do you remember your first race you ever saw?

[spasticchuckles]

The first race I remember watching was the 2001 Aaron's 499

 

[the_gribbler]

Good topic!

The first race I ever saw on TV would have been the 88 or 89 Daytona 500, I can't really tell. I'd have been 8 or so. I don't really remember a whole lot about it of course, but I do remember a driver named Wyatt Earp III or another relative of Earp in the race, I remember my dad making a big fuss about it at the time, me not knowing then who he was. Does anyone else remember anything remotely resembling this?

I've never been to a race, that will change next October (Talladega - Texas - Phoenix) hopefully. It's been 14 years since I went to the US.

Cheers

Glen

 

[Enter Sandman]

I don't remember what race it was because I was extremely young, but I remember Dale Earnhardt in the Wrangler car, other than that I can't remember much other than that I saw a bunch of races since. We only got channel 3 back then with the antenna since cable wasn't strung by the house until a couple months ago lol. We got one of the big satellite dishes when that stuff was just starting to get more popular, I think '95 or '96. From that point forward have seen almost every Cup race.

 

[zaw24fan]

The first race I'd ever gone to, I saw 40 laps of the 2002 Little Trees 300 at Lowe's. But my first full race was the 2005 UAW-Ford 500, Dale Jarret came from the middle of nowhere to win in the last 3 laps. I've been going to Talladega in the Fall for the last 3 years. I've also been to the 2006 Golden Corall 500 at Atlanta that Kasey Kahne won.

And I'll be going to the 2009 Sharpie 500!!!!!!!!

 

[bubba025]

Sadly the first race I remember was the 2001 Daytona 500. The first race I went to was the 2003 Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland when Ryan Newman won.

 

[TheShermanator]

First race I ever remember watching was Bristol in 1998 when Dale Earnhardt wrecked Terry Labonte to win the race. lol. What a finish to get me hooked.

 

[Bucket]

I remember watching a taped race in 1997 because I stayed home from preschool (I was sick). Jeff Gordon won =).

First race I went to was the 2003 MBNA Armed Forces Family 400 (Dover). Jeff Gordon was just beat out by Ryan Newman =(.

 

[Enter Sandman]

First race I went to was July '05, Loudon. Brian Vickers won the pole,Tony Stewart dominated the race. Then came September '07. Ron Hornaday won the Truck race, Clint Bowyer got his first win from the pole in the Cup race (extremely good for a Bowyer fan ) September '08, Hornaday won the Truck race, don't remember who won the East Series or Modified races, Greg Biffle won the Cup.

 

[Joker88]

The first race I ever watched was a night race at Bristol, 1994 I think.. I fell in love for the 3, 4, 5, and 24 cars.

 

[super39fan]

I've watched snippets of races since 1998. The first full race I watched was the 2003 Banquet 400 where Newman won. I've been a Newman fan since.

The first race I went to was the 2005 Pocono 500. The only thing I remember is Ryan Newman wrecked with about 10 laps to go and then Carl Edwards won.

 

[88fan]

I've been a Newman fan since.
The only thing I remember is Ryan Newman wrecked with about 10 laps to go and then Carl Edwards won.

Thats pretty messed up ?!?!?!? :twitcy:

 

[waltrip55]

2001 daytona 500 i said who ever wins this race ill be there fan and what do you know mikey won it on the darkest day in nascar and mikey will not be on peoples mind when they say 2001 daytona500 moving on first race in person 2005 texas motorspeedway awesome race btw

 

[DannyM]

The first race I've ever went to was the 1996 Pepsi 400 at Daytona. I don't remember much of that race because I was only 4 years old. I do know that Sterling Marlin won, and the race was rained out. I can't remember the very first race I watched, though.

