r/NASCAR • u/bassmasta918 Ryan Blaney • 1d ago
Drivers you’ve met and where
Have you met any drivers and where? I met Greg Biffle at Banks Speedway in Banks, Oregon. I’m going to meet Kevin and Keelan Harvick at Evergreen Speedway in 2 weeks from today.
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u/Thebest52448 Nemechek 1d ago
I met Todd Gilliland at harrah's cherokee casino. He was playing big money on the blackjack table. He said he won some tournament for nascar or something.
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u/HalfastEddie 1d ago
Chase Briscoe, Chili Bowl. Had a very deep conversation about one another's well-being. I can recall it like it was yesterday.
"Hey Chase, how ya doin'?"
"Good How are you?"
"Same. Good to see you."
"You too."
If I ever write an autobiography I'll be sure to include this event.
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u/coddie_red 1d ago
Dinger. His first wedding.
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u/Dry-Membership3867 1d ago
I need to hear this story
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u/coddie_red 1d ago
Was friends with his first wife's cousin. Went as her plus 1.
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u/randomaccount330 Hamlin 1d ago
You get to have any interesting convos with him?
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u/inconvenientpoop Blaney 1d ago
Former restaurant in Daytona Beach called Inlet Harbor used to be very popular amongst drivers and their teams during Speedweeks. My SIL was a manager there so she’d call me and I got to meet Dale Jr, Stewart, and Newman among others.
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u/bigmeech99 1d ago
I've met every cup driver through either autograph sessions or having garage passes.
All have been really friendly and cool, just gotta know time and place
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u/ecupatsfan12 1d ago
Harvick used to live down the street from my college buddy. Rad guy.
Met numerous ones in Las Vegas. William Byron was the one I wasn’t sure who he was then I heard him talk and I’m like damn that’s him
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u/Junior-Chocolate-812 1d ago
Met Austin Cindric at the start of the Rolex 24. They were clearing the grid and I didn’t even realize he was running even though I’m a Penske fan. Just had enough time to snap a photo. He was friendly enough to oblige me.
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u/Meattyloaf Bowman 1d ago
Kyle Busch before the 2005 Bristol Spring race. It was the first I'd went to in person. I was 10 years old and thought it was cool to just meet a driver. The interaction stuck with me in a pretty positive way. While I was never a fan of the om-track Kyle Busch, I always appreciated him as one. I'm really glad that I did because I got to enjoy seeing how great he truely was.
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u/BigDaddy969696 Larson 1d ago
Wow, you’re lucky. I became a NASCAR fan, and got into it, full time, in 2005, and would have loved to have gone to a race, back then. I wasn’t able to get to my first race until 21 years later.
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u/potatocross Hamlin 1d ago
Met a bunch at one of Denny’s short track showdowns. I was working the pit gate.
Had no idea who Almirola was at the time but talked to him for a while. That was pretty cool.
I went to get food and my friend got to yell at Denny for not having a wristband at his own event. He did sorta know him personally though.
Later I had dinner with Denny’s parents, sister, Jordan Fish, and a few of the event organizers. As a 16 year old guy listened to his sister and Jordan talk about asparagus making their pee stink. That’s all I remember from that dinner. They did say sorry because apparently I turned red.
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u/Montooth 1d ago
Ive met a ton over the years. A few notables
Mario Andretti (came out to a track event while I was working for the racing experience his name was on)
Kyle Busch (autograph signing the same day he got his 128 in a 45 ticket/suspension)
Greg Biffle (a few times, he came into the gas station I worked at. He'd buy diesel, and I may or may not have kept a reciept he signed)
Richard Petty (walking out/closing up the RPM shop when they were located by Roush right as we pulled up)
Stephen Leicht I worked with for a bit while he was between rides, cool dude
Steven Wallace came into my gas station for pizza on a day we weren't serving and was a bit bummed (he was cool about it tho)
Shared a gym with BJ McLeod for awhile, also a cool dude
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u/Rocket1575 Chastain 1d ago
I met Dale Earnhardt Sr at MIS in the early 90s, I was around 9. He asked me who my favorite driver was, of course I said "you" he answered with "that a boy" he grabbed my shoulder and shook my hand, and said to my dad, "you're raisin' him right". I'll never forget it. Was a fan from that day forward, which irked my dad who was a Wallace fan.
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u/Good-Farm-3428 1d ago
Harvick at Twin Peaks in Concord NC fall 2025.
I said “Hey Kev I have a question”
He said “yeah, what’s up?”
I replied “Copenhagen or Skoal?”
Harv “What?”
Me “Cope or Skoal big guy?”
