My Weekend as a Social Media Race Reporter

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@acheckeredflag

Maybe I should have realized I might when when I saw @acheckeredflag on the contest info!

Announced October 3:

Well folks, I have a big announcement that I am free to share now as it's been announced by the company on Twitter this morning.

Next week, I will be the Social Media Race Reporter for the 5Hour Energy/Michael Waltrip Racing car of Clint Bowyer during the Chase Race in Charlotte. I entered a contest a few months ago and was hand-selected out of a number of entries. I'm being given a full weekend of passes, privileges, and access which includes watching part of the race from the pit box. My husband will be joining me for all the fun.

So this is your warning...a week from now, my feeds on social media channels will be fuller than usual (stop laughing, some of you) with photos and updates about the weekend. You can hide me temporarily from Thursday through Sunday of next week if you aren't interested. The race will be broadcast Sat night on ABC should you care to tune in. Keith and I will be honorary members of Clint's crew. (No, we won't go over the wall and Keith won't be working on the car.)

God has really blessed me with some extras this year!

October 8:

Taking care of last minute stuff before my Social Media Race Reporter weekend. Reminder: from tomorrow morning through Sunday night, my feed will be focused on this NASCAR experience. In addition to posting here, I'll be posting to Instagram and Twitter (@acheckeredflag.) Many of my Twitter followers (for my racing account) probably think I'm male--the truth will be revealed this weekend for those who catch it!

October 9:

We're on our way! @acheckeredflag

and spouse ready to enjoy our

#racereporter weekend.

October 9: I inherited an interest in NASCAR in part from my dad, a big Richard Petty fan. Here's a shirt and photo of my parents meeting Bobby Hamilton. Dad would have been so excited for me. RIP Dad and I dedicate this trip to your memory.

October 9: It's Mom's birthday Sunday and we stopped in to visit in racing country. Drove through Mooresville, racing city.

Inadvertently stumbled across

the Motor Racing Network

headquarters. The voice of

NASCAR. Couldn't stop but still fun to find it on MRN Drive.

October 9: At the track for Pole Night!

Wow. Just wow. What an

experience already. This is

Ashton Bayne and Ashley

Stremme both of whom

are racing in Better Half

Dash tonight. Ashley won

last year. More photos to come.

Today was amazing in several ways. Meeting NASCAR Champion Darryl Waltrip was cool!

Fun to met Billy Mauldin, head of Motor Racing

Outreach. (He was also the spiritual advisor for

the most recent American Idol contestants.)

Random shots and thoughts from

the day...racing well-knowns

crossing your path, lots of tires,

being close to cars, crews and

sometimes even drivers, sun, heat,

smells, a couple rude people,

victory lane for Kristy Yaley, very few seats but a very cool day.

What a feeling to go by the garage and see your own name on the car. Wow.

Waiting on our tour/lunch at Michael

Waltrip Racing. Have heard it's one of the best shops to visit.

Michael Waltrip's car crushed after flipping

and being ruined at the 2004 Daytona 500.

Many thanks to Anna from

Michael Waltrip Racing and

Kinga from 5 Hour Energy for

putting together my great

prize package including

lunch with some employees

and a special in-depth tour of the shop. I learned a lot.

Think I'm ready to challenge Clint to a race?

Guess I'm officially part of the

team now. Changed into my

shirt and sporting a bruise

forming from getting in and out

of the car. Heading to track for

Sprint Cup practice and Nationwide race.

Just met Clint Bowyer as he left hauler to go practice. He was kind to shake hands and briefly greet. Told him to put car in Victory Lane.

My car during practice. OK Clint's car. But my name’s on it right?

Our view for tonight's Nationwide race. Clint's not competing but

we are getting to be in pits of a smaller team using a pit development program MWR is part of. Up close to the action!

Was encouraged to come closer to get a pic so I did!

Bummer. Car we are in pits

for was part of wreck...they got it fixed and back out.

Thanks to Matt from MWR for helping us sit in pits for #23 tonight. They had to go to garage so we are headed to rest up for tomorrow.

A few more images from Friday.

Scoring pylon. Dale Jr’s car. Joey

Logano’s car. Danica Patrick’s car.

Dale Jr’s 40th birthday balloons on

hauler and my sweet #15 car

Well folks about to head

out door to track and

look what's happening

out window. Am I in for long night? #goawayrain

It's pouring

again....supposed to start

meet ups tours etc. At 4:45...#goawayrain

Had fun at the tweetup meeting fans and reporters. (Window of time without rain.) This guy's a big Clint Bowyer fan. Check out his radio show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/buckybirtradio

These are two reporters I like to

follow--Bob Pockrass from Sporting

News and Jeff Gluck from USA

Today. They work their tails off. I

enjoy Jeff’s "quiet track" pictures

he shares after races.

Then this is what it looked like from the 5

Hour Energy hospitality bus. At least we're

protected.

Keith and I with a tire changer from Brian

Vickers team. The teams of MWR are

supportive of one another so the 5 Hour

Energy logo is also on his shirt. I like that

kind of teamwork.

Fun listening to spotter Brett on radio after

meeting him today.

Us with Clint and the camouflage pup we gave him for his baby.

This is a sample of how organized the hauler

has to be. They carry a ton...several tons

actually of equipment, parts, etc.

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. This is the

road food crew for MWR. They make sure hot meals

and plenty of snacks are available to the whole

team...around 30-40 people. This is Cindy and her son.

Her husband drives the truck. Cindy created and

markets a cracker that went over well and she now

sells.

The 5 Hour Energy rep and I eating at the

hauler the cooks had prepared chicken and

dumplings

They videotaped

some of my

experience. It was

cool to feel

somewhat like a real

reporter!

During our time we saw several people

though we didn't talk with them. They

included Joe Gibbs, Samantha Busch,

Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jimmie

Johnson and daughter, Ray Evernham,

Josh Wise, Landon Cassill, Jack Roush,

Amy Reiman (Dale Jr.’s girlfriend ) Marty

Smith, Jamie Little (ESPN) Jamie

McMurray, Jeff Burton and probably

others.

Clint and I by my decal before the race.

Watch the number 15 on ABC.

Kind of surreal to be on pit

road during opening

ceremonies rather than in

stands.

Oh my...I just got to stand with the crew

during national anthem then high 5 them

then give the huddle pep talk! Told them

to do it for God's glory and a win then we yelled Go Clint Go!

Sat in pit box for 100 laps…until engine blew.

Well my car may be out but I still love her. And

approx 100 laps on the pit box ain't chump

change.

The fun isn't ending. Now we get to watch

the race from the 5 hour energy bus atop

turn 2. Food drinks etc.

Wow! Didn't realize how awesome

standing on top a turn is for a restart and

first few laps!

My hair is full of rubber.

From the top of the 5 Hour Energy bus.

Sunday, October 12: A quieter day to wrap up our weekend.

Time for NASCAR Hall of Fame.

I didn't know Dale Jr had "foods"

Waving

“@acheckeredflag”

at the HOF

Sunday afternoon on the way home. I actually shed some tears.

In addition to being a NASCAR fan, I have my own business as a

virtual assistant, consultant, author, and speaker. I Help Other

People Excel!

Check out my blog, where there’s another post about my trip, 10

Things I Learned as a Social Media Race Reporter (posting on

and available after 11/13/14.

You can also launch from my blog to connect with me on

various social media channels. To follow my racing Twitter

account, search for @acheckeredflag. Happy Racing!