RANDOM NOTES FROM THE 600

Tim Leeming
@tim-leeming
13 years ago
3,119 posts

Just some observations from the 600 which, I hope, may entertain some of you.

1. Being in the stands as hot as it was, most guys had their shirts off. I can attest, without reservation, that you should invest in futures for tattoo ink. I have never seen so many gross, unattractive tattoos as I did Sunday. One guys, maybe 30 years old had tattoos from his neck down, just scrolling ink lines. He looked as though he is a good candidate for a Circus freak show. Do they even have those anymore or are freak shows reserved for Washington, D.C.? Almost everyone from, women included, 16 and up were tattooed with something. One woman I saw at the concession stand (or should I call that place robbery central?) had both arms tattooed to look like lace.

2. To the 12 year old 300 pound boy sitting on the row behind us, it is NOT cool to take off your shirt and expose all that to anyone. Even my 7 year old grandson wondered how you could be that overweight at your age. I wish you well and hope you will take steps to resolve the weigh issue. It's going to kill you.

3. To the woman sitting in front of us with the Jeff Gordon cap. It is NOT cool to stand every 3 minutes in front of my grandson with that HUGE rear end of yours right in his face in those black jeans. I assume those were jeans. I have read where they had to sew the black leather pants on Olivia Newton John in the last scenes of Grease and then cut them off of her after filming. Lady, I'm tell you, everytime you stood up I was in shock that jean fabric could expand that much. Speaking of expanding, how long have you been working on expanding the girth stuffed into those jeans?

4. To the woman in the next row in the Kyle Busch t-shirt and Carl Edward cap (talk about indecision) with the long grey haired pony tail sticking out, what in God's name possessed you to wear those 4 inch spike heels to a race. Were you "hooking" for Kyle or Carl? Jeez lady, I kept waiting for you to break and heal and fall.

5. To the approximately 17 year old boy with the striped bermuda shorts and no shirt, and the tattoo of an angel all over your back, I am assuming you were sentenced by your coach of something to run the grandstands. I know I saw you up and down those stairs no less than 600 times during that race. Next time, don't get seats at the TOP of the stands, sit down front and save come energy.

6. To the 600 plus pound dude you could not fit into the seat in the Toyota Grandstands because the seats have little arm rests, it is NOT cool to spend the entire race standing in the aisle with your girth making it almost impossible to get around you to go down. You should have joined the young man running up and down the steps the entire race.

7. Until Sunday, I had no idea that men's underwear came in so many brands and designs. With no shirts and pants hanging around their knees, I was exposed (not me personally but them) to every brand of men's underwear known to man. I never even knew there was an "American Eagle" brand of underwear.

8. To the lady who had enjoyed a little too much of Kevin Harvick's sponsor's product, whom I encounter going across the pedestrian bridge to the parking lot. Did you really bring your two kids with you and drink like that and then drive them home. Your son looked to be about 13 and your daughter about 9. You should be jailed for child abuse. I hope you all made it home safely. Oh, and for the record,those two kids look mortified to be seen with you. Even my 7 year old grandson was embarrassed for your children. When he saw you, he held on to my hand even tighter and looked up at me with a questioning face. I didn't say anything but looking back, I should have told him it is not cool to be like that.

9. To the man three rows behind us who unleased a string of profanity before the race, for reasons unknown as nothing was going on. Thanks for sitting down and shutting up when I stood up and gave you the "look to kill". Those were my grandsons and I don't want them exposed to such. I would not have come back there as it is not my nature to cause a scene, but I would certainly have engaged the services of the security office down front had you continued.

10. Finally, to the two dudes in the red Corvette with the North Carolina personalized tag containing the letters "JW", you need to be aware that just driving a red Corvette does not entitle you to cut in front of folks. I'm still trying to figure out why the rednecks in the jacked up four-wheel drive Ford F-250 didn't reduce your ride to a pile of red plastic. Next time, dude, have some class. Most everyone else in the parking lot did and we had a good time and lots of conversation getting out of there.

So, until my next visit to a NASCAR track, that is a small portion of the entertainment presented by NASCAR fans of the new generation. In fairness though, as stated in my Legendtorial on Tuesday night, most of the folks we encountered, fans and speedway personnel were awesome. It was truly a grand experience for me and my three grandsons. So, to all the fans who made it a great day, thanks, and I hope you all are the ones I sit next to on the next trip.

