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ROOKIE FOODS AND DRIVERS MAKE COKE 600 DEBUTS

NASCAR Newcomers Sample Charlotte Motor Speedway Cuisine

by Matthew Dillner, Speedeats.com

The Coca-Cola 600 is the granddaddy of all endurance Stock Car races. It’s a race that is typically dominated by the wiley veterans of NASCAR but at times, a youngster has come out on top.

Recently, some of the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series were part of a press luncheon at Charlotte Motor Speedway to discuss preparing for their first Coke 600. The yellow-stripe drivers were joined by some other rookies, of the tasty variety, that are set to make their Charlotte debut in May.

“We have such a fabulous group of fun fan foods that we are serving in May this year, “ says Charlotte Motor Speedway VP of Communications Scott Cooper. “We have some fan favorites and some new items.”

The NASCAR rookies had the floor to talk about preparing for their first 600 while sampling some of the wide array of dishes that will be served to NASCAR fans during the All-Star and Coke 600 race weekends.

Some of the Sunoco Rookie class tore into the new cuisine, while others took a backseat and decided to watch the media and fellow competitors try it out.

“I tried everything,” said BK Racing driver Alex Bowman. “It was all really good and I was really impressed. There was nothing I didn’t like. The Bacon Funnel Cake is really good.”

“We’ve brought back some old favorites like our funnel-cake “Funnel Bakaconator,” added Cooper while taking a bite of the powdery treat. “It’s one of my favorite deserts. It’s a huge funnel cake covered in chocolate, bacon and powdered sugar. We have a new item to go with it this year. We worked with a local creamery in Mooresville named Front Porch Creamery to develop a signature flavor for Charlotte Motor Speedway. Our fans, through a contest on our Facebook, named it “Burnout Blast.”

“I didn’t try it,” said Michael Annett, driver of the #7 TBR Racing entry. “I love Funnel cake though. I actually had a funnel cake at a Charlotte Knights game yesterday so I can’t do it two days in a row.”

“I fear the funnel cake baconator a little,” admitted Cole Whitt. “The bacon part sounds pretty good to me though. I’m not big on sweets. I’m a meatatarian.”

“I was impressed with the food,” says RCR rookie Austin Dillon. “There are definitely some new foods at the racetrack. It’s not just cheeseburgers and hot dogs anymore. We’ve got stuff like Krispy Kreme burgers.”

That Krispy Kreme burger was the star of the show at the luncheon. A Krispy Kreme burger you ask? It’s a hearty ground beef patty with cheese surrounded by the sugary sweetness of a grilled Krispy Kreme donut.

Alex Bowman agree with most that it bordered on bizarre. “The Krispy Kreme burger might be the best,” said Bowman. “I’ve never had that. I’ve had burgers with Eggs but I feel like that’s normal now. That’s the weirdest burger I’ve ever eaten.”

His BK Racing teammate Ryan Truex loved them. “I tried the Krispy Kreme sliders and they were great,” said the Mayetta, NJ native. “I was going to try the other stuff but we ran out of time. I liked those. It was different.

Other rookies opted out for some good reasons.

“I started my diet yesterday,” said Michael Annett. “I try to avoid Krispy Kreme as much as possible and to add a cheeseburger to it is about the worse thing I can do for that diet.”

“I’m not on a strict diet,” claimed Kyle Larson, who tops the rookie class 13th in Series’ points. “It seems Donuts make me rush to the bathroom real quick so I’m not going to do that.”

Aside from the hearty headline making menu items, Charlotte Motor Speedway will be offering several foods specifically geared for the health conscious race fan.

“We have some healthier options to satisfy ever fan,” added Scott Cooper. “We worked with a celebrity chef named Lorena Garcia, who has been on the Food Network, Bravo and NBC. She worked with the chefs here with Levy Restaurants to develop some healthier items. This is not just a special menu to be served in a suite; this is food available to our fans. One of the items is a very tasty Carnitas Taco. They are delicious. They are going to be served as a part of our Danica Fit Fuel Stand. The Danica Fit Fuel Stand will also feature choices like fruit cups, vegetable sticks and some Gluten Free items.”

Austin Dillon was a big fan of the healthy options. The driver of the #3 downed a good size plate before going up on stage for the event. “I do like the Carnitas tacos a lot,” said Dillon. “The Danica Salad was real good too.”

Most of the seven drivers at the Charlotte Motor Speedway event admitted that healthy options were important for them as well as for race fans. Some have been busy for weeks training for their first experience racing a Cup car for 600-mile race.

“All of us have been doing a great job in training and at the Gym,” said Truex. “It’s going to be tough. I get out of a 500-mile race and I’m like man, I was in there forever. 600-miles is going to be a different ballgame but I’m looking forward to the challenge.

The training methods do vary from driver to driver. Some exercise, some diet and some used have an unorthodox but effective approach to the long-distance affair.

“I’ve been working my bladder out trying to increase its size so I don’t have to go pee,” said a smiling Kyle Larson.

Rookie Justin Allgaier has been busy running and cycling outdoors to get ready for the 600.

“When you get done with a race your muscles aren’t sore but you are so hot and exhausted from the heat,” explained Allgaier. “I heard a long time ago that Bobby Allison used to drive around in the summer-time with their windows rolled down and the heater on. I tried that when I was younger but it works. You are miserable when you do it. It’s crazy how much heat conditioning is involved in being able to make it 600-miles.”

And for the fans that will watch these drivers endure 600-miles, they will have a variety of fun chow-down choices in the grandstands.

“We are trying to have fun with it and let the fans have some fun choices,” said Cooper. “When you go to an event you don’t want to eat the same thing every time. You want to see and try something different and have some wow-fun foods for them this May.”

“We get to eat pretty good at the NASCAR races,” said Cole Whitt. “I remember growing up and all we ate going to races was Burger King, which worked out well because I know driver for them. So, it was burgers on the way to the track, and some at the track and on the way home. That’s what you did. People eat pretty good at the racetrack now.

The Rookies of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series met some new foods while at a Coke 600 Luncheon.

Several media members sampled the food, while only a few drivers filled a plate.

Davis Shaefer, Public Relations for Kyle Larson, takes one for the team and tries a Krispy Kreme burger since his driver opted out.

A tasty salad was one of the options served that will give fans a healthy alternative at Charlotte Motor Speedway. These choices can be found at the Danic Fit Fuel Stand.