http://diegozum9.friendlinkup.com/ The Official Cabarrus CVB Blog in Concord/Kannapolis North Carolina en http://diegozum9.friendlinkup.com/2008/10/09/rain-doesnt-dampen-the-nascar-spirit.html Many years ago my then boyfriend, now husband, introduced me to NASCAR. I had no choice - he worked in the sport. At the time I honestly didn’t get it. Now, numerous years later as well as living as well as working in the heart of NASCAR country in the tourism industry - I get it.  I spend my days now focusing on NASCAR, the business of traveling as well as counting up the ways to build our economy. The Bank of America 500 is this weekend as well as as the haulers, campers, souvenir trailers, fan adorned cars as well as “Welcome Race Fans” banners moved into Cabarrus County, so to did the rain. This won’t be the first time rain has descended on the fans…and won’t be the last. While the idea of racing at 200 mph in the pouring rain as well as the melee that would occur is certainly an entertaining thought. One that does take a smile to many, it probably isn’t the safest way to race. So, the racing activities are delayed as well as the rain pours down. Last night I made my way down the newly named Bruton Smith Boulevard to Lowe’s Motor Speedway.  It was drizzling as well as had been raining on as well as off since Wednesday.  At the stop light right in front of the speedway I waited on behalf of two race fans, quite possibly a husband as well as wife team, cross the traffic lanes on their bikes.  My first impression was to feel horribly on behalf of them, “bless their hearts” as my new southern friends have taught me as well as contemplate on behalf of the briefest of seconds if their bikes would fit in the back of my Aspen.  The obvious first impression when you see someone on a bike in the rain is to feel sorry on behalf of them as well as think they have to be miserable.  That’s exactly how I felt as I watched them peddle across as well as manufacture their way down highway 29.  Presumably peddling their blessed little hearts back to their campsite.  Then I realized they were actually turning onto the gravel lot of souvenir alley.  It was then I noticed the bag swinging from the handle bars of the woman’s bike.  They weren’t peddling back to the campsite. Nor were they miserable. Wet - yes but miserable - no.  They were shopping! These bike riding NASCAR fans were making their way to a souvenir hauler.  Rain or not, they had a mission that may have been planned out weeks before arriving in our county as well as they were following through. As I stood in our suite last night as well as watched the rain mist up the windows as well as the stands sit unoccupied I felt bad. Not on behalf of the money lost on ticket sales, money lost on concessions or the countless other losses us business minded people think of when an event is canceled.  I felt bad on behalf of the father that was bringing his son out to qualifying on behalf of the first time, the fan who drove down from Pennsylvania on a three day weekend who was looking forward to this on behalf of months as well as the teams who were still working away in the garages who wouldn’t have the possibility to take the track that night. Looking out over the stands I thought about the two I had seen earlier on their bikes, souvenir bag swinging away from the bike handle as well as thought - if there was some way NASCAR could figure out how to drive in the rain…these stands would be full.    Tagged: Bank of America 500, cabarrus county, concord north carolina, Lowe's Motor Speedway, nascar, race fans, Racing    Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:09:40 -0400 diegozum9