Five Things I Learned at a NASCAR Race at Pocono Raceway

My son is a NASCAR fan and when I was recently given the opportunity to attend the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway I jumped at the chance to take my son and a friend to the weekend events.  I admit,  I wasn’t sure what to expect since I have never been to a race and wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself in to—and I was very pleasantly surprised.  I expected crazy crowds, rowdy men and heat and noise…the heat and noise were real but the overall experience was family friendly and fun.

For those of you who are wondering what to expect at a NASCAR race at Pocono Raceway and whether or not you should take your kids, keep reading.

5 Things I Learned at a NASCAR Race at Pocono Raceway

1. It is VERY family friendly—As a stated earlier I was expecting crazy crowds, rowdy NASCAR fans and I wasn’t sure if it was an event geared toward families.  Yes, it was crowded but not overwhelming. Everyone was super friendly, from the staff to the attendees—especially those ladies who keep the bathrooms clean!  Prices for t-shirts and souvenirs are reasonable and there is a full schedule of events to keep everyone happy between and during races, including Q&A’s with drivers, go-cart racing, bouncy houses, face painting in the Kid Zone and more.
2. It supports local businesses—many of the food vendors were local restaurants and even local school groups.  It is a great way to support local businesses.
3. It is LOUD—REALLY LOUD! I knew going in it would be loud, but it is louder than you expect, especially once they start revving the engines.  We didn’t prepare for that by bringing headphones or earplugs but we were able to buy them tere for $2—that’s right, $2. I was so impressed that they didn’t jack up the price.
4. Upgrades are worth it—as part of our package we were given passes to the Tricky Triangle Club which is a $99 upgrade to your ticket.  Now, I know that it is pricey but if you have a NASCAR fan in your family it is worth it.  Tricky Triangle passes offer Driver Q&A sessions, celebrity appearances and other special activities, in addition to a catered lunch buffet, 4 adult beverages, event day Pit/Paddock Pass (worth it to get up close to the cars and the teams) and a souvenir bag.
5. Prepare for the weather—so just like we didn’t have earplugs we weren’t prepared for the weather—and it rained…HARD.  Again, I was surprised to see that so many vendors sold rain ponchos and at very affordable prices. Those ponchos were a lifesaver, otherwise we would have been soaked.  In the same vein, once the rain cleared it got HOT, so be prepared and bring your sunblock because you will be sitting in the stands in full sun depending on where your tickets are for.

BONUS TIP for Families—Want to attend a NASCAR race but can’t afford the ticket price? Practice days are a very affordable option for families.  Lower cost with all the fun!  Pocono Raceway offers free admission Friday and Saturday for kids 12 and under and you can just sit where you like so you can get as close to the track as you want.

All in all, even with the weather it was a great way to spend the day with my son and his friend.

In exchange for this post I was provided tickets to the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway but all opinions are 100% my own.