Written by:
Kevin Krefting
The Jeff Gordon Racing School provides a perspective of stock car racing usually reserved for drivers and their crews.
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Note: We've put our own SPEED-spin on the traditional "12 Days of Christmas" with gearhead gift-givers in mind. Our "12 Gears of Christmas" cranks up with a fantasy gift any SPEED fan would love.
"On the first gear of Christmas my Gearhead gave to me..."18 laps in a NASCAR Nextel Cup car?
This day and age, a partridge in a pear tree just doesn't cut it as a gift for the typical race fan...a partridge hunt...perhaps a bit closer to the mark. Pipers piping? Lords-a-leaping? Forget about it. However, any self-respecting motorhead, whether they like stock car racing or not, would likely place a chance to drive an actual Nextel Cup car at or near the top of their all-time-best-gifts-ever list…even ahead of the talking bass plaque and the electric socks...I know I have. With special gift certificate offers for rides and classes now available, I've placed "An Evening at Jeff Gordon Racing School" firmly in first gear on our "12 Gears of Christmas" countdown.
A month ago, I was presented the opportunity to participate in the Jeff Gordon Racing School on a promotional gig (so yes, I'm going to give it a favorable rating regardless…I want to do it again, duh). Admittedly, I was pretty excited at this once-in-a-lifetime shot to experience driving a stock car, though it had been one of those "things to do in my lifetime" items, I just hadn't gotten around to looking into the particulars. Needless to say, when the deal fell in my lap I had no choice but to say yes (hey, somebody's got to do this job).
After working out a few details, I loaded up the family (my own personal cheering section) and headed to Lowe's Motor Speedway. Though my anticipation was building, the entire scene really didn't start to hit me until we approached the speedway, ablaze with the Musco lighting in all their glory in the twilight. This was a night gig, and for whatever its worth, that only added to the allure of the opportunity. After a quick sign-in at the gate, we drove through the tunnel and across the infield to the school's semi trailer for sign-in.
At check in I chose the driving and photo package I wanted, then suited up in a baggy fire suit and headed down for the all-important "I'm a dork" pose in front of one of the 24 DuPont cars. After a brief, anticipatory wait while others arrived and checked in, the group assembled for the driver meeting ("DON'T PASS THE INSTRUCTOR") and requisite van ride around the track. Speaking of which, bringing the loaded 14 passenger van to a stop on the 28 degree turn 3 banking was VERY illustrative of the severity of the slope! However, pointing out the "visual" of a 4 car length following distance to someone sitting 4 rows back in a cramped van does not exactly relate to the view from inside the racecar. Let's just say that the back of a few middle aged balding heads and a Dale Jr. logo place strategically on the hood of my car would have proven helpful for alignment later on...
