A Trip To Kentucky

I had hoped to go to several IZOD IndyCar races this year, but sadly, it looks like outside of Indy, I will only make it to Kentucky Speedway for the Kentucky Indy 300. Of course, I’m genuinely thankful I get to go to any races.

Last year at Kentucky took place under the lights, and I cheered myself hoarse, hoping Ed Carpenter would get that long-overdue victory. Although he didn’t get it, it was a tremendous weekend, getting to eat a Cracker Barrel twice, spend some time with the wife (I should probably transpose those two in order if I don’t want to get in trouble), and watching both the IndyCar race and Pippa Mann win in dominating fashion in Firestone Indy Lights.

This year, I’ll be returning to Kentucky, again bringing my wife along (babysitters are precious, precious resources). The trip is a month away, but I’m already amped for it. Kentucky’s one of those races that’s a perfect trip for the IndyCar fan. It’s a competitive oval, has great visibility, is a draw for part-timers you might otherwise not get to see, and there are plenty of parks and towns nearby to go on day trips as well. Last year, we ended up at the hilariously-named Big Bone Lick State Park, which was a nice way to work off some of the Cracker Barrel breakfasts.

As you grow up, get married, and start to have a host of awesome little kids running around, the road trips of your single or early married years become pretty rare things. Getting to motor around for a weekend, ending in watching a race at one of my favorite tracks? It almost seems too good to be true.

Kentucky will look different this year, with the new grandstands and the fact it’ll take place on a fall afternoon instead of evening. But that doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to it any less. If you are going to Kentucky, I hope to see you there!