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This being my first trip to Lowes I was excited but hesitant as I didn't know what to expect.All of my previous experiences at the track have been to short and mid-sized tracks so the shear size of this jewel was impressive to say the least.The facility itself is laid out very well and the areas for parking are numerous and expansive. The part that was most impressive though wasn't the facility .What I found most impressive was the pre-race Salute to the troops.I am ex-military myself so I am always full throttle when it comes to our service members and the people at Lowes as well as the fans were as geared up for the troops as any I have ever seen.They had 1500 paratroopers from FT. Bragg there for the festivities.The troops had to march up from the dirt track to a walkway that leads to the track and there were hundreds of people lined along their path to cheer,high five and show appreciation and support.Mind you this was four hours before race time and people stopped what they were doing to honor these fine men and women.The walkway they had to take included a bridge over the main road next to the track and as soon as people saw the troops crossing the bridge they stopped their cars some got out and clapped others honked in appreciation. The actual presentation to the troops by the track and it's people was phenomenal.There were bicyclist consisting of many injured soldiers that had ridden from Walter Reed to do a victory lap on the track,representatives from rolling thunder who rode their motorcycles around the track and presented a POW/MIA flag to be flown for the race and the services themselves celebrated this event.The Air Force and Army drill teams performed as well as the 82nd Airborne Divisions mens choir.Three different squads of 3 attack helicopters also flew in and circled the in-field along with 2 UH-60 helicopters full of troops landing and doing a mock insertion.The playing of TAPS was really hard to handle though as any time I hear it I tear up thiking of it's meaning.All in all the Salute to the Troops was an incredibly proud and memorable event.I personally have never been more proud to be an american. The race itself was great.We sat 27 rows from the track at the start/finish line and the rush from 43 cars at almost 200 m.p.h. was indescribable.After listening to all of the so called experts for a week insist that this race was going to be horrible and that it would be so boring that people would be falling asleep,I realize that the only thing they seem to be experts on is being wrong.This race was outstanding.There was plenty of passing and a whole lot of racing going on.It was 600 miles of pure joy watching tempers flare,drivers who didn't seem good during the day hang on and when night fell watching their cars just turn on.The 600 isn't a race where the fastest car wins or even the best driver.You had fast guys whose tires wouldn't hold up at the end and gas mileage figured wrong but in the end it was the one whose car endured 600 miles of torture that tamed the beast of the southeast to get that checkered flag.No my favorite driver didn't win but that didn't matter this was a very entertaining race to watch because there were so many with a chance as the laps wound down,and you never knew what the next turn would hold. I will definitely go back for the 500 in October but I am looking the most towards May 2009 when I will return to see an inspiring show of love and honor for our troops and this country. And hopefully another great race.
Article Source: http://www.articlesfeed.com
Boogss03 is an avid NASCAR fan and more of his work can be found at sports talk website RootZoo.com
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