Amy and PJ from Race Shop Tours
David, PJ, and Matt Kensenth at Roush Racing
Matt Kenseth's Killer Bee's in Action!
Gordon and Johnson's cars
Junior's Racing Shop
Jenny and Junior
Jenny outside Roush Racing fountain
Mark Martin's car ready for next race.
Ginn Racing - new home for Mark Martin
They guy in gray is Chad Knause (Crew Chief for Jimmy Johnson) and the guy in the light blue is Steve Letart (Jeff Gordon's Crew Chief).
Hendrick Wall of Trophies
Joe Gibbs Racing
Gibbs Racing Mission Statement
Tony Stewart's car being readied at Joe Gibbs Racing
Carl Edwards car at Roush-Fenway Racing
Dale Sr. car at DEI Museum
Bud cars at DEI museumWe met Amy and PJ of Race Shop Tours at 8:30 a.m. outside Bob Evans Restaurant. Another couple was on our tour, Carols and Beth. We had opted for the Southern Tour, so we headed out!
I should have written down the order of the shops we visited, but I didn't so they've all run together now.
On our visit to Joe Gibbs Racing we saw the Gibbs cars being prepared for upcoming races. The shop floors are immaculate. Everyone is friendly and waves back. Sometimes the workers also speak to those on tour. Amy our guide knew most of them, so we got a lot of conversation.
In each shop, you pick up driver cards. The cards have the driver's picture, sponsor, and info about the driver and team. After visiting 10+ shops, I have a LOT of card! LOL
We visited Hendrick Motorsports where we got to see the two major crew chiefs on the floor and also walking out of the building. They really have nice displays for the fans.
Also on the tour was Roush Racing - now Roush-Fenway Racing. They have several shops and we saw three of theirs.
Michael Waltrip has a shop, but we didn't get to see it as it takes about two hours to see it all.
We stopped for lunch and saw some of the Penske crew. They were all exceptionally nice!
We visited Penske racing and WOW! It's huge and extremely clean! Lots of workers everywhere, cars everywhere, and pictures everywhere. Penske has the largest shop around.
We passed Jeff Hammond's PIT CREW School. It's also huge. Didn't get to visit there.
We went to Dale Jr.'s shop and came face-to-face with Dale, Jr! Sort of.....he has a wax figure of himself complete with stubble! I had my picture made with it and had it moved a fraction of an inch, I'd have freaked! We were talking with the young woman behind the counter and she told us it was lucky we came today. She told us that Dale would be holding a news conference there tomorrow morning and would tell everyone where he'd be going. She didn't know and only knew she didn't have to come to work the next day until 1:00 p.m. We learned a little later in the day that Dale would be going to Hendrick Motorsports! WOW! What timing!
We toured a few other shops and ended the day at the North Carolina Speed Hall of Fame. Soon it was time to head back!
Our tour guides dropped us back at our vehicle and ended a great day! GOOD JOB! We highly recommend taking the tour.
Back at the campground and another serious electrical/rain storm. Cooled everything off!
See ya down the road!
Jenny :)
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