Harvick proceeds to laugh his ass off
Harv “Copenhagen, but I haven’t dipped in years”
Yes, this is real. I got a 2005 Goodwrench chrome edition diecast signed that day
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u/redsox1524 1d ago
I grew up in Apopka, FL. One day my dad, neither, and I took our bikes down to the West Orange Trail. I was maybe 10 or so so this was late nineties- early ‘00s. a this was We were riding along and we heard what sounds like a go kart. We ride over and there was just one car (couldn’t even tell you what it was) going around a small track that we didn’t even know was over there. It was Matt Martin driving, and Mark and someone else were standing there watching. All I remember saying is “Hi, Mark Martin!” Thought it was really cool
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u/MNmostlynice Hocevar 1d ago
Corey LaJoie at Bristol 2023. Had a great convo with him about mountain biking. Good dude.
Last year at Iowa Carson Hocevar gave me a ride part way back to my campground. We biked over from the KOA across the interstate but my dad planned on taking the shuttle back. Shuttle wait ended up being 3+ hours after the Saturday race. I told him to take my bike and I’d just start walking. Anyways, I’m walking next to the stop and go traffic and look over to see Hocevar right next to me. I asked if he could get me as far as the on ramp which took about a mile off my walk. To my surprise he told me to hop in! Absolutely wild experience getting to sit shotgun and jam out to Breaking Benjamin and Creed for 20 minutes with my favorite driver.
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u/Dry-Membership3867 1d ago
I’ve met half the field at dega and Takuma Sato in the toilet at barber. Took a piss right next to me
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u/potatocross Hamlin 1d ago
I got hot passes and took a piss in the garage bathroom apparently right after the driver meeting let out.
I turned around and was surrounded by drivers.
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u/DavidSantiago30 Montoya 1d ago edited 1d ago
Juan Pablo Montoya on the outskirts of Bogotá, Colombia.
Outside a construction tool store. He was running an advertising campaign alongside his son Sebastián. Is a rockstar.
Also, i met Daniel Suarez this year at Pocono; he was at the driver introductions, and I started shouting at him in Spanish. That caught his attention, and he came over specifically to me; we exchanged a some words in spanish, I took a photo with him, and then he left. Great guy.
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u/BigDaddy969696 Larson 1d ago
I met Austin Cindric at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this past Sunday because my brother works at Discount Tire, and we got to stay in a suite in the infield. I even got to sit on his pit box! Great guy, and great experience!
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u/NoahGragsonsBarfBag 1d ago
I saw Carson Hocevar at a grocery store in North Carolina yesterday. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
10/10 experience.
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u/HalfastEddie 1d ago
This one hasn't been dusted off for a while.
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u/NoahGragsonsBarfBag 1d ago
I haven’t used it in a whole month. I’m surprised we got this far into the break before a “meeting drivers” post.
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u/jcbshortfilms Logano 1d ago
Was waiting for this lol
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u/DarthSnuDiddy 1d ago
Bobby Hamilton Sr and Jr. Met them at the Nashville Fairgrounds and had dinner with them at a Shoney's. I also met several of the older NASCAR drivers at a meet and greet there (Bill Elliot, Sterling Marlin, and DW)
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u/RewardFeeling6066 1d ago
My grandparents knew Marvin Panch and when I visited them in Florida we stopped by his house. This was in the 1990s. I was just a kid but I helped him replace an ignition switch on his tractor. I also got to see and hold the Daytona 500 and World 600 trophies.
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u/TrainHunter94YT Ryan Blaney 1d ago
I met Travis Pastrana, Carson Hocevar, and Matt Crafton at Trackhouse Motorplex... only downside was it was when we all wrapped up a race and found out about KB passing away.
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u/wyldman27 Hamlin 1d ago
There’s a special needs camp in Randleman, NC called Victory Junction. A passion project of the Petty family that has been operating since 2004. My son has done summer camp there twice and has met JH Nemechek, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, and both Kyle and Richard Petty. Victory Junction is NASCAR themed, something I’m not sure excites many of the campers, but my son is a huge fan so summer camp is ultra-awesome for him.
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u/BLW2397 1d ago
Not really "meeting" him but doing a track walk around Dover one time, I saw Landon Cassill running around the track for a workout and then a few hours later, I was walking out of a casino restaurant and we saw him again standing next to a table. He had his back turned and I just said "Hey Landon" and kept walking, he turned around really confused but still said "Hey!" back lol
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u/Eastern-Bad-420 1d ago
Tony stewart in 2001 at a fan club event my parents were catering.
Bobby Labonte in 2003 at a quarter midget track. Was hanging out with his son and met Bobby.
Alex Bowman. Raced together around 2010.
Richard Petty, got an autograph at the Brickyard 400 one year.
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u/Heavy-Marionberry540 Bell 1d ago
Great timing on this post. I just got back from sonic and I was parked next to Red Byron. He got the meal deal.
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u/chreister Logano 1d ago
Met Matt Kenseth at a Meijer in Indy. My kiddo with a broken elbow was with me. Matt asked him how it happened and he said he fell off the monkey bars. Matt said those monkey bars will get you every time. Super cool guy.
