Hot pit passes???

[JMAC26]

Hey All,

I am so lucky to have the chance to have hot pit passes for this years 50th coca cola 600 at LOWES and I just wondering if anyone on this site has had them at LOWES or at any track. Also what can I except with these, we get there Friday morning. My hopes are real high so please any information about this would be great. Thanks.

-JMAC26

[Shirley]

Jamac, Hot Passes are the same at Lowes as it is at Texas.

[JMAC26]

what are they like I have never been to texas before or used a hot pit passes. thanks maybe your mixing me up with someone else.

-JMAC26

[snowdogsx2]

I had hot passes at Bristol, you basically can be in the pits for everything, of course you can't go over the wall :)
It's a lot of fun, you usually have to stand behind the war wagons during the race ( what I mean is you can't go and get in the way and whatever you do DON'T touch anything !!! I saw some morons actually sit on the tires.) What I enjoyed was standing there next to the inspection stations, watching the officials put templates on the cars and doing measurements. Try to find out where the driver's meeting is and what time it is held, great chance for awesome pics and autographs if you are so inclined. As far as the race, you can't see much so we went back and forth from the pits to our suite during the race. At Bristol we were able to stand almost against the inside retaining wall in turn 3 and get some great photos. It really is a great experience. Oh ya, the access is so good, my wife found herself on pit road during the National Anthem (she was NOT supposed to be there) Jeff Gordon's crew grabbed her and said " Put your hand on your haert, smile and look like you're supposed to be here" graet guys and what a great story to have to tell. Have fun !!!!

[JMAC26]

Thanks for the great information. I have a few questions, so I can go into the drivers meeting or just wait outside for them to come out? I was also thinking of going back to our seats for the cup race because the people that are going with me wanted to watch the race from in there and sell our seats. So that is not worth doing right from what you think, because you can not see anything? I am thinking about watching the nationwide race from in there just to see what it is like. Also, can you bring in a video recorder, and also, a camara with a zoom lens? Just a few question to ask to see what you think bc this is my first time with hot pit passes and all the information would help. Thanks again.

-JMAC26

[Atl_tim]

All tracks are a little different, but you won't be able to go to the driver's meeting. At Atlanta, the driver's meeting is in the media center, which is in a gated area. We have 4 ways (gates) drivers can get into and out of the media center area. You may want to kind of check it out on Saturday and see what the set up is at Lowes. Maybe ask the security guards if they know which way drivers are coming and going (they may or may not tell you).

Also, at Atlanta MRO does a church service immediately following the drivers meeting in the media center. If anyone shows up at the gate and says they are going to church, we let them in. Again, your mileage may vary at Lowes.

The races are a little tougher to watch and follow from the inside. I'd maybe try to catch the pre race stuff and the start from the inside then head up to your seats.

You can take any sort of camera, but you can't take any alcohol in. Also, no tank tops, shorts, or open toed shoes.

[JMAC26]

Thank you for all the great information. Now do you know what time you can enter the garage and what time you have to leave at night on friday, and saturday. What is the normal time? I know they change from track to track, but what have you known. Can you really spend a lot of time down there, because if that is the case I am going to clear my schedule and spend most of my time down there (thats really what I want to do). Thanks again, for all the information.

-JMAC26

[Atl_tim]

Withe the races being at night, I'm not sure what the hours will be. I saw the track web site had some cold pit hours listed, hot passes may have the same entry time, but you wouldn't have to leave when it turns from cold to hot. They have a ph # listed as 704-455-3203 for more info. If it's not out already, there should be a weekend schedule coming out that lists when everything opens up.

In my opinion, your best bet is to make plans to be in and around the pits during all the practices and qualifying. As the weekend progresses, it gets more and more crowded.

You'll have a blast, it's definitely fun to be "on the other side" of the track and see the people and cars up close. It's pretty amazing.

[Shirley]

Calling the speedway was know help to us when we went. We even went to the main office when we got there and they know nothing. Just check out the schedule. And I hope that you don't get the run around that we got trying to get into the infield. It took us 3 hours just to get into the infield in order to get to the garages.

