Sometimes I need a break from writing about treatment and the heavy parts of life. So today, I’m sharing a story from the archives—one that reminds me just how wild, fun, and unexpected life can be. This is the story of our Talladega 500 weekend—a trip that involved dodging wildfires, riding in style, drinking moonshine, and standing pit-side with NASCAR legends.
Invite That Started It All
Back when I ran my men’s lifestyle and travel blog, Suburban Men, I had the chance to do some pretty wild stuff. One day, I got a message from Kristi at NASCAR asking if I wanted to attend a race. I wasn’t a hardcore racing guy—but NASCAR weekends always looked like a damn good time.
She gave me a list of options: Vegas, Phoenix… all convenient. But then she said the magic word: Talladega. My eyes lit up. The Talladega 500. Ricky Bobby. The stuff of legends. And my buddy Mike goes every year and swears it’s the wildest party on four wheels.
Kristi sealed the deal by offering us an RV on the infield for the entire weekend. And not just any RV—this was a $1 million land yacht parked right at the finish line. I was in.
The Wild Ride to Talladega
The night before our flight out of LAX, a wildfire broke out just south of us in Southern California. We watched it inch closer to the I-5—our main route south. Our Uber driver rerouted us over a winding mountain pass to reach the 118. We made it, barely. The pass was shut down 30 minutes after we cleared it.
We landed in Atlanta, picked up a gorgeous Toyota Tundra loaner from our friends at Toyota, and made our way to the track. Kristi met us at the gate with her son, Will, and handed us our passes. Then we drove through the infield to our RV—and man, what a spot.
Welcome to the Infield
Our RV wasn’t just parked anywhere. It was front row at the finish line, with a stocked fridge, a fired-up grill, and a full lineup of Sugarland Shine moonshines—including a special Talladega 50th Anniversary edition that I still have today.
We hadn’t even finished unpacking when a couple from the RV across from us rolled up in a golf cart and yelled, “Hop on!” They took us straight to a BBQ party already in full swing.
The guy winked at me and said:
“That’s how we do it at Talladega.”
He wasn’t wrong.
If you’ve never been to the infield during the Talladega 500 weekend, you’d never believe it—40,000 people camped out, partying like it’s Mardi Gras. At night, NASCAR drivers ride floats through the campsites tossing out swag. The evening ends with full-blown concerts right in the infield. That weekend, it was Riley Green and Tyler Braden lighting up the stage.
NASCAR Legends, Pit Row Access, and Moonshine
Saturday brought even more surprises. Zanne and I had one-on-one interviews with several drivers—including seven-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson. Just us and him, outside his RV in the drivers-only section. A surreal moment, even for a casual fan like me.
Then came a private tour through the garages, up close with the cars that would race the next day. We capped it off by heading trackside for the 1000Bulbs.com 500, part of the Monster Energy Cup. With full pit access, we stood just ten feet from pit crews as cars roared in. The adrenaline was off the charts.
And Will? Kristi’s son was such a fun, sharp kid. Zanne even interviewed him for her blog. His energy was infectious.
The Main Event (and a Touch of History)
Sunday was race day. The Talladega 500. The big one.
Before the race began, there was a moment that gave everyone chills. Richard Childress took Dale Earnhardt’s car—the very one Dale drove to his final win—out on the track for a memorial lap during the pace laps. The sound of that engine. The history. It was unforgettable.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t play along. Rain delays hit hard. We watched as jet-engine dryers mounted on trailers tried to save the track. But even jet engines have their limits.
Eventually, the race was postponed until Monday. So we headed back to the RV, cracked open a drink, and watched the rest from the coziest front-row seat in the infield.
Packing Up with Stories We’ll Never Forget
Monday morning, we packed up and drove back to Atlanta. The weekend was over, but the stories? We’re still telling them.
I may not be the biggest NASCAR fan out there, but that Talladega 500 weekend was a bucket-list-level experience I never saw coming.
And yeah—that’s how they do it at Talladega.
A Personal Note
I’d be remiss not to mention that Kristi’s son, Will—who made such an impression on us that weekend—was tragically killed in a car accident last year. Zanne and I still think of him often. He had that rare spark that sticks with you long after the moment is gone.
