Ginger Dog
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Indianapolis. The battle of the north. A place where the weather is as unpredictable as the winners. A land where the dirt is gummy and rutty and everyone is sure to complain about it. I get the rut whining though. I got to walk the track this year and dear Lord, it was something. If I had laid my four-year-old down in one of those he would have disappeared.
As the night wore on the boys were separated from the men. I mean literally separated. More than a few guys took a slide across the dirt and found themselves at the back of the pack or just out of the race completely. The night was insane and full of energy. I could rant all day about how much I love this dang sport but I’ll spare you (kind of).
Here are my top 10 takeaways and favorite moments from the night.
1. Haiden Deegan charged the podium. Even the catch net couldn’t stop his speed. Watching that kid race live had my jaw on the floor. When it’s all said and done he gets on the podium to interview and isn’t even breaking a sweat. He’s unreal.
2. Mookie winning the heat race had the whole stadium hyped.
3. There isn’t anyone quite like a cowboy fan. They bring a whole new meaning to the term “committed.” My kids learned what the middle finger was this past weekend because AP fans were not pleased with Justin Barcia. They sure taught him a lesson.
4. Standing on the podium during opening ceremonies was surreal. Also, I didn’t realize until that moment that Webb is a short king. A short king that is now 15 points ahead of Sexton.
5. Seth Hammaker is the Jon Snow of Indy.
6. Chiz is always gonna Chiz. I really hope that wasn’t the last time I see him race live before he retires. T, we have some more races to attend.
7. I loved seeing Colts player Kenny Moore II at the race. He was out there waving flags and soaking it all in. Football and dirtbikes. Two of my favorite things meshed together. How cool.
8. Hunter Yoder won the LCQ and made it to the main. My kids got to meet him earlier in the day and he is genuinely one of the nicest dudes. Hunter, my kids were screaming for you that entire race. You have some committed fans in the Bendgen family.
9. Lucas Oil might have the best stadium chicken tendies.
10. Feld puts on some really amazing VIP fan experiences. If it’s something you have been considering, you really should do it. It’s core memory kinda stuff. Zoe and Chelsea at the Champions Lounge were top tier. They were personable and truly invested in making sure we had everything we needed. If you’re looking for a next level SX encounter, VIP experiences are the way to go. From the track walk, to opening ceremonies on the podium, your options are endless. Most importantly, they are unforgettable. Sean Brennen, thank you for making this all happen.
Images: @octopi.media