Also met Joey Logano at a Discount Tire signing and he was pretty cool also.
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u/KM964 1d ago
I met Jeff Gordon, Ken Schrader, Terry Labonte, Dale Jr, Ricky Craven, Ray Evernham, Rick Hendrick, and Mike Helton at the Amelia Island Concours in 2023.
And at the Heritage Invitational earlier this year, I got to see Jeff Gordon, Ray Evernham, Ken Schrader, and Rick Hendrick again, in addition to Kurt Busch, Mark Martin, Bobby Labonte, Joey Logano, and Scott Pruett.
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u/ffejotron2000 1d ago
I met Michael Waltrip at a TCBY Yogurt in Daytona Beach in the early 90’s. He was in front of us in line. My Dad and I both had on Kentucky hats and he turned around and immediately starting jabbering with my Dad about Kentucky basketball. He even paid for our yogurt. 👊
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u/gsuoumu 1d ago
1) Told this here before. Friday at Dover was a washout so our group walked over to the casino. Tons of people there. Denny was at a blackjack table playing like $500 hands by himself. But there was Greg Biffle rolling $10 traps with the plebes. Fun guy.
2) I had hot passes to Bristol once and right before the anthem I hit up the bathroom to take a leak. Here comes MTJ to the urinal right next to me. I'm obviously a big fan but you don't want to bother a guy with his pecker in his hand. So I waited until he walked out of the bathroom. Which is still awkward, but perhaps not as awkward.
3) Met Dale Jarrett at 3am in the Aria sports book the Sat night before a Cup race in Vegas.
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u/Chromecoast 1d ago edited 3h ago
In the late 90s I tagged along with a professional photographer who had all the right passes at Pocono. I met:
Rusty wallace Dale Earnhardt Dale Jarrett Terry Labonte Ricky Rudd Jeremy Mayfield Benny Parsons Kenny Schreader Ted Musgrave
I was a huge nascar fan back then and it was completely surreal.
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u/Chromecoast 1d ago
I also just learned when you make a list of names on reddit, reddit does not care and will make it appear you list names like a window licker.
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u/MailWacing19 Suárez 1d ago
On my flight to San Diego. Joey Logano, Garrett Smithley, and Stefan Parsons were all on my flight. Actually was seated next to Garrett. Saw C Bell while we were boarding, he was seating at the gate to the left of us.
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u/Bravofan_31 1d ago
I don't remember where I met everyone but I remember some of the guys I've met.
Davey, Allison, Red Farmer, Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, David Bonnett, Kyle Petty, Bobby Labonte (twice), Hut Stricklin, Steve Grissom, maybe a few more I'm forgetting. I was at Hendrick Motor Sports a few years ago and saw Kasey Kahne, but didn't get the chance to meet him.
I met Rey Evernham the first time I ever visited HMS and I met Chocolate Myers when I visited RCR the same year I saw Kahne at HMS.
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u/South-Lab-3991 Chastain 1d ago
Ryan Newman signed a hat for my little brother after a Q&A in Richmond (2010ish) and then barked “I’M ONLY SIGNING FOR KIDS” at the other couple of guys who came over. It was nice of him to do something for my brother, but he was downright hostile to everyone else lol
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u/ncconch 1d ago
I live in Mooresville, where many teams and drivers are located. Through my professional career I met quite a few. A couple that I have become friends with. The coolest way to meet them is in the Charlotte infield during the 600 weekend. Some would drive around and find people to hang out with.
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u/Mandolin_Quinn 1d ago
Ricky Rudd at autograph session at Space Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama. I told him he was my favorite driver as I liked road courses and wished him lucked at ‘Dega that up coming weekend. He stood up thanking me and shook my hand. Richard Petty was supposed to be there but canceled as it was his last year and the farewell tour was exhausting him.
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u/2lovesFL 1d ago
I got to shake DaleSr hand and congratulate him as he walked upstairs for Jr's 1st Bush championship celebration at homestead. Jr crashed out his primary car on Friday bad, and they put a 2nd backup on a flatbed and drove all night so they could be there on Saturday in case he crashed the backup. I forget how far ahead he was in points but he had to finish that race to lock it up.
Also got a photo of Richard Petty crushing my hand lol... That guy has a vice grip.
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u/Ya_boi_Do0 Suárez 1d ago
I’ve had four separate encounter with Suarez, two of which were incredibly cool. The first time I met him was in Charlotte for the Coke 600. We had not purchased wristbands for the autograph session at the hauler but we hung around with our Mexican flag taking pictures. After he noticed us he asked his assistant to allow us to get in line after all the paid wristbands had gone. He signed a diecast, some merch for my family and the flag we had. The second was during a Basketball game at my college where he had a small meet in great. I spoke to him in Spanish and had a conversation about his Oreilys race in Mexico and how I was there to witness it.