[minabruuke]

I have a totally different opinion on where to watch with a hot pass...there is no way in hell you would get me to any grandstand seat if I can watch from the pits. I saw plenty of the race from the pits and I love watching them pit the cars up close and I loved watching when they checked the tires when they took them off the cars and all that kind of stuff. There are several tvs on every pit box so what you can not see is right in front of you on a tv. I suppose it is very different from track to track. Your experience during the race within the pits really would depend on you affiliation down there. If you are there as a guest to a specific team the experience will be different because they will most likely let you up to the wall and you will know when their car is coming in to get out of their way but if you are not with a team you wouldnt want to just walk into some random teams pit box and walk up to the wall. Now there is always the chance of ending up out of the race and that pit box being emptied and then you have a perfect place to get up to the wall and watch.

I have to giggle at the "morons sitting on tires" because I thought it was unusual that teams would allow that but the team I was with sat themselves on their tires and couldnt have cared less if someone else sat on them as long as they werent the next set they planned to use and had ready. They said it didn't hurt a thing. It shocked the hell out of me, don't know if you'd see that in a Hendrick pit! Snowdogs advice about not touching anything is important....leave it all alone and don't sit somewhere unless your told you can sit there...you get in the way or touch something you shouldn't and you probably won't find yourself back in pit road ever!

Don't forget the 95% of the people down there are working. It is their job and their work place. Act how you would want someone to act if they were in your office/place of employment while you are trying to work.

[JMAC26]

Thanks for the information. That is what I am thinking I am going to do, with the nationwide race is stay in the pits and see how much I like it for the cup race. My family wants to stay down there the entire time, so I am much likely going to be down there. But by the sounds of it you really enjoyed yourself. And you get to go to victory circle, so that is always a big +!!! Thanks again, and if anyone has other information that has not yet been said or would like to add something on what someone else said please do. Like I said before this is my first chance with a hot pit passes and I do not want to waste them. Thanks to all for the great information.

-JMAC26

[StarrBright]

You will have a BLAST, if this is your first time with a Hot pass, You will think you have died and gone to Nascar Heaven! Watching a race is still exciting from behind the pits, you see All the pit action, its all very thrilling. I have only done that twice in truck series races, Once at Memphis and once at Texas, Cant see the whole track, but some teams have a Tv in their pit boxes --and then maybe there will be a jumbotron tv to watch also...I prefer to watch from the stands, but Everyone who gets an opportunity to watch from the pits, should try that at LEAST Once!! You wont regret it! Its a whole new aspect from the pits--if you have scanner, take that with you and listen in!! But like the others have said, Dont touch anything, and be sure to not get in the way..always watch your back too, even in the garage areas..cars come through fast down there, and those guys run around around back and forth from Hauler to garage and all over..So keep your eyes open and stay aware at all times..
Have a Great time!!

[snowdogsx2]

JMac, as far as Victory Circle/Lane, I am not sure about LMS but at Bristol you CANNOT go into victory circle just because you have a hot pass ( it's up on top of the building where the goodyear tire shop is and where driver meeting is held). I was in Victory Circle last year in Bristol but your hot pass had to have a sticker on it that said VL. But again, having a hot pass IS something special, just keep your eyes open and try to figure out what you can get away with, or do what my wife does and just go wherever you want until someone tells you to drag your butt. She goes places I wouldn't but that's probably because of my past as a State Trooper ( always trying to respect what I know are the rules) and I HATE getting yelled at. We will be at LMS camping in Fleetwood, feel free to email me and we might be able to get together. Mark

[JMAC26]

Ok, thanks for the heads up. Ya I will have to send you a PM and we would have to get together and talk about what a great weekend it is going to be. You going to be there for the all-star race too?

-JMAC26

[snowdogsx2]

Yup, should be there Thursday 5/14. See you there

[JMAC26]

Enjoy your weekend(s). Thanks for all your help.

-JMAC26