Coca-Cola 600 definitely adds life to NASCAR
While the race is months away, it's never too early to start thinking about the running of the 50th Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
I covered my first 600 in 2005 for a Boston daily that I wrote for before I became a staffer at SceneDaily.com and will never forget how blown away I was when I first saw the palatial speedway while driving down the street now known as Bruton Smith Boulevard.
I had watched the 600 for years on television, but nothing compares with actually being at the big track in the heart of NASCAR Nation. I am still in awe of the track whenever I drive past it. It is, without a doubt, a true gem and a must-see for any NASCAR fan who visits the Charlotte area.
Over the weekend, the friendly folks over at LMS allowed myself and family to tool around the infield of the speedway as long as we promised to not get out of our car. I was psyched to be able to show them how massive the place looks from inside the infield. I think they were impressed. I know I was.
My favorite Coca-Cola 600 moment was the 1994 race. Jeff Gordon won from the pole for the first victory of his Cup career. He was full of emotion in victory lane, with tears streaming down his face. It was an impressive victory for Gordon as he showed veterans such as Rusty Wallace, who finished second, and Geoffrey Bodine, who finished third, that he had finally arrived.
There are 131 days before the next Coca-Cola 600, and I'll be counting down every one of them until the start of the big race.
