No Pit Pass!! Don’t Fret!!

For autograph seekers, the abrupt stop of pit passes at some of the Winston
Cup tracks has caused quite a stir. Unjustly referred to as the “Tony Rule”,
NASCAR tracks have now closed the doors to the garages where several fans could
get up close and personal with such drivers as Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon
with the possibility of receiving an autograph. Though many will argue with me,
I agree with NASCAR’s decision to do away with such an arrangement. There is a
time and place for such chaos and in the garage is not one of them.

Being an avid autograph seeker myself, I have never quite understood the
whole pit pass thing to start with. I personally go to about 4 races a year, and
have been doing that for nearly 6 years now, and I have yet to be in the garage
or pit area. Does that bother me? I guess a little, but that has never stopped
me from getting an autograph from any driver in Winston Cup, Busch or Craftsman
Truck series. The stars of NASCAR are as accessible as a cold beer at the track.
Getting to meet your favorite drivers is quite easy and you don’t need to
interrupt their job in the process. It’s just a matter of you doing your
homework.

Your homework assignment is as easy as deciding what items you want
autographed. At nearly every track there is a designated place for autograph
hounds to meet the drivers. After practices, most drivers have autograph
signings at their merchandise trailers. I know that some never do this but that’s
not where you stop your quest. Check your area’s major venues for car show
information. You can find such drivers as Terry Labonte, Ryan Newman and
Sterling Marlin at an Autorama car show. If you live in a large city and have
the privilege of an International car show, you may find the likes of Jeremy
Mayfield, Kyle Petty, Rusty Wallace and Matt Kennseth.

I recommend a trip to Mooresville or Charlotte if possible. There you can
visit the race shops where everyone is reachable. Take your chances at the
Winston Cup Preview. This is where you can get the one autograph who keeps
getting away. Join a fan club. Nearly all fan clubs have an annual fan club
appreciation day where the driver does a meet and greet. If you are in the
vicinity of a track hosting a NASCAR event, check for Ford Fan Days, or a Food
City Family Night, both are great opportunities to see the biggest names in the
sport. Make sure to check out racing sites like Jayski’s that list charity
events such as Stocks for Tots and the Kyle Petty Charity Ride. And last but not
least, check your local car dealerships. You just might be amazed at who might
pop in for a signing.

NASCAR’s decision to control the work environment of the garage is not he
end of the world. Don’t fret! Just do your homework!