Almost Famous at the All Star Race About This Page:

[mestitch]

Almost Famous at the All-Star Race

WHO: Me, 25 and huge Kasey Kahne fan, DH (Andy), 24, huge Kate Hudson fan, but we'll get into that later......
WHEN: Saturday, May 21, 2005
WHERE: Charlotte, NC (Actually it's Concord but it's so close), Lowes Motor Speedway
WHY: Duh! B/C Kasey won the race last week in Richmond and the speedway is like 15 minutes down the road!

Okay, so here's a little background... To get into the All Star Race you must have won a race either last year or this year. Kasey had 42 starts on 0 wins So last week he qualifies 1st for the Busch race AND the Nextel race in Richmond. Finishes in the top 5 for Busch so I'm a little concerned about Saturday's Nextel race. Well DH's parents came up last Saturday night and we took them out on the town. I had to be in a bar with TVs so we took them to a cool place that Andy & I go to some, The Fox and Hound. So we all sat there, me, Dh, in-laws, and DH's aunt & uncle, drinking and watching the race. Well only me, DH, and DFIL were really paying attention. As the race got closer and closer to the finish with Kasey in the lead (almost the whole time), I told DH and DFIL that if Kasey won we were going to the All Star Race next weekend. I also added "that's a pretty big IF". Sure enough, my boy came through and won!! So we came home that night and purchased 2 tickets for the race and here we are...

So we get up Saturday morning and are ready to go by 10. We get the cooler packed with ice, our scanners that DH borrowed from a guy at work, and head out. We stopped by the grocery store to purchase some "beverages" for the cooler and get some cash back. Then we're back on our way. We got to the speedway around 11ish and it was already getting busy. (The racing didn't start till 7). So we drove around in search of the free parking that the website claimed the speedway had. Finally we found somewhere and parked. Then we walked through all the merchandise area on our way to the will call booth. I, of course, had to purchase some Kasey memorabilia, I got a cute visor hat, a cute #9 girlie t-shirt, and a sticker for my car Total, get ready for this, $18!! Can't beat that!!

After my shopping spree and seeing one of Kasey's Busch cars we went over to pick up our tickets. I had purchased them in my name so I had my DL out. Now my DL is still my SC DL and has my SC address, so the lady behind the window was a little short with me and needed to know my new address ASAP. This after asking if the tickets were in my name.... umm... if they weren't why would I hand you MY DL?? Finally, we had tickets in hand.

Once we had our tickets we went and walked around some more of the fan area. We did the Nextel Experience again and Andy let me drive the virtual car b/c I didn't know where to shift the shifter. I did a pretty darn good job, and would have done better if DH hadn't kept shifting down and slowing me down when I should have been going full speed! We left the Nextel Experience area and walked down to the Goody's Headache Powder booth. They had a Plinko like game set up and I LOVED Plinko of The Price is Right, so I HAD to play!! I went up first and won a lapel pin, whoohoo Dh went up and won a seat cushion! Now that's what I'm talking about!!

By this time we were getting hungry, and I had cracked into my "beverages" while in line for Plinko. So we decided to get something to eat. We stopped at a BBQ booth and DH had a bbq sandwich he really enjoyed and I had a hotdog. We split a bottle of water and the total was $13!! Not as comparable to the Kasey merchandise We found a spot on the grass to sit down and eat. YEA for the seat cushion!!

Once we were filled up and had rested some we headed over to wait in line for the gates to open. The Black Crowes were playing a concert on the infield for anyone with race day tickets and we're fans of some of their music. Now DH is a fan of the lead singer's wife, Kate Hudson, so he was hoping she'd be there but I was very skeptical. The gates opened and we filed in. We were able to get right up to the stage with one row of people in front of us. Since the concert was put on by Miller Lite and Miller Lite is Rusty Wallace's sponsor, and since this is Rusty's last call, Rusty came out and introduced the band!! It was so cool to see him so close! I have been a fan of his since I first started watching races back when I was a kid! Then some sound guys come out, and then, this blonde chick carrying a baby walks across stage, and DH starts to flip out b/c, yup, that's right, it was Kate Hudson and their baby. They go and sit off to the side of the stage and I'm pretty sure DH kept his eyes over there the whole time in hopes of another glimpse. (Thus why I titled this what I did, for those who are unfamiliar, Kate Hudson was in the movie "Almost Famous".)

