“I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dover International Speedway. I received complimentary tickets to facilitate my post and promotional item to thank me for my participation at the conclusion of the program.”
Mimi and Papa spend a lot of time taking care of us.
They feed us Sunday dinners, they take us fun places, they watch The Dudes for me when I have to work, and they give them so much more joy and experience than I would be able to provide with my small creativity and even smaller budget.
I am lucky. The Dudes are lucky. Heck, America is lucky!
And, I know I don’t do enough to say thank you. to them for being awesome my whole entire life.
When I got the opportunity to become an ambassador for Dover International Speedway, I jumped on the chance. No, silly, not because I am just crazy pants infatuated with NASCAR. I mean sure, it’s fun, and I like watching anything live that comes with cool snacks, but I can’t name more than 2 drivers (the cute two) or even begin to know much about the cars they drive.
For me, a lot of thought goes into determining which brands I will work with. Despite what people think, it’s way more than just HOORAY ALL OF THE FREE THINGS!
I ask myself serious questions, like do I have a strong affinity for the brand? Does it fit with my overall goals for this site? Will you all love it to pieces? Will it make me look thinner or younger? And does it have a personal meaning or connection for my family?
Totally that last one.
My dad has been a NASCAR fan all of my life and he loves sharing this hobby with The Dudes.
So off we went to the race track to see some of NASCAR’s top drivers conquer the Monster Mile in the FedEx400 for Autism Speaks!
We decided to make a mini weekend getaway out of our adventure.
We went for seafood and hung out in the sunshine on the pier in Annapolis…
We stayed at a really sketchy hotel (all of the good ones were taken), but it didn’t even matter to The Dudes. They had a blast just hanging with Mimi and Papa and learning to check beds for bed bugs.
We got up the next morning and drove to the raceway.
We hung out in the fan section and took pics with the monster from Monster Mile…
Our day was made before we even got into the stadium.
It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with our family and I am so happy we decided to go!
If you’re considering a trip to the speedway, here are some things you want to know before you go.
Visiting Dover International Speedway
1. The parking is gonna take a minute. Or like thirty. The process is pretty streamlined, but expect backups and delays in and around the stadium. Also, it’s not free. You can order a parking pass in advance, but it will cost you. If you don’t find parking in the actual stadium, expect to pay about $30 for the day at on offsite lot and be prepared to hoof it.
2. There is a lot of walking. You may not be able to park near where you are seated. It took us a good thirty minutes to make it from our car to our seats. Fortunately, if you are unable to make it, you can wait for a ride at one of the handicapped shuttle stops. My mom was ill and our kind driver gave us a ride all the way from the stadium to our car in the far reaches of the parking lot because she couldn’t make it.
3. You can bring your own food. Pack a lunch, load up the waters, cart in the snacks for the kids. If you can carry it (and it’s not alcohol or in a glass bottle, you can bring it).
4. Most of the concession stands are outside of the stadium. Get food before you go in or be prepared to trudge yourself all the way back down the flights of stairs (they have elevators, but there may be a backup) to snag it.
5. Bring cash. The snacks inside of the stadium don’t take credit cards. Many of those outside do, but if you want a yummy lemonade or a pretzel from the vendors nearest to your seats, make sure you have cold, hard cash.
6. Ear protection is a necessity. Especially if you have young people in your party. It. Is. LOUD.
7. The FanVision product is fun. It’s engaging for the kids and anyone who is a true race fan. You can get an up close look at what is going on down on the track. You can listen to racers in their cars. You can even watch driver cams and such during the race. Unlike many other event venues, the screens to see what’s happening on the infield are not huge, having FanVision allows you to see it more clearly. Also, the system comes with an awesome set of headphones that protects your ears while allowing you to tune into the stadium events and/or individual drivers. It comes free (along with a ton of other great items) with a $20 annual membership to the new kids club, Monster Mile Youth Nation.
8. The Monster Mile Youth Club has a ton of great activities and events for kids.
9. Wear a hat. And sunscreen. The seats, for the most part, are not covered or protected from the elements. Be prepared to sit in the sun.
10. Bring something to sit on. You can buy seat cushions to make your visit more comfortable, but if you have some at home you might want to bring them along. Fortunately the stadium benches are the roomy ones so you won’t be stuck sitting with someone’s knees in your back for 400 laps.
Check out the Families, Start Your Engines Sweepstakes for a chance to take your family to the races!