Tim




--
What a change! It's been awhile since I've checked in and I'm quite surprised. It may take me awhile to figure it our but first look it's really great.


updated by @tim-leeming: 04/05/17 04:45:54AM
Bumpertag
@bumpertag
13 years ago
363 posts
I wish I had known you were there, I was in the Toyota Terrace and I would have loved to have met you. My wife and I were in section G. Small world. Sorry you and your grandsons had to endure such things. I've had close to the same thing happen to us at the All Star race back arould 1996 or so. I saw things I could never have made up. I don't remember much of the race but I remember the woman with the nipple peircing that let everyone see and feel. I wish I could share more. Maybe at the next race we can meet up.
Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
13 years ago
9,137 posts

All those folks blocking your view reminded me of the time my buddy, Frank and I ventured from Richmond up to Beltsville, MD in 1966 to watch Tiny Lund score one of his two Cup (then GN) wins. Seated directly in front of Frank was this obnoxious Yankee "lady" with an enormoushat blocking our view. After asking very politely if she'd take off the hat she told us there was an old northern expression - "Mind your own business." Frank politely responded, "There's an old southern expression - up yours!"

The tatoo deal, especially on youngsters,mystifies me when so many states have an age limit on getting one. Yet, all the freshmen college athletes you see, as well as the upperclassmen seem to have their arms wrapped up in them. I'd like to see a college coach with backbone and the support of the school administration proclaim, "No tatoos, dreadlocks or hair hanging over your shoulder." Of course, the American Civil Liberties Union would have that coach fired immediately.




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Christopher Krul
@christopher-krul
13 years ago
119 posts

YIKES!! Its stories like that make me realize things are better in the comforts of your own home. Perhaps this could be why crowds are down. The atmosphere at times are not fan friendly. The rowdyness, the drinking and peoplewith just no respect or manors at all.Most disturbing thing I ever saw at a race was a couple brought an infant to a race and I watched them take two cigarettes and snap them in two. Then proceed to take the filter ends and put it in the infant's ear!!!! WHY BRING AN INFANT TO A RACE?!?! LET ALONE STICK THAT IN A INFANT'S EAR!!BAD PARENTING!! Its times like these I wish I had the local DHS on speed dial on my phone.

Tattoos are a fad it seems. If thats the case I think I will pursue a career in tattoo removal. In the next 20 years it will be a big business. No one is really putting much thought into them I think.I can never understand that. I can understand like small ones or ones on the arms but then I see some that are on the face, neck or any space availible which is stupid. The murals of tattoos isridiuclous on some people.Is that what people really think? That thier body is apiece of canvas?More women are getting them too and to me its just not attractive.

As for the underwear being seen. It seems like now the people who make pants or shorts make them ride low. They just do not make pants like they used to. Or people are just ignorant to the fact that thier pants do not fit right. Old saying goes, SAY NO TO CRACK!

Dave Fulton
@dave-fulton
13 years ago
9,137 posts
Some years back I was shocked the first time I ever saw an infant in the NASCAR garage... and of all people it was Darrell and Stevie Waltrip with baby Jessica. I gave them credit for having better sense. No infant needs to be exposed to the trauma of stock car engines. That is just absolutely stupid. Now I see Jimmie J and all the rest toting infants around. NASCAR should just out and out ban this practice. For gosh sakes even after women were allowed in the pits and garage for years there was a NASCAR Pits/Garage clothing ordinance of noskirts/no shorts/no sleeveless tops/no open toe shoes.Yet they allow drivers to tote infants around those noises. It's a wonder one of those infants hasn't experienced some kind of a traumatic shock.

Christopher Krul said:

WHY BRING AN INFANT TO A RACE?!?!




--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
Randy Myers2
@randy-myers2
13 years ago
219 posts
Tim! Sounds like saw some things you can't unsee!
Matt Huntley
@matt-huntley
13 years ago
5 posts
That sounds like my luck most of the times I've gone to Daytona.
Matt Huntley
@matt-huntley
13 years ago
5 posts

I might add that I was at the World 600 on Sunday also. Had a great time. One of the best races I've been to. My favorite driver (Kahne) ran out of gas leading with two to go and I still had a blast. 25th Cup event I've been to in person. Next one will be the Firecracker 400, can't wait.