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Topic: Nationals first timer...
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Page 2 of 2 of 36 replies
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April 25, 2017 at
03:24:43 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: revjimk on April 25 2017 at 03:01:36 PM
The first year with the new Friday format, I thought it was the best racing all week. Highly competitive, everybody's got their "back to the wall".....
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The Dunkins are really good... but the track that night (first year for the new Friday format) was unbelievable. When the Dunkins hit perfection on their 'set-up' ... great racing usually follows. The show Henderson and Gravel put on was no exception!
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April 25, 2017 at
03:34:13 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: chilly on April 25 2017 at 03:24:43 PM
The Dunkins are really good... but the track that night (first year for the new Friday format) was unbelievable. When the Dunkins hit perfection on their 'set-up' ... great racing usually follows. The show Henderson and Gravel put on was no exception!
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"The show Henderson and Gravel put on was no exception!"
Thats for sure!
also loved how Sammy recovered from Wayne Johnson putting him into the wall on Turn 3, eventually passed Wayne
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April 25, 2017 at
07:30:02 PM
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Posted By: revjimk on April 25 2017 at 03:15:16 PM
Tenderloins are really good, but Hawaian chicken & Cattlemen's tent steaks & corn on the cob are also killa...
If you need exercise, you can swim at local Rec center (or take showers) shoot hoops, lift, for reasonable fee
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I've made it a tradition to take the family over to the Water Park at Pella at least once and sometimes twice during the Nationals. Floating around in their Lazy River is a good way to spend a hot August day
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April 27, 2017 at
01:32:29 PM
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Yea, Friday is a great format now. Reading Nationals threads always makes me smile. Such a great week.
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April 27, 2017 at
05:58:47 PM
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Posted By: dsc1600 on April 27 2017 at 01:32:29 PM
Yea, Friday is a great format now. Reading Nationals threads always makes me smile. Such a great week.
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I didn't go last year (Thought it would be another "Schatzathon".... jokes on me, wish i had gone!)
Reading this makes me want to go..... Big Bad Donnie is out for revenge?
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April 28, 2017 at
11:50:28 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: revjimk on April 27 2017 at 05:58:47 PM
I didn't go last year (Thought it would be another "Schatzathon".... jokes on me, wish i had gone!)
Reading this makes me want to go..... Big Bad Donnie is out for revenge?
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Last years finale was quite possibly the best race I've ever seen. Schatz will be the favorite until he has an off year, which probably won't be this year.
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April 28, 2017 at
09:03:45 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: dsc1600 on April 28 2017 at 11:50:28 AM
Last years finale was quite possibly the best race I've ever seen. Schatz will be the favorite until he has an off year, which probably won't be this year.
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I know, I watched on the Internet, great race but not NEARLY as exciting as live!!!
Schatz is still Da Man, but Gravel is moving up fast
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May 02, 2017 at
12:21:27 PM
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Posted By: Paintboss on April 24 2017 at 08:35:08 PM
Knoxville also has a free shuttle service that stops at key areas through town through out each day of the Nationals, Pick up and drop offs are pretty frequent, I'm gonna say a shuttle stops every 10-15 minutes. They make stops through out the day and up to 1-2 hours after the races at pre-designated areas in town. North Campgrounds, County Campgrounds, Walmart, they go down to the Town Square. so you could park at Walmart and shuttle up and then back after races. Like some of the others said, get to the track early and take it all in. You never know who your going to see there. Last year we were standing next to Danika Patrick & Ricky Stenhouse at BC's auction. The Museum is a must, they give tours up to the Suites. Good food is pretty much a rock throw in any direction, It might not be what the Dr ordered but it's pretty damn good. The tenderloins just West of the ticket office are bad to the bone. You will enjoy.... Too bad your not gonna hit Qualifying nights but it will still be fun.
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check the shuttle before you park at walmat for the races. last couple of years they didn't go to walmart after the races. Usually after the races their stops are strickly campgrounds.
Also, like previously mentioned walk the midway and T-shirt trailers. Danica and Ricky being there last year was due to the death of Bryan Clauson. Bryan and Ricky were best friends Ricky usually doesn't come back for the nationals, if he does it's on Saturday night. The others you can pretty much count on being there are Tony Stewart, Kyle larson, Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon.
Museum/HOF, you can see the track from the 2nd floor of the museum, driver autograph sessions, videos, nice display of cars. This years tribute is to Sammy Swindell so they will have several of his cars and information about him. Suites are not necessarily toured.. but if you ask at the front desk, if they are not busy they can show you around. If that's something you want to see is the suites i sugguest you go earlier in the am as they are not as busy and could show you the suites. (I volunteer at the HOF during the nationals)
I'm sure there is more (lots more) but last thing i'm going to mention. The past 5 years on Friday at the ball field next to the track, they have a kickball tournament with a bunch of drivers and a silent auction. I haven't seen anything yet this year for it, but keep watching great event to raise money for Kick it for cancer and to see your favorite driver having a little fun outside of the track.
