BROOKLYN — A NASCAR race is more than a sporting event. It’s a vacation, an experience, a way of life.

Some fans, especially first-timers, may need a little help to make the most of the thrill and understand the sport.

So for fans visiting Michigan International Speedway for the first time during the Aug. 19-21 Pure Michigan 400 race weekend, having a fellow race fan give friendly advice when you arrive could be extremely beneficial. That’s exactly what the track’s new MIS Rookie Pit Stop program is designed to do.

Throughout the race weekend, first-time race fans are asked to stop by the MIS Rookie Pit Stop welcome tent and ask a member of the speedway’s Fan Advisory Board (FAB) and some motorsports insiders for tips and advice on how to understand the speedway and the sport of NASCAR.

“Whether you are a newcomer to MIS or a seasoned veteran, we want each and every fan to walk away from the Pure Michigan 400 race weekend with a positive experience,” MIS Director of Guest Services Tim Booth said. “There are so many things to do and experience at MIS on a race weekend, we felt this new program will help first-time fans and new fans engage with members of our Fan Advisory Board and get some great tips on how to make their race weekend a more enjoyable one.”

The program is being initiated as a way to build fan-to-fan relationships with new guests and make sure their first time at MIS is a positive one.

What exactly is wedge? What’s the wave-around rule and what’s a ‘lucky dog’? How does a driver know when to pit and why did they pick that pit road spot? These are some of the things new race fans want and need to know.

Combine a 106,000-seat venue on 1,400 acres, and a 43-car field of 48s, 24s, 88s and 14s – it’s enough to intimidate anyone.

The welcome tent will be located near the main Gate 24 ticket office in the New Holland Fan Plaza. The hours of the welcome tent are as follows:

Friday, Aug. 19
12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 20

8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 21

8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The activities in the welcome tent are not structured or stuffy. This is a simple, one-on-one interaction among the Fan Advisory Board and guests.

The track’s Fan Advisory Board has been instrumental in assisting the speedway with fan initiatives like the Rookie Pit Stop Program. FAB members have been active answering questions on the MISpeedway.com website. Fans can visit the PLAN YOUR VISIT tab on the site and click on the ASK AN MIS FAN link to ask a specific question for the FAB.

A drop-down box allows the fan to select the topic of their question. Subject matter experts are available for questions about everything racetrack-related including traffic, camping, hospitality, pit passes, seating, ticket, gates and facility questions.

It’s like a virtual guide to all things MIS because each FAB member has varying degrees of racetrack experience and knowledge.

“All of the Fan Advisory Board members are excited about the Rookie Pit Stop,” FAB member Mike Carpenter of Walled Lake, Mich., said. “We enjoy and embrace the opportunity to help first-time fans out with their experience during the Pure Michigan 400 race weekend. Our board will help in any way that we can.”

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tickets for the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 21 are as low as $30 while supplies last. Visit MISpeedway.com or call the MIS ticket hotline at 800-354-1010 today to take advantage of great pricing for 2011 events at MIS. The ticket office is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

As always, parking is free at MIS — and the track allows coolers through the gates. Check the speedway’s website for details.

Michigan International Speedway

Friday, Aug. 19

Meijer Pole Day

Saturday, Aug. 20

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series VFW 200
Sunday, Aug. 21

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400