An Evening at Vado Speedway Park 6-17-23

 

It was a happy confluence of events that led to this trip.  Dad had recently befriended a new neighbor, Gerald, who’d asked if there was a local racetrack.  Indeed there was: the Vado Speedway Park, which is located just outside of Las Cruces on the way to El Paso on I-10.  You can’t miss it.  Dad asked me about going to the track sometime with Gerald.

 

I could do him one better.  They’re a customer of my business and we co-own a suite at the track.  Periodically, management would offer tickets to the suite to employees.  Since I arrive at work late in the afternoon, I asked a co-worker, Toni, who’d raved about going to track, to put in for three tickets for me the next time they came up.  That happened before the end of the week.  I called dad.  He was taken off guard by how quickly I’d gotten tickets, but he became enthusiastic soon enough.

 

Saturday night, we were off.  It only took about 15 minutes to get there.  There was an exit off the highway next to the track.  We got there about an hour before tonight’s event, which made it easy to park.  (A lot of people came in after us.  The parking lot was filled up when we left.)  70’s and 80’s metal rock greeted us over the PA.           

 

We went straight to the suite first.  The staff we encountered on the way and while we there were uniformly friendly and helpful.  The facility is clean and new-looking and well laid out.  I was really impressed.  There’s a pair of large bathroom facilities, a large concession area, and a trailer selling t-shirts and other track racing goods. 

This is actually a picture of the suite next door.  There’s a TV inside, which picks up the race video and several sports channels.  I was impressed with the sound system inside.  You could clearly hear the PA announcing on the track.  He was very professional and friendly-sounding.  There was also a bathroom and a fridge with drinks.  The water was free.  The sodas were also free for us, since the business was paying for it, otherwise they were $3.  A waitress would come around selling drinks and would deliver concessions, as well.  Dad got a beer, which was a bit surprising, since he hardly drinks.  After half a can and just watching a couple of heats, he put his arm around me with a big smile.  He thanked me and said he wanted to come back. 

 

A new co-worker was there with her family.  I chatted with them for a bit.  Another person came in that I didn’t recognize.  Maybe he was new or worked for the other business that shared the suite.  He brought a couple of other people, including his beautiful blonde girlfriend.  She had a Southern accent and was very chatty.  In fact, dad chatted her up a bit out on the balcony.   

There was a small balcony outside.  The inside of the suite is actually fairly well sound-proofed from the track noise, but you want to be outside, because the sound is half the show.    

There is also a deck on top and there are even chairs inside the suite that you can take up there.  If it’s nice out, as it was tonight, this would also be a good viewing option.  This picture was well before the races started.  There was a great crowd at the race.    

 

We went back to the Concessions for food, which is sort of pictured here.  Dad got a hot dog and fries.  Gerald got wings.  I got a chili dog with waffle fries.  It was $27 altogether.  Later, I went back for dessert.  I thought I should get some ice cream for the chili.  (It wasn’t hot or spicy, but seemed appropriate.)  Instead, I took Toni’s advice and got a funnel cake. 

 

Okay, here’s where I stop being complimentary.  The chili dog was okay.  (I don’t like beans in my chili, but it didn’t ruin it for me.)  The fries were cold.  I’m assuming dad’s were cold, too.  Gerald liked his wings.  I’d never had funnel cake before and discovered I didn’t like it.  I’m also thinking this wasn’t an optimal presentation, since it was cold and crunchy, perhaps stale.  The powdered sugar on top made me instantly jittery.  I had a Dr. Pepper with the hot dog and washed down the funnel cake with a Minute Maid lemonade in a bottle, which I had a bad reaction to. 

 

Later at night, I had a bad case of heartburn, which I mostly never get.  I almost threw up at 3:00am, but instead got up a few hours later and it came out the other end for about 15 minutes.  I went back to bed exhausted.  I didn’t eat again until 6:00pm on Sunday.  It might have been the lemonade, which I sometimes have problems with.  It might have been a combination with the chili and the funnel cake.  It wasn’t food poisoning; it just wasn’t good and then I had a personal problem with it.  I’m sure there’s something else I can try on the menu there that’ll turn out better. 