I also would recommend Dingus' but, since you have your son... not such a good idea. Have fun!!!
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May 02, 2017 at
02:37:39 PM
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HOF is also continually showing sprint cars films, lots of old stuff
For example, way back in the day, they actually had indoor midget racing at an armory in The Bronx!!!
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May 02, 2017 at
03:08:13 PM
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This thread reminded me to call and get my tent spot taken care of for this year again. Can't wait. Last year I drove through the night after the Dream Race at Port and hit up the Cappy and stayed all week. I may try to leave a day earlier and go to Belleville for Saturday and then make the drive up. This thread has me amped for something that's months away. If you don't have fun at the Nationals, then you are actively trying not to have fun.
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May 02, 2017 at
06:54:53 PM
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Posted By: Johnny Utah on May 02 2017 at 03:08:13 PM
This thread reminded me to call and get my tent spot taken care of for this year again. Can't wait. Last year I drove through the night after the Dream Race at Port and hit up the Cappy and stayed all week. I may try to leave a day earlier and go to Belleville for Saturday and then make the drive up. This thread has me amped for something that's months away. If you don't have fun at the Nationals, then you are actively trying not to have fun.
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You drove from Port Royal to Knoxville in a day?
Wow, I can only assume you're younger than me....or as Dave Dudley said in "Six Days on the Road", "Got those little white pills & my eyes are open wide" 
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May 02, 2017 at
06:59:20 PM
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Posted By: revjimk on May 02 2017 at 06:54:53 PM
You drove from Port Royal to Knoxville in a day?
Wow, I can only assume you're younger than me....or as Dave Dudley said in "Six Days on the Road", "Got those little white pills & my eyes are open wide"
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHbGhEfnh2E
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May 02, 2017 at
07:02:31 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Johnny Utah on May 02 2017 at 03:08:13 PM
This thread reminded me to call and get my tent spot taken care of for this year again. Can't wait. Last year I drove through the night after the Dream Race at Port and hit up the Cappy and stayed all week. I may try to leave a day earlier and go to Belleville for Saturday and then make the drive up. This thread has me amped for something that's months away. If you don't have fun at the Nationals, then you are actively trying not to have fun.
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" "If you don't have fun at the Nationals, then you are actively trying not to have fun."
I always try my best to have a miserable time at Knoxville...... never works
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May 03, 2017 at
06:39:36 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: revjimk on May 02 2017 at 06:54:53 PM
You drove from Port Royal to Knoxville in a day?
Wow, I can only assume you're younger than me....or as Dave Dudley said in "Six Days on the Road", "Got those little white pills & my eyes are open wide"
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Westbound and down, loaded up and truckin'. I had nothing but Copenhagen and Red Bull for fuel. The ride out wasn't too terrible. Coming home, though? That was pretty brutal. After a full week of partying and watching races I left Knoxville around 9:30ish am local time to head home to PA. It was a rough one. Between traffic outside of Gary and a bad wreck on the Ohio Turnpike that made me take a large detour, (on route 20 I believe) my head hit the pillow at about 4:45 am eastern time.
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May 03, 2017 at
08:58:23 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: Johnny Utah on May 03 2017 at 06:39:36 AM
Westbound and down, loaded up and truckin'. I had nothing but Copenhagen and Red Bull for fuel. The ride out wasn't too terrible. Coming home, though? That was pretty brutal. After a full week of partying and watching races I left Knoxville around 9:30ish am local time to head home to PA. It was a rough one. Between traffic outside of Gary and a bad wreck on the Ohio Turnpike that made me take a large detour, (on route 20 I believe) my head hit the pillow at about 4:45 am eastern time.
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Red Bull.... that stuff is plenty strong for me, even tho its only caffeine. Makes me pee constantly
So I assume you took I-80, only logical route. I hate that road, try to take I-70 when I can. Much prettier scenery, less big cities, traffic & no tolls thru Ohio
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May 03, 2017 at
09:08:29 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: revjimk on May 03 2017 at 08:58:23 AM
Red Bull.... that stuff is plenty strong for me, even tho its only caffeine. Makes me pee constantly
So I assume you took I-80, only logical route. I hate that road, try to take I-70 when I can. Much prettier scenery, less big cities, traffic & no tolls thru Ohio
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Correct, I figured I was closer to I-80, I would just go with that route. All the construction in Ohio was pretty damn ridiculous. Thankfully I was driving late at night, so there wasnt any traffic. It was highly irritating playing downhill slalom with the barrels and lanes though.
I've taken I-70 before when I did the straight drive to Tulsa. That was a pretty decent drive.
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May 03, 2017 at
11:15:38 AM
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Late nite sounds like a good plan, but I've been in traffic jams around Chicago at 3 AM, even tho the hwy is several miles from Chitown
Glad you had agood trip!
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