Talladega Race - Oct 5, 2008

TalladegaRace - Oct 5, 2008

Several members of BRB went to the Amp Energy 500 NASCAR race at Talladega, car-pooling with Richard Fernandez.

We had expected to have a long delay getting in due to traffic, but it was not bad at all (we passed the West exit off of I-20 and came in from the East side). We got there at 10:30 AM.

Our seats were in the O.V. Hill North "Tower" section (upper deck)

David Rowe had been to a couple of NASCAR races many years ago, in Atlanta. For the rest of us, it was our first NASCAR race of any kind. We all enjoyed it a lot.

Eddie Fernandez, Carol Witherspoon, & Ron Witherspoon

George Gassaway

Ron Witherspoon, David Rowe, & Richard Fernandez

Carol & Ron in front of the Speed Channel's pre-race TV show set

A view from the lower section seats. Our seats were on an upper deck section a few hundred feet down from here.

Richard & Ron

David Rowe, Eddie Fernandez, Carol Witherspoon, & Ron Witherspoon

George, Eddie, & Carol

Ron & Carol and the racing simulator game Ron & I love to play.

Out seats were here, at the O.V. North Hill "Tower" section. Those were about like having 40 yard line seats for a football game.

A view of the cars lined up before the race. Also visible near center is the "Sprint Vision" TV screen. We had a great view of most of the track, except for the last half of the backstretch

Richard

David, Carol, Ron, & Richard

Pre-race ceremonies

F-15 fly-by

Pace car about to pull off for start of race

This close-up of the Sprint Vision TV does not show up as well in the photo as the TV image did live.

Cars coming into the pits after a debris caution

It takes all kinds of fans.

All...kinds of fans.

The first "big one". It started to happen just past us, due to a blown tire.

Jeff Gordon's car was caught up in a wreck earlier when David Reuteman's car blew a tire. After many laps in the garage (maybe over 30 laps?) he came back out, as seen here, to try to score some more points by moving up a few places. Unfortunately later on, his engine blew.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88) leading shortly before the other "big one".

The other "big one". Dale Jr. was among those knocked out of the race. It was caused by Carl Edwards "bump-drafting" Greg Biffle's car too much (bumper touching bumper) in the turn, making Biffle's car spin out.

Michael Waltrip's car in the pits for repair

Tony Stewart (#20 - Yellow Subway) led the last several laps

Tony followed by Regan Smith (#01)

Last lap, about 100-150 feet from the finish line (see flagstand at far left). Regan Smith passed Tony, but passed inside of the yellow line, so Tony ended up winning.

Tony's pit crew congratulates him. This was his first win at Talladega

After a long walk back to the parking area, we got out without too much of a wait.

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Eddie Fernandez, Carol Witherspoon, & Ron Witherspoon	George Gassaway	Ron Witherspoon, David Rowe, & Richard Fernandez

Carol & Ron in front of the Speed Channel's pre-race TV show set	A view from the lower section seats. Our seats were on an upper deck section a few hundred feet down from here.		Richard & Ron

David Rowe, Eddie Fernandez, Carol Witherspoon, & Ron Witherspoon	George, Eddie, & Carol		Ron & Carol and the racing simulator game Ron & I love to play.

Out seats were here, at the O.V. North Hill "Tower" section. Those were about like having 40 yard line seats for a football game.	A view of the cars lined up before the race. Also visible near center is the "Sprint Vision" TV screen. We had a great view of most of the track, except for the last half of the backstretch	Richard	David, Carol, Ron, & Richard

			Pre-race ceremonies

F-15 fly-by

Pace car about to pull off for start of race		This close-up of the Sprint Vision TV does not show up as well in the photo as the TV image did live.	Cars coming into the pits after a debris caution

		It takes all kinds of fans.	All...kinds of fans.

			The first "big one". It started to happen just past us, due to a blown tire.

			Jeff Gordon's car was caught up in a wreck earlier when David Reuteman's car blew a tire. After many laps in the garage (maybe over 30 laps?) he came back out, as seen here, to try to score some more points by moving up a few places. Unfortunately later on, his engine blew.

		Dale Earnhardt Jr. (#88) leading shortly before the other "big one".	The other "big one". Dale Jr. was among those knocked out of the race. It was caused by Carl Edwards "bump-drafting" Greg Biffle's car too much (bumper touching bumper) in the turn, making Biffle's car spin out.

Michael Waltrip's car in the pits for repair	Tony Stewart (#20 - Yellow Subway) led the last several laps	Tony followed by Regan Smith (#01)	Last lap, about 100-150 feet from the finish line (see flagstand at far left). Regan Smith passed Tony, but passed inside of the yellow line, so Tony ended up winning.

Tony's pit crew congratulates him. This was his first win at Talladega		After a long walk back to the parking area, we got out without too much of a wait.