 

[Thunder98]

1st NASCAR race on TV: 1997 Martinsville 500

1st Nascar Nationwide Race I went to: 2003 Pepsi 300 @ Nashville

1st Nascar Sprint Cup Race I went to: 2005 Brickyard 400

1st race i ever went to: 2002 Goody's Dash Series @ Whitesville (Local track in KY)

My Dream Cup race to go to: Daytona 500, or Centurion Boats at The Glen

 

[Brak61]

My being older than almost all of you here means I go way back. My Dad was a huge race fan and used to pack the whole family off to the track with him all the time. The TV coverage in those days was limited to "ABC's Wide World of Sports", little 10-12 minute snippets sandwiched in between ping pong from Taiwan and skiing or something from somewhere like Norway. We'd see the start and then, after some ping pong, we'd see some wrecks and maybe a pitstop and then some other sport and then a final segment of maybe the last 10-12 laps. And of course this was always 4-6 weeks after the actual race and only showing 3-4 races per year. That's why I don't gripe all that much about the TV coverage today, I remember when there wasn't any to speak of. Most of the time we listened to the races on the radio, back before MRN and when WENO radio in Nashville broadcast the races live.

When I first remember being old enough to really be intently interested it was the Flameless 300, a LMS (later Busch series) race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in about 1968. Tiny Lund held off Red Farmer to win that day, that was when I became officially addicted to racing. My first Cup race was the first race at Nashville after the track was rebuilt in 1970 to 5/8ths mile and had 36 degree banks. Bobby Isaac won that one, he was my mothers 2nd cousin.

I've watched the sport grow from nothing. I was watching live when ABC switched over from "The Superstars" to the ending of the '76 Daytona 500 when Petty and Pearson wrecked. I also remember the '79 500 when it was shown live flag-to-flag. I've watched almost everything since too and have seen roughly 100 or more Cup races in person. I've been to Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta, Rockingham, Darlington, Bristol, Nashville, Richmond and Texas World Speedway. Throw in about another 100 Busch, Craftsman, ASA, ARCA, and USAR races. And I try to go somewhere at least once each weekend to watch short track racing. This week it's the O'Reilly All Stars on dirt at Bulls Gap on Friday and the regular weekly show on asphalt at Newport on Saturday.

 

[Frigus5]

First race on TV. 1996 Coca-Cola 600. (Was only two)
Firts race at track: 2004 Brickyard 400 (NASCAR), 2000 US Grand Prix (F1), 2006 Indy 500 (IRL)

All at Indianapolis. Been to a couple of IRL races at Michigan tho.

 

[Carson Downs]

TV: I rememver back to the 2000 Brickyard 400


At the track: 2000 Indy car at California Speedway, 2004 Night Race NASCAR at California

 

[88fan]

I think my first race i saw was the 06 brickyard and the first race i went to was the 09 budshootout....and i WANT TO GO AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

 

[NDilbeckWx]

My first race that I went to was the Napa 500 @ Atlanta in '01. Pretty good finish, especially when Neadu ran out of fuel and Bobby Labonte won the race. I was only 9. The best birthday gift ever. My mom won them from Channel 11 News out of Atlanta.

I've only been to two total. Atlanta and the 50th Daytona 500. The 500 was amazing. my dad got tickets from his boss, who got them from DuPont. We got the hospitallity package, and Jeff Gordon accually showed up, made a short speech, and answered questions. we got the tickets because apparently his boss knew I wanted to go, so he just gave them to us. It was the most thrilling experience I've ever had. The race was exciting, especially at the last 20 laps, I don't think anyone in the section we were in was sitting down for those last 20 or so laps. I have to admit, I never would've reallized how big Daytona is without going. It seems smaller on tv, and when your there you have to kinda squint to see the far side of the track. It was one expirence that I'll never forget.

The '01 Daytona 500 was the first I'd seen on tv.

 

[Johnson #48]

First race on TV Highlights of the 2007 Chevy Rock and Roll 400.
First full race: Atlanta 2008.

We only got flag to flag coverage in the UK in 2008. The ratings haven't been good so Homestead '09 could be my last full race.