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JumboJet's avatar
JumboJet
Explorer
Mar 18, 2014

A DIFFERENT Trip Report

Only truck camper at All American Campground – Bristol Speedway. In 18 years of attending NASCAR races (formally in my 5th wheel camper) I only saw one other truck camper at a NASCAR race. Of course, back then I wasn't looking for them.


Campground from across creek at Bristol Speedway – Camper in red circle beneath red arrow


It was cold and wet on Sunday. We sat there for 2 hours as they tried desperately to dry the track.


Track before Sprint Cup final practice. Notice how close all the car haulers are placed in the infield. In 2016 Bristol Speedway will host a Tennessee Volunteers football game in the infield.


Sprint Cup practice. Danica Patrick in the green car. Danica had a good race on Sunday and finished only 1 lap down ahead of many top drivers.


Brad Keselowski in the #2 Miller Lite. Brad led several laps before eventually crashing into the back of Kevin Harvick after blowing an engine and spilling oil in Turn 1.


#42 Target car being wheeled by the rookie Kyle Larson. Kyle finished 2nd to Kyle Busch in the Nationwide race.


#3 being wheeled by rookie Austin Dillon (Richard Childress' grandson) being passed by veteran #24 Jeff Gordon.


End of the race for the #16 Nationwide competitor Ryan Reed.


#54 Kyle Busch is the winningest Nationwide series driver recently surpassing Mark Martin.


Kyle Busch celebrating the Nationwide victory.


Parade lap before green flag. The attendance was very, very low for this racetrack. The stadium holds over 150,000 people.


Last parade lap before green flag. #24 Jeff Gordon, #18 Kyle Busch, #48 Jimmy Johnson, etc.


Action: 3 wide in Turn 2 at 120+ MPH. #2 Brad Keselowski leading teammate #22 Joey Logano with 5 anxious competitors wanting that lead spot.


The defining race moment for Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy would come out of the pits after taking only 2 left side tires to lead the race. 55 laps later the tire comes apart and Jimmy limps to the pits and goes multiple laps down. You know it is a bad day when you finish more laps down than Danica Patrick.


At lap 124 the rain came and the track drying equipment was put into action. After 3 hours of trying, they were finally successful (the rain stopped) and dried the track. One of the large air compressors is being re-fueled. During that 3 hour effort, all the air compressors and jet dryers were refueled.


After a short warm-up and meal in the truck camper, we returned to the track for the final 376 laps. My fingers were too cold to take any additional pictures. All in all, it was a nice trip for 2 of us and the RAM 3500 with the Lance 1050S did an excellent job over the 1,650 mile trip.
  • Great pics! I've been to Martinsville a couple of times with my TC and saw very few others. Haven't been to Bristol in many years.

    I like the way they tiered the camping area as shown in your pics. Looks very level.

    Welcome to Virginia/Tennessee in March, never know what kind of weather you'll get!
  • Great trip report, very different, and that's alright!
    Just for info if you go to Sears Point in California for a race you will see many truck campers!

    TimH
  • Yeah, I had to switch to Fox Sports 1 to get the end of the race. Rain delay isn't helpful considering most of the Bristol fans probably had to work Monday.
  • bka0721 wrote:
    Different? Your photos are superb. Many have no idea how hard it is to take photos of race cars, let alone in a resolution that is visible.
    Thank you for your efforts and talent!



    Agree on that some very good shots, but the sparse crowd especially at Bristol is not a good look.
  • Different? Heck No! Diverse trip reports are what make this forum so great. I enjoy the diversity that many bring to the table, Whazoo, Jefe4X4, Buzzcut, TClife and many more. So many great things, passions, being shared by TC enthusiasts. While I have a special interest in your TR, as I spent many years racing at road course tracks, and speedways around the country. So I am glued to the F1, NASCAR and other races. It is hard when there is no racing from October thru February. Your photos are superb. Many have no idea how hard it is to take photos of race cars, let alone in a resolution that is visible.
    Thank you for your efforts and talent!

    Any more races on your horizon? Sonoma or the Glen?

    b
  • well...you know what I have to say about that im sure jim. lol. I am planning on watching the race tonight, I recorded it because I was busy. unfortunately...a 3 hour delay? that means it wont catch the end of the race. yes, I know carl won and my main man the biff got 12th. wished we could have joined you. sure would be great one of these times. thanks for the awesome pictures.