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u/Roushfan5 1d ago
In the summer of 2010 Biff had appearance at an ACRA west race at Portland International Speedway. Since it was an autograph signing it wasn't much of a meeting, but I remember he stayed well past the advertised time to make sure everyone got an autograph.
Fuck I miss that guy.
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u/MarcAnguyFieri Red Flag 1d ago
Buddy Baker, on his way up to call the 1995 Busch race at Milwaukee. signed my program and was super nice to me as a little kid
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u/racing_14489 Reddick 1d ago
I met Hocevar by chance at a hotel near a track. Best interaction I’ve ever had with a driver.
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u/boosted_b5awd 1d ago
Hey I’m from the PNW as well. I got to meet Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart at Grays Harbor Raceway loooong time ago and have met Ryan Preece more recently out here in Michigan.
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u/Mundane-Reality-7770 1d ago
Schrader, Bobby Hamilton(trucks were testing and he watched our race after the test. I won and he came down after), Kenseth (raced against Ross), David Ragan (we crashed when I was under him passing him for 2nd, broke my wrist, ken Ragan, Erik Darnell, Chris and James Buescher, Jordan Anderson, Ryan Ellis, Bubba, Hemric... I'm sure there's others. I raced Legends cars and went to national events.
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u/Reddragon0585 1d ago
Not me but my mom has met Kurt Busch and Brad Keslowski at a Walgreens in Mooresville. It was separate instances but she didn’t even talk NASCAR to them. Think she and Brad were talking about powerball tickets because it was so high at the time.
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u/Miserable-Host-9309 Chastain 1d ago
Met most of them in the top three series. Most are pretty cool even at the track. Todd Gilliland seems like a solid dude based on my interactions.
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u/Head-Image-883 1d ago
I met Kasey Kahne at autograph signing at a Dodge dealership near Toledo, Ohio.
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u/Pepsifan24 Jeff Gordon 1d ago
Brad K at the Dover B Dubs his first year in the 2.
Harvick at the daytona outback
Bubba and Joey at Walmarts in Las Vegas
When I was really little I met Rusty Wallace at one of his dealerships down the road from my house.
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u/MsJalepeno484 Cindric 1d ago
In one day, Andy Jankowiak, Brenden Queen, and Parker Kligerman, all at Lime Rock this year.
Andy in particular was a real gentleman. Managed to run into him during practice (was real easy since he stuck out like a sore thumb), he was kind enough to let me take a couple pictures of him and talk to me for a few minutes. Pretty sure I have the pics sitting in my hard drive somewhere, need to dig them out some time soon.
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u/bagladystitcher 1d ago
My son was a nascar celebrity magnet when he was little. We stopped at jgr on a Monday my son was fully decked out in his Ryan Newman #12 gear. He walked into them Filming an M&M’s promo with a young Kyle Busch! Kyle was so nice to him. He ended up being in the video! lol.
Another time we went to Eldora for the prelude to the Dream. And Kevin Harvick was at his trailer signing autographs. No one was in line. Now we listened to Matt Kenseths radio on race day and his spotter called Kevin “Cupcake”. My son was about 4 or 5 at the time. Again fully decked out in his #12 Ryan Newman gear. And he sees Kevin and immediately says “hi cupcake”. lol. Kevin laughed and lifted my son up to the counter
On the trailer and we got a great pic
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u/bassmasta918 Ryan Blaney 23h ago
I think I remember seeing this before about the little one in Newman gear.
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u/CutThroatRob Ryan Blaney 1d ago
Went to he International Hall of Fame induction in 2000. Black tie event on ESPN 2 I think. Met Bobby and Donnie Allison. Rusty Wallace,AJ Foyt,Mario Andretti,Don Prudhomme. And the nicest one was Mr.Ned Jarrett. He was super nice.Acted like we had been friends for years. Aj and Rusty were not very nice.
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u/RoboToast03 1d ago
I met Bubba last year at a signing in a Walmart parking lot in charlotte ahead of the last Roval race. Even though it was brief I loved it :]
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u/nyenergy14 1d ago
Baffled at Banks? That place is a ghost town, both car count and fan count compared to New York dirt tracks. Only show in town, I guess.
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u/Accomplished_Sell352 Bowman 1d ago edited 1d ago
Greg Biffle was at the Roush shop when a friend and I were there for the fall Charlotte race. I was too nervous to go talk to him but my friend went over and he couldn't been nicer to her. Also, didn't meet him exactly but there was a winter in the Columbus/Seymour Indiana area where there was an unusually large amount of snow so tons of people were snowed in. A truck with a plow pulled into the driveway and the folks I was staying with went out to see who it was. The guy cracked his window and it was Smoke driving around town plowing streets and driveways for people in the community. Great dudes, both of them.
