Fans In The Stands - My ORP Experience!

For the last three years, my mom and I have scored two free Brickyard tickets. This year, we weren't so lucky. My mom had told me that we would go to the Brickyard this year even if we didn't get free tickets. The weekend of the Brickyard 400 was upon us and my mom told me that we wouldn't be going to the famous track this year. I was bummed but I understood why we weren't able to go. Then she said we would be going to the Nationwide Series race at O'Reilly Raceway Park aka ORP! I was so excited because I had never been to ORP and I had learned that Kyle Busch would be driving in the #18 Toyota Camry!

The following day, I learned that Lacy Keyser, a fellow writer for Skirts & Scuffs, would be flying out to Indy for her first ever NASCAR race weekend by attending the Nationwide and Cup races! We had gotten to know each other on Twitter and had become good friends. I was excited to meet her! I had tweeted Ashley Allgaier, Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier's wife, that I would be attending the race because I had wanted to meet her. We had talked on Twitter a few times and had wanted to meet each other at Eldora but it didn't work out. The Friday before the race, Ashley had direct messaged me on Twitter saying that if my mom and I needed tickets that she had 2 free extra tickets and wanted to know if we wanted them. I said yes that we would love them and thanked her over and over again. It was so nice of her to give us the extra tickets! Ashley is such a nice and down to earth person.


Saturday, July 24, 2010, I woke up early and got ready for the Nationwide race. Oh man, I was so excited. I had been talking to Lacy and Ashley before we got there so we could make arrangements to meet up. First my mom and I met Ashley Allgaier. She meet us by the gate and handed over the tickets. We talked for a little bit and then she had to go get ready for qualifying. I was so shy and didn't talk much, I felt bad after she left. She was so nice. Then, my mom and I walked around for a little bit and I got a direct message from Lacy asking where I was and I was getting ready to reply back and I noticed a girl walking around with a Amp #88 hat and a Brad Keselowski shirt on.

"Lacy?", I said and she said "Kiara?".

We talked for a little bit and then parted ways. She was very nice and funny. I was glad that I got to finally meet her. My mom and I walked around some more and then made our way to our seats to watch qualifying. Kyle was right there in front of me and I was freaking out...like always :) I was also talking to Lacy through direct message on Twitter, we were talking about qualifying and what we were going to do after qualifying. Qualifying ended and Trevor Bayne was on the pole! I was happy because I had meet him two days before! He was very sweet! Mom and I got up from out seats and walked around to find my moms friend.

While I was sitting there, Lacy dm'ed me and asked if I wanted to meet up again and get a picture for S&S! I said of course and I went and found her. We took some pictures together and got some NOS energy drink (yum!). Then we walked around for about 20-25 minutes just talking about different stuff. It was great, Lacy is a wonderful person to talk to! She is very nice and I hope to one day meet her again! We parted ways because driver introductions were about to start. I got back to my seat and looked on pit road, Kyle Busch's Toyota Camry was right in front of our seats. It was great! Drivers introductions ended and then it was time for the command!

Now it's race time! Kyle started off great and moved to second behind Trevor Bayne early. he kept on saying that he was having a hard time passing Trevor Bayne for the lead and then he finally passed him! I sprang to my feet and screamed! I was so happy. Kyle was having a great race. Day turned to night and the laps were counting down. Soon it was 50 to go, then 30 to go. I was starting to get really nervous and I had a knot in my stomach. I felt like I was going to pass out or something!

Now it was 20 to go, then 10 laps to go. My eyes were starting to fill with tears as I watched Kyle lap after lap. Carl Edwards was coming fast and then there was a caution. I screamed in disbelief. Could I walk out of here seeing my favorite driver Kyle Busch winning or walk out here upset. Even though I do like Carl, Kyle had run up front all night. The restart was so nerve racking, I was shaking so bad and my heart was pounding away. I started to get a lump in my throat like I was gonna puke. White Flag, I'm almost ready to die. I'm standing on my seat jumping up and down and screaming at the top of my lungs with my scanner in one hand and my other hand in the air. Can Kyle do it? Can he win for me?

Checkered Flag, KYLE BUSCH WINS! I burst into tears. I couldn't believe it! I had finally seen Kyle Busch win in the 18! I was shaking so bad and screaming at the top of my lungs. Everyone was looking at me but I didn't care, My favorite driver and hero had just won the race. I switched my camera to video and I could barely keep the camera straight while I recorded his amazing burnout because I was shaking so bad. I'm screaming so loud in the video!! (You can see the video on my Facebook Page!) My mom and I quickly got down to Victory Lane and I just stood there taking pictures. I was so close to my hero while he was celebrating with his crew. It was just an amazing site.

I'll never forget this race ever. From meeting Lacy Keyser and Ashley Allgaier to crying over my favorite drivers win, it was amazing.


Picture 1 - Kyle Busch's Qualifying Lap!
Picture 2 - Kyle Busch standing by his car during qualifying (he's in his Cup firesuit)
Picture 3 - Lacy and I! I'm in the white Kyle Busch tank top and Lacy in her Brad Keselowski shirt!
Picture 4 - My hero, Kyle Busch in Victory Lane!!