Take in Richmond Raceway through the eyes of a first-time attendee! (Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)
I have to admit, this is a special edition of First-Time Fan Experience as I get to highlight someone very special to me – my nephew Mitch. I hope you all enjoy hearing a bit about his raceday at Richmond Raceway.
Richmond Raceway
Tiffany Faw: Can you tell everyone a little about you?
Mitch Faw: My name is Mitch Faw, and I am 17 years old. I’m a senior in high school and working on my Associate’s degree at my local community college.
Tiffany: Do you have a favorite driver or team?
Mitch: When I was younger, I liked Kyle Busch because he had M&Ms on his car. Now I don’t really have a driver I pull for. When I’m with my Aunt Tiffany, if I don’t root for her driver, she gets mad. (100% true.)
(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)
Tiffany: Have you been to any other racetracks?
Mitch: I’ve been to Martinsville a few times and Talladega last year.
Tiffany: Why did you choose to go to Richmond?
Mitch: My aunt said she had a free ticket for me if I wanted to go. When she said she had a fangrounds pass for me, I was sold. I had never been inside a racetrack before!
Race Day
Tiffany: Did the race day live up to your expectations?
Mitch: I didn’t have any really. I had never been to Richmond, so I didn’t know what to expect. I went for the food and wrecks. (This kid really sets the bar high, people! He had Papa John’s Pizza and cookies at the racetrack, so he was happy.)
Tiffany: Did you meet any drivers?
Mitch: Yes! We stood by the red carpet in the fangrounds, and all the drivers passed by us. I didn’t ask for any autographs, but I said hi to some of them. Chris Buescher stopped, talked to us, and took a picture because he knows my aunt. He was nice.
(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)
Tiffany: In your opinion, how was the on-track product?
Mitch: I liked the race. There were cars all over the track. There were a lot of pit stops to watch during the race. My aunt let me listen to the [No.] 17 team on the scanner. It was neat to hear what was going on. I was excited to see a wreck!
Tiffany: How would you rate the Richmond facility as a whole?
Mitch: I thought it was nice. It was bigger than I thought it would be. They should have had more shade in the fan zone, though. It was so hot during the day. Who wants to stand in line in full sun for freebies? No, thank you.
Tiffany: What did you think of the fangrounds inside the racetrack?
Mitch: The fangrounds were cool. We got to go to victory lane before the race. I walked on pit road and out on the racetrack. Then I got to see the cars up close in the garage. That was neat. I had never been that close to a racecar before. When the engines were going, it was a little loud in there.
(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)
Unique Experience
Tiffany: You had something a little extra happen, right?
Mitch: Yeah, I got to meet some friends of my aunt Tiffany. That was cool. The car chief on the 41 car gave me a couple of intake gaskets after they did their final check over the car. (We tried to catch Cole Custer to get them autographed, but he didn’t stop.)
(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)
Highs & Lows
Tiffany: What were the highlights from the racetrack for you?
Mitch: The best was watching them work on the cars. Oh, and seeing the CookOut guy! I love CookOut. They should have given out free food, though. The guys who parachuted into the track with the American flags, that was cool to watch! I liked the fireworks when the race was over, too.
(Photo Credit: Tiffany Faw | Pit Pass Network)
Tiffany: Was anything from Saturday a negative for you?
Mitch: It took forever to get out afterwards. Traffic didn’t move for a really long time. That wasn’t fun. Oh, and there were no free potatoes in the fan zone, what a letdown. (For those who frequent many racetracks, Idahoan Mashed in America tour was not at Richmond.) Oh and they had a wreck, but nobody flipped their car! That was a bit disappointing. (He’s 17 y’all. He wants BIG wrecks!)
Final Thoughts
Tiffany: What would you tell other first-timers thinking about going?
Mitch: Definitely go to Richmond. You can see the whole track in the stands. Make sure to get a fanground pass, you can’t get that close to stuff at other places.
Tiffany: Would you go to Richmond Raceway again?
Mitch: Oh yeah! Are you going to give me a free ticket again, Aunt Tiffany? (Yeah, yeah whatever, kid!)
Shout out to Sheetz for the free tickets and fanground passes for the race Saturday! They were greatly appreciated and helped make another lifelong experience for Mitch and me. I love being able to share NASCAR with family and friends.