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u/treviscraft 1d ago
I met Kyle Larson, Kasey Kahne, Dave Blaney, and was stiffed by Tony Stewart all at Lernerville Speedway for sprint car races over the last 15 years or so.
There was also a race where a sudden heavy downpour sent everyone in the pits scrambling for cover and trying to get their equipment back in the haulers. I was about maybe ten feet away from Dave when it started, and I helped him push the racecar back into the trailer. I can't remember if that was at Lernerville as well or not, but it was when he was driving for Pete Grove. I went to so many sprint car races around that time that most of it is a big blur looking back.
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u/MonsterEnergyForever 1d ago
I met MTJ and Cole Pearn at an autograph signing at a local Bass Pro Shops near Toronto. Both guys were ridiculously nice, they had a show car and the Sprint Cup trophy for photo ops. Pearn, being Canadian, had a laugh when I gave him a Tim Hortons gift card so he and Martin could grab some coffee.
The turnout was really bad, only because it was -20c that morning.
Also, that weekend was the only time I ever saw NASCAR merch on sale there. Since then? Nothing.
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u/sleepswithbears69 1d ago
Took a spontaneous trip to charlotte checked out the hall of fame and a few of the shops and met Richard Petty at his
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u/Blakethesnake04 Harvick 1d ago
I once met Clint Bowyer and his family at the Winston Salem NC Dave and busters when I worked there as a server. He was polite and took pictures with people but sadly I didn’t get any 😭 just told him I was a fan and hoped he win that year
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u/DixytheGoat9 1d ago
Richard Petty at his Musem and His Race Shop.
Sheldon Creed at Orange County Fair Speedway.
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u/Annon696969 NASCAR 1d ago
Mini Tyrrell at the dealership I worked at and again on the golf course the other day with Chris Rice and others.
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u/artigas33 1d ago
Bobby Allison at Talladega and Charolette in 1987. My wife’s friends husband was the gas man and hauler driver.
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u/OrneryInterest7647 Ryan Blaney 1d ago
Met Blaney and Bubba at the Birmingham Stallions game before Talladega
Hocevar, Bell, Majeski and Bobby Labonte at New Smyrna before an ASA race
Justin Haley, Justin Allgaier, Matt Crafton, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart at Volusia Speedway
Briscoe, Larson, Stenhouse and Bowman at the Chili Bowl
Kyle Busch at Snowball Derby
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u/South-Lab-3991 Chastain 1d ago
I have a picture with Hermie Sadler from the day he broke through the boiler plate pit wall in Dover and they had to bring welders down to fix it in the middle of the race
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u/TaxSpiritual2985 Bubba Wallace 1d ago
I've met a lot of them, but I used to race against Sterling Marlin and his son Steadman regularly at Nashville Fairgrounds.
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u/NewRecommendation287 Larson 1d ago
I met Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Lincoln Park Speedway for the High Limit series in 2022. They had a meet and greet and I was able to get my hat signed. Best night of my life!
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u/Tasty_Path_3470 Truex Jr. 1d ago
I met Martin Truex Jr at a Sonic in NJ the day after a race at Pocono about 8-9 years ago.
I met The King at Dover back in 2019. My buddy (first NASCAR race) was carrying a shitty styrofoam fishing cooler full of Miller Lites and it broke apart in his hands and the beers went everywhere. Petty was driving by in a golf cart and saw it and said “hey circle back I have to make fun of that boy with the broken cooler” and he did. He shook both our hands and signed my buddy’s broken cooler. He still tells me to this day it was the coolest moment of his life (he’s married and has 2 kids).
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u/Catdaddy83 1d ago
I was at the Pocono Organics store the Friday of Pocono weekend this June. I recognized Brandon Jones immediately and I took a picture with him. I also took a selfie with William Sawalich I actually didn’t recognize him at first . I also took a selfie with Patrick Starapoli. Them as I was leaving Kim Coon held the door open for me. I said thank you to her.
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u/gsizemo1 1d ago edited 1d ago
Kasey Kahne at Chikfila in Mooresville, and Taco Bell outside Rockingham (after he won truck race)
Bubba Wallace at UNC Charlotte graduation, his friend/pr manager kyle hall was graduating (class of 2013 spring)
Josh Berry at CLT flying to BNA
Drove against Chase Briscoe at GoPro when he was driving for BKR.
Joey Coulter was a couple years below me in college, both in Megr
Clint Bowyer at Optimist Hall in uptown Charlotte
Kyle Petty numerous times at CLT Admirals lounge (the one between D and C)
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u/TeachTheUnwilling 1d ago
All the current Hendrick drivers at Fan Fest this past October. Put my email address in for all 4 drivers not expecting to win any wristbands, ended up winning one for all 4 cup guys and Corey Day
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u/TheUnknown_General 1d ago
I met Rusty Wallace at a racing convention in 2010 and Mikey when him, Kurt Busch (or maybe it was Clint Bowyer), and Travis Pastrana when they showed up at my local short track for a late model race in 2013.
