Welcome to JIMMIE'S HOUSE! Lowe's Motor Speedway, in Charlotte, North Carolina. What a perfect NASCAR experience - to see your driver win at his own sponsors track - and although I have only seen him win once - this last May Jimmie set a first time NASCAR record, winning his 3rd consecutive
Coca Cola 600 - barely - but still a victory! Judy and I traveled to Charlotte in May of 2004, for the whole 10 day experience with Action Jackson tours- which included the All Star Race, the Craftsman Truck Race, The Busch Race and the Nextel Cup Coca Cola 600 the next weekend. We had time to visit Hendrick Motorsports several times, and were there to enjoy their 20th Anniversary celebration, and although I didn't get a wristband to get real close to Jimmie, I did get up close. We got to go to Hickory, NC, and stand in line for several hours, waiting for autographs from Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett, which was worth every second of our wait! Also went to “Speed Street”, which is a week-long event in Charlotte, something going on every night- pit crew challenges, hosted by Chad Knaus, Crew Chief of the #48 car, Trackside, where Jeff Hammond actually was brave enough to mosh pit with the crowd - and of course tons of great music, food and refreshments! We went to a charity auction for Animal Rescue, which is a cause near and dear to our hearts, and met Mike Rucker, defensive player for the Carolina Panthers, who is also from St. Joseph, Missouri. (He is just as nice as I've always heard he was, but boy is he B-I-G. I know he got to help out in a Busch pit during the race, he may have been able to handle those pit stops all by himself!) We got to have pre-race dinner in the Speedway Club, what a great view - (but I gotta admit - I still prefer the “cheap seats” to watch the race! The closer to the track the better!) We also settled-in at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a couple of gorgeous days,
Hendrick Motorsports 20th Anniversary Pace Car. What a dream come true for the biggest #24 and #48 Hendrick fans - Rick Hendrick and his entire organization went out of their way to show the appreciation their drivers and owners have for the support of their fans. Visiting a race shop is a must on your Nascar adventure!
Speed Channel's Bob Dilner, #48 Crew Chief Chad Knaus and other team crew members - and some lucky audience participants take part in a pit crew challenge that was fun and interesting at Speed Street.
Kathy with Judy's main man, Jeff - he was just so cool!! I know Judy feels like a stalker, but all I can do is drool!
Jimmie at Hendrick Motorsports 20th Anniversary Celebration.
Judy Kay
Kathy Beth
almost had the beach to ourselves! And then, after all this excitement -WE GOT TO GO RACIN'! How can it be any better?? I'm telling you, Jimmie's house rocks - no matter who your favorite driver is! The whole Charlotte experience is a dream vacation for any race fan!