Home is where the Heartland is.

How many different ways can one enjoy a race weekend? I was used to grandstands, general admission, maybe some fighting for my life in a country in which my knowledge of the language was minimal, but with the use of context clues and my overly confused face, I would wind up okay with some help and a map.

Well, this weekend I traded a ticket for a pass: a media pass. Sure, I had manifested this, a Pinterest folder can only hold so many inspiration photos until something HAS to give, right? Here was my issue: my media pass spoke for me. It said “I know where I’m going” when in reality, I think I had done two circles in a rather small space. Silly, truly. I was humbled from the jump, after parking (in the wrong lot) on day one an older man asked me, “oh media? Who are you with?” and you would think I would answer any other way but no what left me was, “oh, myself! I make motorsport content” and to which he responded “by yourself?” and yeah, by myself. Walking into a media room, I realized rather quickly that it does take a village. I mean, seated around highly respected names in the world of NASCAR? I’m sure if you brought anyone in and asked them to spot the one who had never done something at this level, they would point at the girl with an overly decorated F1-stickered laptop and water bottle. The girl, who on day two had to be shown the correct parking lot for the media. It saved me a longer walk, so I will take it. We eventually “locked in”, and I found myself just saying screw it. Being myself got me here, so I must be doing something right. 

Media preparations can be chaotic, I mean, on the screen, you have the NASCAR Xfinity series practicing while many are preparing their questions, and while many are discussing their topics to not oversaturate one subject, I know in my soul I did not have to bring up my topics. I highly doubt anyone else is going to break out a pair of pink bedazzled glasses with beads that spell out “HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400” for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff drivers to wear. I am super sure no one else is going to be asking for a driver to wear some glasses with bedazzles on them. One driver did wear them, and that is how I have a photo of Ryan Blaney wearing them. I could have done more research, because it seemed as though every driver I asked had some sort of sunglasses deal but hey, I respect the grind. I realized soon I did not want to overstep, so I really just took it all in.

Pictured: Ryan Blaney

I mean, we know this diva.

Now, I feel a little out of place. I love motorsports, but before this, I have mainly covered Formula 1 and IndyCar, and I had never paid too much attention to NASCAR. Now, I’m aware how that may seem, considering my username is EmilyTalksRacing. Because of this, it may seem a little unorthodox how my motorsports journey hasn’t brought me to a NASCAR race, considering the Kansas Speedway is the closest I will ever get to a home race. An hour commute and a dream. Nothing compares to being so close to the action. I mean, I am watching drivers give live press conferences when I have been so used to watching from home, there is something poetic about getting so up close and personal. It is a privilege and an honor, that is no lie. Another thing that clicks in is how incredibly normal drivers are. I mean, they also show up a few minutes late and whatnot, but most importantly, they show up ready to work. Questions were fired left and right, and many typed their answers vigorously as they had deadlines to meet. I was very upfront and honest when I applied for the media accreditation. I said, and I quote, “I don’t know too much, but I am eager to learn”, and boy did I learn quickly.

The hustle and bustle of a NASCAR weekend is quite overwhelming, but in the best way possible. Even as a spectator, you can purchase a garage and pit pass that gets you up close and personal, which was very cool to see. If you have ever wanted to get into NASCAR, I highly recommend it. The sessions themselves kept my head on a swivel, I mean, what do you mean that within one race there were nine cautions and forty-eight yellow flag laps. At one point, the number thirty-eight of Zane Smith was riding the damn wall. I watched in awe and shock. Kansas Speedway never failed to amaze, and I fully understood why.

Between sessions and my all-access pass, I wandered quite a bit. Snapped photos, observed the passion first hand, and was genuinely left moved by NASCAR. I also left knowing that these spaces want you here. Matt, aka bestie Matt, made sure I was introduced and made as many connections as I could. That made me realize, they want women in this space. He was so excited to hear my daily updates on how my followers (aka you reading!) reacted to them. They want you here. You belong here. Now, I was far too emotional when the weekend wrapped up. I never wanted that feeling to go away. I am forever grateful I took the chance and applied, and I am so excited for more NASCAR race weekends in the future. Home truly is where the Heartland is.