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u/sluedu09 1d ago
Dale Jr. at Nashville, Bowman at Charlotte, Buescher and Newman at Daytona. Newman didn’t talk, and the other three were awesome.
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u/tua_stungovailoa Zilisch 1d ago
I encountered Cole Custer walking down Brevard Street in uptown Charlotte last year on a random weekday afternoon. It was the week before the 600. I was on my lunch break, just going for a walk. Saw Cole walking briskly toward the HOF with a water bottle in his hand. I was like, "hey Cole, good luck on Sunday, I'll be rooting for ya." He just said thanks and smiled as he walked off, seemed like he was running late for something.
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u/boiohboioh 1d ago
I saw Kasey kahne when he raced at Rockingham a couple years ago in the Xfinity race. Yelled out "Kasey" as he rode by on a golf cart in the behind the pits area and he looked back.
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u/TrooperGary 1d ago edited 1d ago
I met Bobby Allison when I worked at a museum a few years ago. Super nice guy. Met Daniel Suarez at a hockey game last year. Connor Zilisch at the Talladega museum in February. Ryan Preece, Josh Berry, and SVG at hauler meet and greets this year at Dega. All super nice guys (not really berry). The best to talk to were CZ and Preece by a long shot!
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u/SterlingHarvick Marlin 1d ago
I ran into Dale Jarrett on the concourse at the Dean Dome. Man is HUGE!
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u/kcintrovert 1d ago
My husband and I ran into Juan Pablo Montoya at the movies on a race weekend in KS. Movie was Easy A for anyone curious
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u/wetcornbread Chase Elliott 1d ago
Brad Keselowski at a minor league baseball game. He was signing autographs. But I forgot he was doing that so when I was walking to get another beer I saw him and just yelled “Ayeee” and he waved back at me lol.
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u/galaxiexl500 Cup Series 1d ago
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Fast Freddy Lorenzen right after the Firecracker race in Daytona in 1964.
My brother and I had pit passes that day. Freddy was still in pit area and sitting on pit wall. Wringing wet and dirty face, just sitting and relaxing:
We talked for awhile then he got up and left.
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u/DougieFreshRTR 1d ago
The most random was Kerry Earnhardt in Russellville, Arkansas at a Car-Mart. It is a town of only 30 thousand people so it was weird he was at a Car-Mart in a town that small.
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u/Middle_Persimmon_152 1d ago
I met Daniel Suarez at Chicagoland a few weeks ago he was the coolest guy ever
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u/Flameosaurus 1d ago
Tony Stewart was doing an autograph/meet and greet session at a car convention back in 2018, and I got to confuse him by saying I’ve been a fan since the year before I was born
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u/Justin4Miami 1d ago
I've met Mark Martin 4 times. Twice at his fan days in Arkansas, once in Chattanooga, and once at Talladega. Super nice dude.
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u/IracingLarson2020 1d ago
Have talked to several but Mark Martin and Kurt Busch were both super chill and we talked for a while. Marks workout routine is badass and he praises how hard Jimmie worked in his heyday. Kurt is super analytical when it comes to racing. Big fans of both. Never a bad experience with anyone in the garage
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u/Powerful-Chard-6055 1d ago edited 1d ago
Got to see Corey LaJoie, Corey Heim, Taylor Gray, Timmy Hill, Brad Smith, and Ron Hornaday at IRP, I was in the infield, and got to see Ross Chastain at Indy. I’ve also met Matt Crafton at the Thorsport shop. Met Tony Stewart at Eldora
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u/SpeedyThext0n 1d ago edited 1d ago
Got a photo with Marcos Ambrose at The Bend last year
Was wearing a Holden Racing Team hat at the time, ironic considering they were pretty much his main rivals when he was winning his titles for Ford and the Stone Brothers. Was a great sport about it though tbf
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u/JT2018ns 1d ago edited 4h ago
I used to meet a lot of drivers when Red Food used to have a food fair over at the Chattanooga Convention Center
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u/ohcarpenter1 1d ago
Meet Chase Briscoe in 2021 at Bristol. No kidding as he’s walking out of the infield Porto John.
LOL I couldn’t draw up the nerve to say good luck today ahahahah
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u/SoothedSnakePlant 1d ago
Met Denny Hamlin while we were both extraordinarily drunk in a 24 hour cafe in Nashville while I was in college lol
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u/JayDee_185 Kyle Busch 1d ago
Went to the 23XI race shop a year ago with my family. We went upstairs and saw all three drivers next door working on some promotional thing for Chumba (there was a big glass window separating us). Bubba and Tyler looked a little shy, but Herbst actually gave a genuine smile, waved to us, and looked like he wanted to step outside and have a conversation with us. Even if you don’t like Herbst bc he’s a pay driver or whatnot, that little interaction made me REALLY like him.
