A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Ride-along a thrill for reporter; autograph session a hit with the kids at Kentucky Speedway


By David Kubota
NKy Tribune reporter

Riding in a NASCAR pace car with Brett Bodine isn’t about the speed, it’s about the turns. You can go high speeds on the highway, but you can’t replicate the types of turns you’ll encounter on a NASCAR track.

Brett Bodine took members of the media on ride-alongs in the NASCAR Pace Car prior to SAturday’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway (photos by David Kubota)

A custom Camry acts as the pace car, custom fitted for perfect performance on the track.

The driver was equally as fitted, Brett Bodine was a NASCAR driver for over 15 years and the Bodine family is well known in the world of racing. He talked us through each turn, however I was more concerned with holding on than listening to every word.

I was in the car for no more than maybe 90 seconds, but in that time, we took two laps around the track going in excess of 125 mph.

Drivers are limited to 45 mph until they hit the track, once you hit the track things take off and you’re forced to grab a hold of the handles.

I sat behind Bodine and didn’t notice the speed and momentum until we took that first turn and suddenly you’re on your side in the seat and holding on.

You struggle not to fall into the person sitting in the seat next to you. The closest thing it’s comparable to is a much more relaxed roller coaster. The wind isn’t in your hair and you’re not being jolted side to side, but you feel the momentum.

Bodine talked us through the thought process of a driver as the try and tackle the Kentucky Speedway.

“Here we come across the infamous turn three.” he said, “Now drivers really struggle with this turn.”

The noise is another thing you notice, or the lack of it. You come within one mile of a NASCAR race track and you can hear the cars, come into the infield and many people wear ear plugs. Inside the car is quite silent, the roar the engine is relatively tame.

Before you know it the ride is over, and you’re legs feel a bit uneasy as you step out of the car, again similar to a rollercoaster.

The track and speed are intimidating with a single car and professional driver Brett Bodine at the wheel. I can’t imagine what it’s like with forty more drivers of equal skill on the track bumper-to-bumper, all vying for the win.

No ride alongs, but autograph session a hit in the Kids Zone

Kids of all ages were welcome to the Kids Zone Saturday afternoon for a host of activities, including an inflatable slide, face painting and other activities.

Left, Brian Depaw gets an autograph from Ryan Blaney. Center, Lauryn Holloway, also gets Blaney to sign a picture – he is her favorite driver. Right, Kylie Freland, right, gets a signed photo from Matt DiBenedetto. Click to enlarge.

The most popular attraction of the day by far, however, was a Cup Driver Autograph Session featuring Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Matt DiBendetto.

Brian Depaw is a 10-year-old kid from Fort Wayne, Indiana whose family took the four-hour drive to let him meet some of his favorite drivers.

Depaw watches NASCAR every year with his family and they’ll occasionally travel to races that are within a few hours drive.

April Freland and her daughter Kylie Freland came down for the day from Waverly, Ohio.

“We come here and we go to Bristol,” April Freland said.

Kylie Freland had to find a new favorite driver, since Danica Patrick retired.

“I kind of like Brad (Keselowski) now,” she said. “Meeting the drivers is my favorite part.”

Face-painting was also a popular attraction in the Kids Zone Saturday.

Doug Holloway and his daughter Lauryn Holloway, 10, made the trip from Lexington for the race for the third year in a row.

Like Freland, she had to find a new favorite driver when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. retired. Blaney is her favorite now and she got his autograph for the second time Saturday.

“On a wild chance we went up to get an autograph and she never thought we’d get one,” Doug Holloway said. “She was so excited, she went into tears and he stopped everything he was doing to make sure she was OK, and that really meant a lot to us.

The heat on Saturday was brutal,and mist machines and tented areas with fans provided only a little relief.

It was rough on the parents, but the kids waiting in line to get autographs barely seemed to notice.


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