From the second the checkered flag waved at Homestead-Miama Speedway, signaling the end of the 2008 race season, I have been jonesing for my NASCAR. The winter months are long, cold and agonizing for this die-hard race junkie. I miss the news, the drama and the roar of the engines. I get so used to nine months of competition and when the winter break hits I'm like a cop without a donut. I just feel lost.
Well, the wait is nearly over. Things are just about to heat up on the NASCAR front. I say this of course as I look at my window at the two inches of snow that Mother Nature so graciously dumped on me last night. It only makes me ache to be down in Daytona, watching my 43 favorite men on this planet do what they do best and make my hair stand on end, my pulse race and take my breath away.
I'm in luck, race fans will receive a sneak peek of DIRECTV Speedweeks 2009 as well as the new racing season on Jan. 16-17 with the annual NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests at historic Daytona International Speedway. Fans can get their racing fix prior to Speedweeks and the Daytona 500 with numerous activities with their favorite drivers from the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series in the Sprint FanZone located in the heart of the World Center of Racing.
Among the activities planned for both days include:
• Interactive fan forums
• Autograph sessions
• Show cars, displays, music
• Online auction
• Blood drive
In addition, the Richard Petty Driving Experience will be on track with ride and driving packages available. The ride-only packages can be purchased on-site while the driving packages must be purchased in advance at 1-800-BE-PETTY.
Tickets, which go on sale at 9 a.m. ET Saturday, are $15 with autograph session availability limited to only 100 people per driver in advance. To purchase tickets and request access to the special autograph sessions, call 1-800-PITSHOP.
- Drivers scheduled to make appearances beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 include: Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Jeff Burton, Kyle Busch, Reed Sorenson, Aric Almirola, Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Travis Kvapil, David Gilliland, Mike Skinner and Jon Wes Townley.
- Scheduled to appear during the noon-4 p.m. session on Jan. 17 include Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Colin Braun, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard and Alex Garcia.
- In the 4-8 p.m. session on Jan. 17, drivers scheduled to appear include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Ron Hornaday.
Additional drivers and more details about the NASCAR Preseason Thunder Fan Fests will be released as the time gets closer.
1 comment:
Sounds like fun,though I wish they still had it in Winston-Salem,NC,like they used to,as I live only 30 minutes away. I hope anybody going has a wonderful time. I hope you enjoy it also,Denny.
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