[CCLSVTM3]

So, I got to do 20 laps in a Nascar stock car at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA. It was a Bday present and must say it was pretty bad ass... Im not a big Nascar guy so I dont know much about the difference in cars, but apparently its two steps down from a Nascar Cup car.

I arrived, checked in, and hung out as some staff memebr began explaining some optional insurance. I know its probably a sucker ploy but when he said if you total the car, you owe $25,000, I figured, what the hell. Its only $89..... At the end, no one crashed but one did spin out.... Not even close the the wall.... Then you get called in the briefing room. Its about 50 min of rules and simple driving tips. Then your out to the track.

You wait around and watch other groups until your group is called. Then you meet at a tent where you get in racing pants and a jacket, gloves, helmet, and ear plug headphones. Then they drive you out the track in a golf cart. They tell you your car number and you head over.

You climb in where a guy starts explaining the car to you. Then you start getting instructions through the headphones. You start up and head to the track. I have never been in a full 5 point racing harness, and I will say, I could not move!!! My car was stick, so once on the track, you shift to 4th and stay there.

You do about 5 yellow or caution laps as they let you get the feel on the car. Then you hear "Green, green, green!!!" Thats when they start counting your laps. I will be honest and tell you that I did not think it would be that hard. Come on, 4 left turns, but it was more difficult then I thought. My braking and accelerating wasnt the best in the begining and the car didnt want to turn left on a 4 left turn race track. I was surprised how much I had to fight it to turn left... Finally I started getting the feel of it and I had it as pinned as I could. Passing is allowed with a spotter who tells you when to pass via the radio. It was a fun time and those cars are loud!!! I then found out that the lap record was 16.XX seconds. I was 4 seconds off the record time. So I was pleased. Mostly everyone was running around 25-28 sec lap times and I was in the low 20.xx's....

The only negative thing I would have to say is the track is super small!!!! It is a 1/2 mile oval track. So it goes really quick... Besides that, everything else was really cool. They let you drive as fast as you can and your spotter helps you out if he see's you can kind of drive. You hit about 120 mph on the straight away's and about 80 mph in the turns and you drive by your self. I would say definitely check it out.

I also just did the exotic car racing experience in Vegas. Two totally different things. The Lambo I drove was fast, it was a 1.5 mile long track, 11 turns and really fun. The only thing that sucked about that was you have an instructor sitting shotgun telling you how to drive, when to brake, when to shift, etc... In the Nascar experience, yeah you have a spotter talking to you on the radio, but its all up to you to remmeber braking points, apexing, etc... I loved the Exotic Car Experience but I think I liked the Nascar Experience a lot more.... I would post pics but its just me on the track, dont think anyone would really care to see that...