 

Okay, let’s talk about the racing.  I’m not familiar with the racers or the categories, but guys and girls were out on track driving fast and hard and that’s what fans want.  The Winged Sprints were out on the track first.  They weren’t racing, but were kind of parading at reduced speed before the racing started.  That’s where I took this picture.  The picture at the top, I took during a race.  It came out about as I expected, a bunch of blurs, so that’s all I took during the races.  A talented young woman sang the Anthem before the races. 

 

The first on track were the Pure Stocks.  These cars looked like they were from the 80’s and were about in that good of shape.  The first heat had a #43 car in Petty Blue.  The leaders took each other out on the first lap.  One car was pulled off by a wrecker, while the driver shook his fist out of the window at his nemesis.

 

The second heat had a #95 Lightning McQueen-inspired car, but colored in blue, not red.  Another car was flying an American Flag out the back with a Minnie Mouse doll tacked to the side.  Another had a P-40 fighter paint scheme.  These cars were not too loud.  I didn’t even have my earplugs in. 

 

Next category were the Racing Trucks.  These were much better-looking vehicles.  The pretty blonde turned into a one-woman cheering section, so maybe she knew one of the drivers.  In heat #2, the winning truck led wire-to-wire, while smoking out the rear for the entire race.

 

I left to get dessert and missed the Winged Sprints.  What a mistake on my part.  They are definitely the loudest and probably the fastest.  (You will want earplugs for these cars.)  I would have stayed, if I’d realized they were up next.  The Legends category then came up.  They’re an odd look on track, like a bunch of old-timey vehicles.  They came droning by like a swarm of angry hornets.  An awesome pink and purple sunset came over the track as the Modified’s came out.  This was the largest category, which held four heat races.            

 

After the heat races, there was an intermission, where I should have gone to the Concessions, though I’m sure that’s when everyone else did.  The Pure Stocks came out first for their final.  I think there were 15 cars out on track.  Here you really get the full effect.  As the cars came around to take the green, you got the thunder.  Even without the sound, you could feel the field roaring by.    

 

This is where you also got the wrecks.  Lightning McQueen was leading, but hit the last place car and spun out.  The next set of leaders took each other out with one car going into the wall.  One car brought out the caution by going up in smoke.  A final wreck ended the race sort of anti-climactically.  The winner was announced, rather than crossing the finish line. 

 

The Modified’s had two finals.  I’m not sure if there was going to be another definitive final later.  The Trucks then had their finale.  This group sounded the most like NASCAR, though on a smaller scale.  (And now I realize what a thrill those races must be to attend.)  With 9 laps left, a truck blew up.  On the last lap, the leader was passed.  He then blew his engine and the truck caught on fire briefly.  The driver was okay, though.  After he got out, he tossed his hood off the truck. 

 

Unfortunately, this is where my commentary ends.  It was passed my dad and probably Gerald’s bedtime at 10:00pm.  I was told the races usually last until 11:00.  I really wanted to see the Winged Sprints race.  Too bad.  Another co-worker and her family were now in the suite.  I’d been out on the balcony for most of the time.  We left out of the full parking lot.  Leaving with everyone else out one exit is likely a mess.  

 

Overall, regular ticket prices are around $15 with deals for kids and seniors/military/students.  The facility and people working there are excellent.  The racing action is fun to watch and even just experience.  Dad was elated and Gerald enjoyed it a lot.  I don’t think either are big race fans.  The Concessions were questionable.  Maybe I caught them at a bad time and they’re usually better.  The hot dog was definitely a step up from a stale Aggie hot dog, but well below Chihuahuas’ concessions.

 

Dad announced wanting to go back while he was at the race, so we’ll probably be back sometime.  I’d definitely recommend this venue to anybody.