NASCAR VIP Package Makes Great Holiday Gift for Race Car Fans

My husband loves to watch NASCAR races. Two Christmases ago, I decided to give him a min vacation trip to the NASCAR race of his choosing. He didn't believe me at first, I guess he thought I was kidding. "No", I told him, "go to the NASCAR website and tell me where you want to go!".

We're not exactly rolling in the dough, so he decided to find one of the races that would be held within driving distance of our home in Windsor Locks, CT (Near Bradley Airport) so that we wouldn't have to pay for airfare. We are timeshare owners and had plenty of points to use up as we haven't been using our vacation time much these past two years.

I'm not an avid fan like he is, but I like it enough and I a;ways like to learn. I found out that there are different types of races within the NASCAR family such as the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series and Camping World Trucks. My husband likes likes the sprint cup and Nationwide, and follows Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but I get a kick out of Tony Stewart.

There are NASCAR tracks everywhere: Daytona, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Bristol, Martinsville, Phoenix, Texas, Talladega, Richmond, Darlington, Dover, Charlotte, Pocono, Michigan, Sonoma, Loudon, Chicago, Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, and Homestead to name a few.

Because we were planning in advance, we picked a weekend that worked with our professional schedules and chose to go to Richmond, VA. Because it was so close to the United States Capitol, Washington, DC, we also decided to take a few days and visit D.C, but that's another story.

When we looked for a timeshare nearby, we found several in Williamsburg, VA, so we decided we would also add a day two- trip to Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, while we were down there. We spent the first few days in the time share traveling around to those sites, and then the other days in a hotel closer to the track.

As we looked at the prices for the tickets, we discovered that the seat prices were reasonable, no more than a concert we would attend at the Oakdale or the New England Dodge Center nearby. But for a bit more, we could go in style and get the VIP options.

For 2010, the weekend package rates are published already:

Daytona, starting at $485

Las Vega, starting at $395

Bristol, starting at $265

Phoenix, starting at $395

Talledega, starting at $395

Richmond, starting at $285

My husband found that these options to upgrade tickets were offered through local hotels like the Marriott. We decided to splurge and got the top of the VIP Package deal that included the Saturday and Sunday races. Along with the seats, we were provided transportation to and from the racetrack in a plush air-conditioned bus that picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel. We didn't have to worry about traffic or drunk driving (ours or theirs). On the bus, we were given premiums, and plastic raincoats, for the rain, too.

In addition to that, we were given V.I.P. tickets that allowed us to go into a special party area that served a buffett of various picnic food, soda, water and beer - and it was all inclusive, for the greater part of the day. In this V.I.P area, some of the driver's took turns visiting the fans. There were contests, giveaways and later in the evening on Saturday, there was a rocking live, country band that kept the fans dancing for hours.

The VIP benefits gave us access to the pits before the race, which allowed us to see the cars. It was fun to see how things work behind the track with all the tractor trailers and maintenance crews. Being an efficiency expert myself, I get a chill every time I see how fast those guys get those cars off pit row. They must practice for hours; they are like dancers - it is amazing to watch them, totally synchronized and fast.

To our delight, we found several people at the Mariott hotel who had the VIP package special too. After an early hotel fire alarm woke us from a sound sleep on Saturday (someone was smoking in their room, and for the record, it wasn't me). Instead of going back to bed, we hung out at the patio by the pool until it was time to go to the track with our new NASCAR friends.

That weekend, there was a threat of a hurricane that made the state of VA close down the track which postponed the race. We were part of the crowd that didn't mind. We were having so much fun; I called work and told them I was taking another day. I had plenty of vacation time coming, and we were having a blast with our new NASCAR friends.

We met Shane from Maine, and we met a couple from the state of Washington who owned a bar and grill. They seemed genuine when they invited us to come see them anytime we made our way out there. We met two other couples that had made the trip from Denver, Colorado. We stayed up late Saturday night and compared our lives; talking and imbibing as old friends might.

If you want to give a memorable Christmas gift, for under $2,000 a couple, a long weekend VIP package deal that includes great food, great accommodations and the chance to meet some really awesome people while enjoying NASCAR racing, is something that will bring memories of joy, for many years to come.

References:

http://www.nascar.com/