Kansas Speedway Track Trek - 3 Sisters racing

2012 will be the 12th year that the NASCAR Nationwide and Cup races have blown into Kansas - and what a ride it's been! Before the first shovel was pushed into the dirt, 3 Sisters were driving by on I-435 Highway, trying to hurry them along. It's the perfect track - and we're not saying that just because it's in our backyard. Easy access, both onto and off of the parking lots. Perfect size, a 1.5 mile tri-oval with 15 degrees of banking - not too big, not too little. Right in the heart of the USA - halfway there from anywhere! Somebody told us that they had read in the newspaper USA Today that Missouri has the most active NASCAR drivers running today that hail from Missouri - that's just down the road a-ways! While all 3 Sisters have been to every Busch and Cup race at Kansas Speedway, NASCarla can proudly claim that she has been to every race but 1 (those pesky tornados!) held at the track since the first green flag waved! Is there some kind of award for that? Oh yeah, she's already received it - 48 times - DRIVERS, START YOUR ENGINES!

Elliot Sadler's car at Kansas, 2004. Most of the drivers had cars with the "Wizard of Oz" paint scheme, is that what out-of-state people remember Kansas for? That's OK, but that movie is a little old to some natives... At least nobody has mentioned our "World's Largest Prairie Dog (maybe I shouldn't have?).

Don't want to make anybody nervous, but this was a huge tornado that almost hit the Speedway May 4th, '03. Race fans held our breath - not only for the safety of the track, but we have lots of friends and family in that area - including the three of us! I guess that's what we get for living in Tornado Alley. We could easily have been in the same shape as Atlanta... Photo courtesy of Andrew Revering - check out this link for more pictures and a great firsthand account of that 'Tornado Storm" http://www.aprweather.com/chase/kansascity.htm#tornado

If this doesn't give the Above Average Race Fan chills - I don't know what will! 2008 - Pace car was delivered by this massive
CH-47 Chinook! Looks like the fans in the stands are oblivious to the closeness of that big ol' helicopter - C'ya!

James and NASCarla pose in front of Victory Circle - 2009 they turned lots of Fans loose in the infield for prerace activities. It was a blast - lots and lots of walking, and security. Jimmie Johnson was in The Circle after the race!