Ryan Blaney posing with fans a short time before the green flag in Nashville
Imagine fans on the field just meandering around literally minutes before the start of an NFL game. Or, excited patrons on the court posing for photos with and seeking autographs from NBA players right up until the time for the national anthem to be played.
Well, neither of those things is going to happen prior to an official game.
In NASCAR, however, fans interacting with the stars of the sport prior to an event is a common occurrence every week. Fans have unprecedented access to their favorites in the garage areas of the different tracks and even on pit roads after the cars have been aligned on the starting grid with the drivers just about ready to climb into those machines.
Obviously, not just any fan can enter a NASCAR garage area or stroll along pit road. But still, many with the proper credentials can. Whether it be part of some sponsoring company’s outing or for an extra fee, some who attend races at the sport’s highest level can, in fact, do those things mentioned above.
Much of the lure of NASCAR has for years been the accessibility of its star performers. Few other sports, if any, offer the possibility of actually meeting and talking with one of the competitors particularly so close to game time. Unlike other sports where even other celebrities, such as Britney Spears, run into difficulty when approaching the participants, NASCAR offers extraordinary opportunities. Ordinary spectators may meet and greet a top racing star at a souvenir trailer, a sponsor appearance, in the garage area, or on pit road at the proper time and with the proper access.
Kyle Larson meeting with fans
With many well-known athletes outside of NASCAR, there is no such thing as proper credentials at or away from the venue.
As we have seen over the past couple of weeks, especially in Chicago, those previously unfamiliar with NASCAR are often amazed at how close they can get to the sport’s biggest stars. Rare is the time when a fan can meet LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes or Bryce Harper but racing fans can much more easily find themselves in a position to meet Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson or Joey Logano.
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