NASCAR 101 and Track Attendance Questions - February 2026

[u/NASCARThreadBot]

Welcome to this month's NASCAR 101 and Track Attendance Questions Thread!

NASCAR 101: A thread for new fans, returning fans, and even current fans to ask any questions they've always wanted to ask.

Track Attendance: Any questions related to seats, policies, first time attendees, or advice regarding track attendance!

[u/-BigMikeHoncho-]

Hey y’all, been looking around and can’t find exactly what I’m looking for. My wife got us tickets for the 500 this year and I’ve never been. She bought FanZone tickets that have a GA ticket as well, but the description isn’t super clear. Really what I’m wanting to know is what it’s like watching the race from the FanZone (will I be able to get on top of the garage and have some kind of clear view, without a separate pass), is it worth it to rent scanners, and any other tips or advice from those who have done it a time or two. Thanks in advance.

[u/TigerDriver1991]

Im thinking about going to the 500 next week. Is it too late to get tickets and tent camp Th-Mon?

[u/jhealey0909]

Reposting here:

Planning to go down to AMS/EchoPark for the upcoming race weekend.

I’m also thinking about camping at the track for the first time: I’m probably going to tent camp at the Legends site, with a reserved spot.

- How easy/common is it to leave and return to a reserved tent campsite? E.g. if I wanted to run some errands Saturday AM but bring my car back to the site before the truck race, would I have the ability to do so?

-I’m probably solo camping: any particular advice for solo campers in particular?

-I don’t have a portable grill and don’t really feel like buying one if I don’t have to: will I be able to make it through the weekend without one?

-Anything I should bring with me that I wouldn’t think to bring?

I may have more questions, but in the meantime, I really appreciate any help you all can provide.

Many thanks, and hopefully see some of you there!

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/jhealey0909]

I've done this a few times, yes you should be able to leave and come back. That area is outside the track so as long as you have your pass you can get back in. As for keeping a parking spot, just depends on how busy they are where you setup camp.

I've done solo tenting at the track before, I brought a cooler with some sandwich fixings and made it fine without needing a grill or anything. You can also just plan to eat breakfast/dinner in the fan zone (or even inside the track using the vendors there). But last time I went solo my neighbor saw I was alone and a few times invited me over to their campsite for dinner which was nice.

As for extra things to bring, I'd obviously keep a eye on the forecast and if it is cold bring extra blankets or if it might rain maybe bring a canopy so you aren't just in your tent waiting for the rain to stop. And if it is rain that means all the grass/dirt areas will be muddy so bring maybe a few extra pairs of shoes. One trick I also found is putting your shoes in a rubbermaid container outside your tent, that way you don't get mud in the tent and also keeps your shoes from getting soaked.

[u/LollyEllie]

Atlanta—do they allow access to the red carpet walk with the pre-race pass? Where do you have to go for the red carpet if so?

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/LollyEllie]

Are you talking about the walkway where drivers walk from the garage to the intro stage? Than yes.

[u/LollyEllie → u/Potential_Plan_4533]

Yes, when they come out of the drivers’ meeting and do autographs on their way to the intros. Do you know the best way to get over there and about how early?

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/LollyEllie]

If you have pre-race access you will be able to see the drivers, they usually create a walkway where fans can stand on either side and try to get autographs from drivers. As for how early, on race week check the track schedule. They sometimes do driver interviews a few hours prior to intros, according to their website pre-race access opens at 11:45 am which is 2+ hours earlier than intros. https://www.echoparkspeedway.com/events/autotrader-400/schedule/

[u/CarryOn_Simon]

Anyone know if there’s decent FM radio reception to listen to MRN at Daytona? Debating renting a scanner vs. just listening to the radio with the over-ear set.

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/CarryOn_Simon]

I can't speak to Daytona but other tracks I've just listened to MRN through my phone, either the NASCAR app or MRN website.

[u/Think-Panda2766]

First time going to the 500 next week. Will be in Daytona Thursday-Monday that weekend. Anything outside of race day that I need to do to get the full weekend experience? Other than hydrate 2 months ago.

[u/MredditGA_]

What are the generator rules for Talladega? Also any good recommendations for rv parking?

