I'm writing this for the first-timers. The ones who dream and hope to be there. To step into the TV screen. To finally smell the burning rubber and gasoline you had to imagine all these years. I remember the first time I walked into New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Just seeing the sign from the road put butterflies in my stomach. For an auto racing fan there is no greater feeling. Seeing the sea of campers and the size of the grandstands gives you an unique feeling you cannot get from watching it on TV, and you aren't even inside the track yet. Golf carts fly by and you push your way through the crowds, the adrenaline starts pumping. As you take that first step up the stairs beneath the stands, for a first-timer, it's breathtaking. There is absolutely nothing more beautiful than seeing the smooth, finesse track for the first time. It has a whole different appearance than it does on a screen. Standing for the national anthem, the sound of the flyover. The rumble of the engines starting up. Your whole body shakes and you feel like a part of the race. If I had a nickel for every time I asked myself, "Am I really here? Is this really happening?" You hold your breath as the green flag drops. They're off. The initial sound of the cars is deafening.
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