Tammylou Bouy eng 11 Tue 9-10:50 Fri 9-9:50
Personal Essay
I have always imagined what it would be like to be sitting in the front row and actually smell the rubber from a real NASCAR race you know like on the commercial when the woman hears a car burn out down the road and she runs into the street bends down smells the rubber and says umm! That is perfume to my nose.
Well on August 23, 2008, it became a smell only a real race fan can appreciate.
I was in Bristol Tennessee at the fast half-mile track in the world.
Bristol Motor Speed Way.
Front row seats I was in my glory, and all of a sudden I felt something hit me in the back of my head ” bop” ,what the heck was that ? I turned around in thought that someone had thrown something at me but to my dismay no one was there, ok I thought must have been something in the wind two seconds latter bop, it happened again I turned around still no one behind me I look at my two friends pointing down and laughing their butts off I instantly get up and run to the fence where they were pointing to it was a dream come true.
NASCAR rubber fresh off the Earnhart Jr. Car number 88 his first race with his new number. Being an avid fan of his grandfather who originally drove the 88 number this was like hit the biggest lottery ever imaginable not only could I smell the melted rubber but I actually now have it in my hands it belongs to me wow I picked up as many pieces as I could fit in my pockets and contained to watch the NASCAR drivers qualifying for the big race the next day when all of a sudden bang the 42 Pueblo Montoya in the 42 car hit’s the middle guard rail leaving a fifty foot skid mark , my friend who has been too almost every NASCAR track says when we come back tomorrow that will be gone I didn’t believe him till we got back the next day as low and behold it was freshly painted milk white , I thought to my self if only everything in the world was taken care of as quickly things would be so nice but in the real world things cant always get that kind of attention . As I continue to watch the drivers get ready for the opening ceremony I get this idea and off I go right down to the track were only VIP can enter, well I really want a close up so I stand right near a peace officer for a couple of minutes look up at him and say can I borrow your badge for a second? He looks down at his badge and realizes what I asked laughed at me and said no but go head down just be careful I got so excited I jumped down and began to take hundreds of pictures before I get kicked out drivers were all around me to the left to the right in front of me in back of me is was as if I died and went to NASCAR heaven then a Bristol sheriff said excuse me young lady you cant be down her with out a pit pass ,so I said do you have one I can use for the day he laughed and escorted me off the track the star spangled banner was being sung by Goth brooks then my phone rings it’s a friend trying to telling me she can see me on TV I started to laugh till the fighter jets start to fly over the track , I dropped my phone grabbed my ears it was as if the were right in my head it hurt but at the same time it was one of the most accelerating feel I had ever experienced Tony Stuart won the race and I had the best time of my life .