The concert was amazing!! Amazing up until about there was about 3 songs left and I had to get to a bathroom ASAP!! I held it and held it and held it as long as I could and FINALLY, the show ended. We bolted towards the tunnel and I left DH in the dust to find a bathroom. I figured for sure he'd see there was only one way to go and the bathrooms were right there... But I come out and don't see him. So I walk down a little ways and still don't see him, then I start to panic a little, what do I do if I can't find him?? I don't have the ticket so I'm not positive where our seats are, and would he think to go there anyway??? My head started to spin a little and I walked back up the bathroom area. There he was, standing in the middle of the walkway... I apparently came out the entrance to the bathroom and he was waiting by the exit

After that little mishap we decided to go and see where our seats were. We were right smack dab in the middle of the 4th turn terrace. It was really a great spot b/c we could see around the whole 1 1/2 mile track. After being in the sun for the concert we were both feeling the sunburn that was developing on our arms and faces (well DH's face, not mine). So we went back into the tunnel area to get some dinner. We went to Bojangles and had a 6 pack of chicken fingers each and some fries and 2 lemonades... Total $20. Not too too bad I guess. We ate under the tunnel area b/c I couldn't bare the sun for the next 2 hours. Around 6:30 we went back out to our seats.

When we arrived back at our seats we discovered we had some real winners around us. The guy in front of us was so drunk he couldn't even sit in his seat correctly without spilling beer everywhere. He kept putting his feet in the chairs of the people in front of him and the group of people he was with (all very nice people for putting up with him) would have to make him put his legs down. Then he pulls out his plastic bottle of Jim Beam and starts to pour it straight into his cup This guy went downhill fast!! He was passed out before the All Star race even started!

Finally, some racing begins with the Nextel Open. This is the race that allows one person to race their way into the All Star Race. Brian Vickers pretty much spun out Mike Bliss (who had led the entire time, 20 laps) right before the crossed the finish line and he won the race! Not a great way to win in my opinion, but I guess racin's racing.

After the Open the Nextel ceremonies begin. We used our scanners and picked up the camera and producer crew along with the TV commentators. It was really neat to listen to how they put it all together for TV. There was a BIG screen on the infield you could watch to see what was happening so we could see (and hear) when the camera changed. It makes you think about it when you're watching it on TV.

Driver introductions came and went, Kasey's team drove by and we cheered for our boy! Then it was time to go racing for a million bucks. Unfortunately the one big wreck of the race happened about 15 or 20 laps in and Kasey found it. He was done for the night But we still had a few of our favs out there, including Elliot Sadler. So we continued to follow him all night. He ended up finishing second to Mark Martin.

After the race was over we made the long trek back to our car. We got in our car at 11:23 (I remember looking at the clock) and we pulled out of the parking lot at 12:00 But once we got out of there it took us about 30 minutes to get home (that's about 10 minutes longer than normal).

Today we're all burned, my arms are and DH's face and head He looks pitiful. We learned our lesson and now know to bring sunscreen next time. And when might next time be you ask?? Well we're going to the Coca Cola 600 qualifying on Thursday night for the race on Saturday.. And on Saturday we're driving up the road about 45 minutes to Evernham Motorsports for Fan Appreciation Day. The first 400 people there get tickets for the autograph session so you know I'll be there to meet Kasey!!

Here's some photos:


Kasey's busch car


Kasey's merch trailer


Herbie was there..


The speedway


Playing plinko


Lunch in front of the track


walking to the concert stage


The Nextel Stage they use during opening ceremonies


RUSTY


Kate walking off stage... I was late with the camera


The Black Crowes


Check out the keyboard players shirt


Kate's in the white shades










the view from our seats


Herbie raced the track


JG just for Terri


It was hard to get a good shot in the dark and from a distance


The track at night


The red flag stop for the wreck that took out Kasey

Well that was our adventure at the All Star Race!! Here's hoping I see Kasey up close next Saturday!!