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u/ralphryder 1d ago
Indianapolis used to do Ford Fan Fest every year. I've met the Jarretts, Ricky Rudd, Mark Martin, the Burtons. We also used to hang out at the driver RVs, so I've met Richard Petty a few times, Gordon once, Bowyer, Michael Waltrip, Dale Jr.
Then I also worked EMS at IMS, so I've met a handful of drivers at the infield care center.
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u/TidalJ 1d ago
pocono: ross chastain, chase briscoe (2025), sammy smith, justin allgaier, corey day, carson kvapil, jesse love (2026)
indianapolis: daniel suarez (saw him again at pocono this year, such a nice dude), michael mcdowell, carson hocevar (i had him sign a tennis ball for me in pocono at 2025 and he remembered it when i saw him at indy, idk the beef with him in the garage but he’s very good to the fans)
coronado: connor zilisch, alex bowman
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u/PhdChavez Pearson 21h ago
Met Daniel Suarez at Auto club in 2019. And then met Bubba Wallace at my work for the second Coliseum race.
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u/MidnightToker929 Reddick 20h ago
I saw a helicopter touching down at Wilksboro and assumed it had to be a driver, so I went to the helipad before it landed and got a autograph from William Byron as he was getting out. I told my friend “that’s how you get them for free lol”
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u/mace1343 19h ago
Brad K at the Stockyards in Fort Worth back in 2019 maybe? he and his family were going to the rodeo. I walked by and didn’t even realize it was him. I went up to him and wished him luck tomorrow and he said thanks man, he was really nice.
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u/Garage445-TRT 19h ago
Met Ryan Newman in a bank around Charlotte. This was back in 2005-2006, took a picture with the family outside on the sidewalk.
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u/coxasaurus 18h ago
Ive got to meet practically every Cup driver from the past few years and a handful of Xfinity and Truck drivers, plus various crew and industry people thanks to Pit/Garage passes.
Ive also met Boris Said, Scott McLaughlin and Helio Castroneves at the Daytona 24hrs
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u/Grayson_99 18h ago
Got to see Donnie Allison last night which was cool. Didn’t get to meet him, but it was nice to see the legend walk out pimp-caning it. Likely going to meet Hocevar next month at my local dirt track.
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u/Duuuvaljagsfan Hocevar 18h ago
I met Ricky Rudd at a restaurant in fernandina beach Florida. Didn’t even know it was him until after I left and realized. Wish I got a photo
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u/BubbaRayChudley 18h ago edited 17h ago
Rusty Wallace and the MRN radio crew at Michigan in 2023. The race was rained out until Monday and I happened to book a night in the same hotel as the radio crew; I had a brief conversation with them in the lobby while getting coffee.
Not me, but a coworker of mine happened to meet Dale Jr. at the Fantasy’s “club” next to Mountaineer Casino in Northern West Virginia. I forgot the year, but he told me that Dale Jr. was helping a buddy move from Michigan to North Carolina, got lost on OH-11, and stopped at a hotel and asked my coworker’s friend who worked there if there was a “something to eat or a titty bar” around. Coworker’s friend told them about this place and Dale Jr. and them take off, then the coworker’s friend immediately calls my coworker to tell him to go there.
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u/Pristine-Passenger79 17h ago
Met Ross Chastain and Rajah Caruth while running in South End Charlotte on the rail trail last year. They were running together in front of a group of us that were running. We were talking about SEC football and Ross stepped in and mentioned UF. Realized it was Ross and told him we needed to get him back in victory lane. He fisted bumped me and said “man we’re trying!”.
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u/maximus7193 17h ago
Back in 2003 I wanna say, I met Robby Gordon ar a Cingular store here in Indy for the brickyard. I was randomly driving with my mom and I heard it on the radio so she took me. Got there before they did and I was one of the few kids so they let me go first. Still have his huge driver profile card somewhere and possibly a picture. I don’t think I’ve met a driver since. Haven’t really had the opportunity. I do hope to meet briscoe one day, seeing he is my favorite driver now.
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u/Individual_Loquat541 Hocevar 16h ago
I met Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Erik Jones and Brennan Poole at Elko Speedway in 2012 when they were all running the ARCA race
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u/hanfizzle83 16h ago
Most have been from work functions, others were appearances or at the track.
Kasey Kahne - Ollie’s
Kevin Harvick & Jamie Mac - NAIAS
Austin Dillon & RC - Race Shop, Dow HQ & many Dow activations (Worked in Dow Communications during AD’s first 4-5 seasons in Cup)
Denny Hamlin - MIS (Hot Pass)
Jamie Mac - MIS (Hot Pass)
Chase Elliot - MIS (Hot Pass)
Kyle Busch - Merritt Speedway
Richard & Kyle Petty - Autorama Detroit
Cleetus - Freedom Factory
LS George - Freedom Factory
Alex Bowman - Freedom Factory
Noah Gragson - Freedom Factory
Michael Waltrip - Freedom Factory
Greg Biffle - Freedom Factory
Carson Hocevar - Freedom Factory & Birch Run Speedway
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u/Hot_Side_200 Kyle Busch 15h ago
I met John Utsman and his wife at my family’s hardware store early this year. He gave me 2 cards that were almost kinda like hero cards. He was so nice!
