becoming one of those 200,000.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Pick a venue to attend a NASCAR race. NASCAR has venues all over the United States, from New Hampshire to California. Visit NASCAR's website for a list of tracks and schedules (see Resources below).
2. Purchase tickets for the NASCAR race in which you plan to attend. This can be done by calling the track's box office or visiting the track's website and clicking on the appropriate links.
3. Consider transportation and lodging options. You may want to fly to the major city near the track or drive. Try to find a hotel near the track.
4. Get to the track early. There is plenty of entertainment to keep you from getting bored. You may want to also consider purchasing a garage pass so you can get an up close view of the drivers, crews and cars.
5. Check out the prerace festivities. The drivers will be introduced and then paraded around the track and then go back to their cars. The invocation will be said and then followed by the national anthem, which usually ends with a flyover.
6. Enjoy the race. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars can travel up to 200 miles per hour and they race side by side. Forty-three cars start the race, but rarely do they all finish without a crash.

Tips & Warnings

• A garage pass provides the best opportunity to get a driver's autograph.
• Rent a scanner. You can listen to the team's radio communications, giving you an added dimension to watching the NASCAR race.
• NASCAR values the safety of its fans, but there are still inherent risks when you attend a NASCAR race. The further back you sit from the track, the safer you will be.