Rookie fans brake for NASCAR Nation

LOUDON, N.H.  -- A fan once told me that the NASCAR community is like a “motor-racing Woodstock,” and only those who attend a stock car race will understand why it has become one of America’s most popular spectator sports.

Until last weekend, I was among the uninitiated, more likely to discuss Jimmy Fallon’s impersonations than Jimmie Johnson’s tire rotations. Now, after my first race at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, I understand that NASCAR is all about the star-power of drivers, the roar of engines, and the camaraderie of tailgating with thousands of other rabid fans.

My husband and I woke up way too early for a Saturday -- 5 a.m. -- and started our own engines with Dunkin’ Donuts coffee before heading north on I-93 on our way to the speedway, known as “The Magic Mile.” Our goal: to catch the qualifying races for the next day’s New England 300, part of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series, and maybe even meet one of the sport’s hot, young drivers.

Our early departure resulted in a traffic-free drive from Somerville to Loudon, which took about 1 hour, 15 minutes. Stock car enthusiasts who start out from the Boston area later in the day will find themselves stuck in Cape Cod-like traffic.

As we drove the final 9-mile stretch on Route 106 we observed industrious speedway neighbors selling lawn parking ranging from $10 to $30. But the speedway itself offers free, ample parking.

Our tickets cost $45 at the gate, which opened at 7 a.m., and included admission to the New England 200 race, part of the second-tier Busch Series, and qualifying for the New England 300.

At 8 a.m., the speedway grounds were already alive with smug campers who were just waking up at the reserved RV area, where the smell of bacon and propane hovered in the air.

Fans show up a week early to camp and watch practices and other races, like the New England 100 and New England 125. They also get special lawn seating for watching all the race action.

As we moseyed through the motor homes and campers, we saw families eating breakfast and reading the local Concord Monitor newspaper, which was apparently delivered to them. Others were still sleeping amid the hum of generators.

Dave Small of Trenton, Ontario, who had arrived with his 10-year-old daughter on Wednesday, emerged from his elaborately decorated camper to pour his first cup of coffee.

“This is our fourth time at Loudon,” Small said. “My daughter enjoys the small (1.058-mile oval) track.”

Families rule at the speedway, with children showing their love for their favorite drivers and sponsors, literally on their sleeves.

“Parents influence who their kids root for,” said Rick Donaty, my brother-in-law from Virginia, who I called for race-going tips.

This year the Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan is taking his 4-year-old son, Logan, to a race in Richmond.

“Logan will be wearing Dale Jr. attire but will probably be rooting for Jeff Gordon, because that’s ‘mommy’s driver,’” Donaty said.

At Loudon, the Manufacturers' Midway was a shopper’s paradise and showed just how important sponsorship is to the sport. License plate frames, shot glasses, key chains, travel mugs, and clothing were all available for purchase.

“Everywhere you look they’re all decked out with the hat, the T-shirt, the pennant,” said Globe reporter Fluto Shinzawa, who covered the action at Loudon last weekend. “These are people that are spending a lot of money to support their favorite driver or team.”

Chad Ferreira, 26, and Shannon Speaker, 22, of Lowell, were checking out the merchandise at the No Fear booth. The motocross clothing company is an associate sponsor.

Ferriera said he’s been a fan most of his life. “My friend’s father owns a Busch Series car,” he said.

Ferriera recently introduced Speaker, his girlfriend, to the sport. “Now I think I’m a little bit crazier than he is when it comes to races,” Speaker said.

The midway is also where fans can snag tickets at 7 a.m. for autograph sessions later in the day. We saw signs promoting Sunday autograph sessions with Kurt Busch, who drives the No. 97 Ford, at the IRWIN/Crown Royal/Sharpie booth, and Dave Blaney, who drives the No. 7 Chevrolet, at the Jack Daniel's booth.

Lucky Jimmie Johnson fans, tickets in hand, waited patiently in line for a few precious moments with the driver at the Lowe’s display.

Guests of sponsors who have infield passes have an excellent chance of meeting their heroes.

“As the drivers are walking between meetings and from their car to the garage, they carry a Sharpie pen with them,” Shinzawa said. “You can take pictures; you can talk to the crew chiefs.”

NASCAR’s fan base has extended way beyond the stereotypical Red State loyalist. Even Food Network chef and New York City restaurateur Mario Batali has joined NASCAR Nation; he’ll cook prerace meals this weekend at the Pennsylvania 500 in the Poconos.

And even though we spotted plenty of shirtless men with mullets toting coolers of Bud, we also met die-hard fans that would be just as comfortable sipping pinot noir at a South End café as they are sitting in the grandstand at Loudon.

“This year we rented an RV, just the seven of us girls,” says Melanie Blackie, 26, of Allagash, Maine, who was watching qualifying with her friends.

The women wanted to get as close to their favorites as possible, so they joined the grandstand crowd standing behind the white line, which is patrolled by Loudon staff.

Each friend was rooting for a different driver: Michael Waltrip, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rusty Wallace, Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, and Bobby Labonte.

“We love the cars, the drivers, the noise, the beers, the boys,” said Blackie of her passion. “This is our time together, our vacation.”

Fans lugged coolers filled with beer and treats from the parking lots to the grandstand with the help of elaborately decorated wagons -- a distinctly Loudon tradition -- which they parked at the grandstand entrance.

“They are not allowed through the gate so people leave them here,” one worker explained. “The funkier they are, the easier they are to pick out.”

The speedway’s grandstands accommodate 91,000 fans. On Fridays, all seating is general admission. On Saturdays, rows 1-30 in the Concord grandstand (turn 1) and rows 1-40 in the main grandstand (start/finish line) are general admission. The remaining rows are reserved seating, which is available by calling 603-783-4931. On Sundays, all seating is reserved.

Under the grandstands, the restrooms were relatively clean and the concessions offered a wide variety: Southern barbecue, soft pretzels, lemonade, and treats from Jordan’s Ice Creamery of Belmont, N.H. We enjoyed the cookiewich. The Lions and Rotary clubs also sold good food, with all profits going to charity.

There were picnic tables and much-needed shade under the grandstands as well.

Just before 3 p.m., we climbed the grandstand stairs for the New England 200. Fans who had rented scanners and headphone sets were tuning in to the radio frequencies of their favorite team to hear the conversations between the driver, the spotter (who sits as high up in the stands as possible to tell the driver the location of other cars around him), and the pit crew.

“Imagine if you could listen to [Red Sox manager] Terry Francona and any of the coaches and the players,” NHIS spokesman Fred Neergaard said. NASCAR fans “get to hear the teams strategize; it’s really an inside ticket.”

After the singing of the national anthem, the ubiquitous “Gentlemen, start your engines,” signaled the beginning of what would be 2 hours, 18 minutes of oppressive heat, deafening noise, 92 mph average speeds, wind surges, and fiery crashes.

All we had to do was sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.