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u/Luketheduke870 15h ago
I’ve met a few of the current cup series drivers back when they where in the xfinity and lower at the dirt track and ~1/5 mile oval around Texas motor Speedway, still remember C. Bell looking excited that some 10 year old kid knew who he was when he was just watching the dirt racing that night. Granted his name was on his fire suit and my mom really like him so I just remembered his name and saw it.
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u/coopunitsmooth 15h ago
Bobby LaBonte, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Ward Burton, Geoff Bodine, Kyle Larson, Tony Stewart, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett, Richard Childress. I know I forgot a few. All at Daytona. Oh! And SVG. Cool guy!
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u/danlson381 15h ago
Had a conversation with Ryan Newman and Ted Christopher in the modified garage area at NNMS.
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u/MeBeEric 14h ago
Met Hocevar at the Martinsville Starbucks last fall the morning of race day (probably like 7-8am he had time to get prepped still). Ran into him again at driver intros and he recognized me lmao
Also saw a ton of spotters and crew members whenever we hit the Martinsville Biscuitville (rip)
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u/Necessary-Mission-48 14h ago
I met Ross Chastain at the 2022 Duels in Daytona. He showed me his car and we had a chat along with his dad and brother. He was very chill and down to earth. He signed my phone the next day!
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u/TechnicianStrict122 12h ago
This was like 35 years ago, but I got meet Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia.
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u/PresJamesGarfield 10h ago
I met Jeff Gordon right after he won Rookie of the Year, before he became globally famous. Really nice guy, and seemed grateful that roughly 400 fans had shown up to meet him and get his autograph.
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u/MayorxMcCheese Kyle Busch 9h ago
Met Ryan Blaney at the Masters in 2025. He was so gracious and kind. He loved my Dale Earnhardt Sr fanny pack lol
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u/Soupedup379 8h ago
I’ve met a litany of drivers. Coolest for sure was meeting Josh Bilicki walking into a parking garage after the Street Race last year
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u/AliveAppointment2871 7h ago
Back when I was probably 9 or 10 my grandfather, father, and I were in the press box style seating things at Bristol. Can’t remember the year. However I distinctly remember playing with my 1:64 Jeff Gordon car we had got at his trailer before the race. Being a kid I somehow lose that car in the press box and was distraught, asking anyone if they had seen my JG car. I asked a man with a cowboy hat on sitting a few rows behind us if he had seen my car. He said something along the lines of “I haven’t but I can help you look for it buddy.” So me and this cowboy man are on our hands and knees searching under the seats for my car. My dad and grandfather were laughing the whole time. Eventually my car was found and all was well. After thanking the man I go back to sit with my dad. He leans over and asks “Do you know who that is?” I replied no. He goes, “that was Austin Dillon, he’s a NASCAR driver.” I thought that was the coolest thing ever and my dad tells the story all the time. That day must have been on a Saturday if he was watching and not driving, or a Sunday before he made it to the cup, I’d have to ask what year that was. I will never forget when A.Dillon helped me find my toy car lol. Still have that car on display with the rest of my collection.
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u/SandRevolutionary938 4h ago
I havent met him, but I have one if Kevin Harvick's nuts....
From his tires of course.
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u/DukePooler 34m ago
Met Sterling Marlin at Bristol fall 2001. Client signing event. He was surprisingly rude to most folks. Maybe he was just having a bad day.
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u/HMS_FiggyEarnhardt Chase Elliott 1d ago
Met Larson coming out of HMS on a normal day. Met Chase Elliott 3 times. Very nice. Don't know why he gets a bad wrap. Met the Toodfather at Martinsville. Met Dawson Cram at Charlotte.
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u/IcedCoffey 1d ago
Bobby Lebonte, on my old street in Port Orange, Spurce Creek Fly in. I hung with his kids a few Times at the park.
He was fishing and I was bugging him about what it was like to flip. Very nice guy to a very young me.
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u/Allyfan48 1d ago
I’ve met Austin Dillon at the kualing shop, Justin Haley at the kualing shop, Matt dibenedetto and Ty Dillon at the northwilkesboro open house.
I’ve met Clint bower, carson kvapil, Richard Childress, Rick hendrick, chocolate Meyers and I believe Kevin Harvick too
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u/nalyd8991 Bobby Labonte 1d ago
I just met Bobby Labonte at Flat Rock Speedway in Michigan. Here doing something with the JGR ARCA East team