The gang goes to NASCAR: A weekend glamping in Bristol, Tennessee

FanSided was invited to go ‘glamping’ by the M&M’s Racing team, here’s what happened.

First thing’s first, if you’re not familiar with the term ‘glamping’ what it basically means is glamorous camping. So substitute the forest and campfires, for air conditioned bathrooms and catered food.

When this opportunity was brought to myself and Ashley Young by the people at M&M’s Racing we had no idea what to expect, but being the good sports that we are, we jumped at the opportunity. Anything for the #content.

Day One

1:30 p.m. — After two one-and-a-half hour flights from Chicago to Atlanta to Tennessee we finally touched down in Bristol, on a plane so small we literally un-boarded onto the tarmac at Tri-Cities Airport.

A quick 20-minute ride from the airport and we were in the thick of tailgates, vendors and of course the buzz of race cars zipping around the track of Bristol Motor Speedway. We arrived at the M&M Glampground and were given a tour of our home for the weekend, and then let loose to explore what was undoubtedly a whole new world for the both of us.

3:30 p.m. — We ventured out of the Glampground to get a feel for what exactly we were getting ourselves into. We were told beforehand that Bristol Motor Speedway holds a capactiy of 162,000 people, but it’s something that until you see it you won’t truly believe it’s that big.

In fact, unless you’ve been inside, you would never believe it’s the third largest sporting venue in the country, seventh in the world. Or that Bristol Motor Speedway is a bucket list item for many racing fans, with many camping out in RV’s from Thursday to Sunday just to be near the action for Saturday night.

Day Two

6:00 a.m. — Of course we didn’t wake up this early by choice, but in a 40-person Glampground you tend to hear everything from your neighbors, so when a group of neighbors decided to get up bright and early, we were all awake. By 8:20 a.m. we forced ourselves out of bed and got ready for the big day with a lot planned to fully immerse ourselves in the NASCAR culture.

9:30 a.m. — After being attacked by bees at breakfast we found refuge in the air conditioned trailer provided to the glampers when it got too unbearable to be out in the sun. We utilized the time piecing together our first video content from the weekend, a tour of our tent.

https://twitter.com/FanSided/status/1162732517067317250

12:30 p.m. — One of the coolest events we were involved in over those course of this weekend was when we were given the opportunity to take a lap around the track in the pace car. We jumped at the chance when it was presented to us — much like we did with agreeing to attend this event — not knowing what exactly to expect.

We watched groups of people go ahead of us, piling into the pace cars three at a time zipping around the track at 100 mph. When those cars hit the turn it’s the most terrifying thing to watch despite the fact that these are professionals. The anticipation just continued to build until it was our turn and once we got in the car there was no turning back.

Keep in mind this is nowhere near the speeds of what drivers are going when it’s race time, but even at 100 mph it feels like you’re on a roller coaster. But instead of zig-zagging across a metal or wooden track your body is being forced side-to-side by the pull of the car, each curve more terrifying than the last.

3:00 p.m. — This is when we really leaned into the racing atmosphere, getting to hear from the fans what it’s like to be at a NASCAR event and what the biggest do’s and don’ts were. Talking to at least a dozen people the tip at the top of everyone’s list was to stay hydrated. It really didn’t matter how, whether your drink of choice was beer, moonshine or water you had to keep the liquids flowing.

What we were most surprised by in our interaction with the fans throughout the day was the hospitality and warm welcome mostly everyone we interacted with gave us. It most likely had to do with the amount of alcohol that was consumed over the two days, but for the most part the people we talked to were joyed to have us interrupt their day. Oh, and we met the Jack Link’s Beef Jerky Sasquatch.

7:00 p.m. — After all the fan interaction and hours spent sweating away in the sun it was time for the event we were there for. Everyone told us we won’t believe how loud it gets inside the speedway until we’re actually inside and they weren’t wrong. The sheer amount of people in attendance for the race was shocking enough, but the spectacle that happens in the lead up to the actual race was unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed.

The event started with a rendition of ‘Proud to be an American,’ followed by a prayer blessing the drivers and all those in attendance, then the entire crowd stood and sung the Pledge of Allegiance in unison and lastly a child’s choir sang the national anthem. The whole affair probably took 20 minutes and concluded with fireworks before the drivers took the track to start the race.

After watching the first stage of the 500 lap race in our seats with the rest of the fans, we were given the opportunity to go in the infield of the track to be even closer to the action with the pit crews. If that wasn’t special enough we got a chance to sit in Kyle Busch’s pit box, which essentially is a skybox in the infield behind each driver’s pit where special guests get an opportunity to be literally as close as possible to the action.

For 15 minutes we sat directly behind Kyle Busch’s wife while screens in front of us showed different viewing angles of the race, as well as a program that tracked the path Busch was taking on the track. We have no concrete idea of what the purpose of the program was, but an educated guess assumes it helps chart the best strategy around the track to pass other cars. Again, no experts here, just a guess.

9:40 p.m. — Heat exhaustion began to set in, the smell of gasoline began to make us lightheaded and nauseous and there was still at least another 250 laps to go, so we left to head back to the glampground to try and catch some sleep before an early flight out the next day.

For our first NASCAR race we definitely got the full gambit of the fan experience. From glamping and moonshine to the ringing noise left in our ears from the loudness of the cars, it was without a doubt an opportunity we’ll likely never forget.