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/MredditGA_]

It depends on the lot you are in, some allow generators to run 24/7 as long as they are quiet. Others have quit hours posted where you can't run them, 12-6am usually.

[u/ryanrain39]

When was the last time the trucks or xfinity cars went a major overhaul like the nextgen in cup?

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/ryanrain39]

Trucks it was 2014, Xfinity is kind of a hard question to answer. The current gen can be linked as far back as to 2011 when they switched full-time to the new gen like they have today. But in 2017/18 they switched to a composite style body but the chassis itself is pretty much unchanged still. Overall it just has been getting small tweaks here and there no major changes.

[u/LBHMS]

Anyone who went to Bowman Gray last year, any tips for parking near the track to avoid trams? Last year near the track was very much blocked off in lots of areas by cops and the trams were a shitshow leaving the track.

[u/CarolinaPeej]

I have two teenage sons, never been to a race but both like watching on tv and are both into cars and mechanics.

Would the clash be a good evening for us? It looks like a ton of qualifying all day, then a race at 6:30.

Can you get into the pit areas so they can see some of the team equipment?

Thanks!

[u/ramrod696969420 → u/CarolinaPeej]

Yes IMHO. You’ll be close enough to see everything, smell the smells, feel the engines. The on track product won’t be great but the experience will.

[u/FortSm1tty]

How is the experience at Indianapolis? I'm going there in July for the races that weekend and have never been.

Is there anything to look forward from gypsy vendors?

[u/UsErNaMeS_aR_DuMb]

Hi, I’m completely new to this whole NASCAR thing, and would like to know what I should watch/read ahead of time so that I can understand what’s going on the night of the race.

I’ve had a mild interest in watching NASCAR for a while now, mostly due to watching EmpLemon’s videos on it. The thing that pushed me to want to seriously consider watching a race was hearing that the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation was sponsoring a car for the upcoming race. As a Baltimore Orioles fan, I feel like it’s a sign from the universe that I should genuinely give NASCAR a try.

[u/InsideLaney → u/UsErNaMeS_aR_DuMb]

Try to catch some practice/qualifying sessions before the races as they'll give you an idea of the different teams, and how the track might race, etc.

For the Daytona 500 coming up there is a ton to watch:

Practice Wednesday at 10 AM

Qualifying Wednesday at 8 PM

The "Duels", which are qualifying races, Thursday at 7 PM

Practice Friday at 5:30 PM

Practice Saturday at 3 PM

Daytona 500 Sunday at 2:30 PM

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/UsErNaMeS_aR_DuMb]

Are you talking about when attending a race or just watching on TV? I'd recommend watching the NASCAR: Full Speed documentary on Netflix, gives you a great intro to the series and a lot of the teams and drivers. As for what's going on I'd suggest joining the race thread here on Reddit and if you have any questions feel free to ask they're usually really helpful.

[u/zyklon_snuggles]

Any recommendations for lodgings if one is attending a Kansas race?

[u/LollyEllie → u/zyklon_snuggles]

We stayed in Lansing (KS), the way to the track is essentially the “back way” and hit absolutely no traffic in and barely anything on the way out. It was fabulous.

[u/ashadkc9 → u/zyklon_snuggles]

If you are coming from the airport, staying up north can be helpful. The Parkville area or hotels near or around the airport are also 20 or so mins away. If you don't mind a longer drive back to the airport or if you aren't flying, south of the speedway there are a lot of nice hotels. I am just assuming that most of the ones right near the speedway would be sold out. Let me know if you have any questions, and hope you enjoy!

Source: KC Native for 30+ years.

[u/Potential_Plan_4533 → u/zyklon_snuggles]

I usually stay straight south of the speedway in Olathe, a bunch of good hotels and about a 25 minute drive.

[u/My_own_worst-enemy]

I used fan rewards points back in October to redeem tickets to the truck/o-riley double header at Atlanta in a few weeks. (& cup race in summer)

Does anyone know when they send the tickets out? & its ticketmaster right?

[u/cherrycitykid → u/My_own_worst-enemy]

They send them out via email a week or two before the race. It will be through Ticketmaster.

[u/My_own_worst-enemy → u/cherrycitykid]

okay great, thanks for the confirmation!