This year, Toy Box Racing will be back with a bang! We are so excited to bring you another stellar line-up of events leading up to the biggest game of the year: the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs!
The schedule is packed but don’t fret – we’ve got you covered. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your precious time off work and have some fun!
The Madness Has Begun 🎉
Let’s start from the beginning to make sure you’re fully aware of all the festivities!
The first tournament on the docket is the Georgia Cup, which tips off on April 6 at 2:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on NASCAR.com. This year’s event will be held at Mercer University’s Alexander Stadium. If you’re in the Atlanta area (or nearby), then this is a must-watch event!
The next tournament on the docket is one of the most prestigious in the country, the Dick Gordon Auto Racing Classic. This three-day event, which starts on April 13 and runs through April 15, has a fascinating history as it was originally established in 1946 and was named after its first winner, Dick Gordon. The event had to be cancelled last year due to lack of participants but has since rebounded with a new generation of car fans eager to learn more about the prestigious trophy and its namesake!
The third and arguably the most important tournament on the schedule is the North Carolina Cup, which will determine the 2018 NASCAR Champion. This is a major event that’s been part of NASCAR‘s annual schedule since 1973 and is named after its founder, the late Harold Carter. Unlike the other two events on this list, the North Carolina Cup will be a closed-doors event, meaning that the public cannot attend. However, there will be some great opportunities to follow the action online. The first two days of the tournament will be broadcast live on Sirius XM radio and the final day will be streamed online.
These are just a few of the major tournaments that will occur over the course of the season – be sure to follow all the festivities as they happen!
The Playoffs Are On 🎉
Once the regular season has come to a close, the playoff era has begun! We can’t talk about NASCAR without talking about the playoffs – the race for the title of NASCAR Champion is on. Teams will be competing for one of the coveted spots in the championship round and the first wave of the postseason begins on Monday, May 1. The championship round is a best-of-seven series with six games being played (plus one if necessary) over the course of seven rounds. The first five rounds are known as the Wild Card Rounds while the final two rounds are called the Elimination Rounds. Each round is played at least once and as many as four times depending on the number of teams participating. The playoffs continue through to the very end with the Championship Final on November 27.
With the regular season now over, teams will be scrambling to make the necessary adjustments to be prepared for the postseason. With all the changes that happened this year regarding rules and car setups, you’ll definitely want to take some time to get familiarized with the new format before heading into the starting grid. Keep in mind that the playoffs are a totally different ballgame and you’ll find yourself learning quickly!
Get Tickets
If you’re looking for a place to watch the action unfold, be sure to grab a ticket to one of the many games that will be broadcast on television. You can also find tickets to the remaining games via the secondary market or the teams’ websites. We recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid disappointment on race day!
Make Sure You’re Familiar With The Venue
One of the most important things to do before the start of any race is to make sure that you are familiar with the venue. Knowing where you’re going to sit can make a dramatic difference in your enjoyment of the event – be sure to check out all the options and pick the one that feels the most comfortable! Before the start of the season, we recommend doing some research online to get a feel for the quality of the seating and whether there are any exceptional menu items that you need to be aware of before the start of the season.
Research The Drivers & Teams
Another thing that you should do before the start of the season is to research the drivers and teams that you’ll be following. If you’ve never followed NASCAR prior to the 2018 season, then this is the perfect opportunity to dive in and become a fan of the sport. You won’t miss a thing!
Many NASCAR fans will be entering the sport for the first time this year and are looking for ways to enjoy the action without prior knowledge. One excellent way to do this is by following the drivers’ Twitter accounts as they will be providing great content (mostly pertaining to NASCAR) throughout the year. Be sure to follow them for all sorts of behind the scenes content, live tweets during the race, and any important breaking news that might affect your favorite drivers or teams!
Follow The Rules
There are certain rules that you need to follow to enjoy yourself at a NASCAR race. Some of these rules are rather obvious (cover the cameras, no foul language, etc.) and some are a little more nuanced (like the color of your clothes). While it’s not always easy to follow these rules perfectly, it’s not the end of the world if you do slip up now and then – plus, NASCAR has people watching and checking so you’ll never be truly alone!
Enjoy The Atmosphere
You wouldn’t go to a baseball game without getting a feeling for the atmosphere of the place, right? The same can be said for a NASCAR race – be sure to check out the seating and venues for the different races and make sure to get a feel for how loud it is there. You can also get a sense for the vibe of the place by checking out the commercials that the venue sponsors put out before and during the race. These can give you a good indication of what to expect!
Keep Your Mind Open
One of the best things that can help you have an enjoyable experience at a NASCAR race is by keeping your mind open. This means that you should never, ever, assume that you know what is going on or that you can predict what is going to happen simply because you saw something in the past. You should always be thinking about what could happen (and sometimes what will happen) and preparing for the unexpected. This will help put you in the right place mentally and prevent you from having a bad day (or worse).
Check The Menu
If you’re heading to a NASCAR race and aren’t sure what to eat, be sure to check out the menu. Some venues will have a wide variety of food options available (including vegetarian and vegan choices) and others will specialize in certain types of cuisine (like chicken tenders and greasy fries). You should always try to look at the menu before you make a decision as there will be plenty of options for everyone! It would be best to call the restaurant a couple of days in advance to make sure that your favorite item is still available or to ask about any substitutions that might be made.