Elaine Sweidel NASCAR Chronicles: Elaine Sweidel’s office in her San Antonio home is adorned with the kind of NASCAR memorabilia you’d expect to find in the homes of dedicated fans. Yet, what sets her apart is a map of the United States pinned to a bulletin board, representing various tracks on the Cup Series schedule that she’s visited since becoming a fan two decades ago.
Currently, Sweidel has placed 20 pins on her map, each with a date marking her visit. Her ambitious goal is to attend a race at every track hosting a Cup points race. At 67 years old, she knows time is not on her side, stating, “I’m trying to reach this goal, but I’m not getting any younger. I’m trying to squeeze them in by age 75.”
To achieve her dream, each year, Sweidel and her husband, Dave, a retired Air Force veteran with 48 years of service, choose a new track or two to experience. In the 2023 season, their journey included races at Dover, Delaware, and World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, Missouri. Only Pocono, Sonoma, Michigan, the Chicago Street Course, Iowa, and Nashville remain unchecked on her list. Sweidel plans to attend the Nashville race next July and is contemplating a trip to Sonoma.
Sweidel’s path to becoming a NASCAR fan is unique. She didn’t grow up in NASCAR’s traditional southeastern stronghold. As a military child, she lived in various locations worldwide, including graduating from a high school in Germany. After Dave’s Air Force retirement, the couple settled in San Antonio. It was in 2001 that Sweidel’s interest in NASCAR was sparked.
Her nephew, who had graduated that year, took her advice to seek employment at USAA, where she and her husband also worked. As he moved in with the Sweidels before starting his new job, he would watch NASCAR races every weekend. Initially unfamiliar with the sport, Sweidel decided to watch along. In 2005, she attended her first NASCAR race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, a five-hour drive from their home in Fort Worth. Sweidel felt a switch flip inside her, igniting a passion for the sport.
From there, their race attendance grew. In 2007, they drove to Phoenix Raceway when the NASCAR circuit left Texas Motor Speedway, followed by visits to Bristol and Talladega later that season. The couple embraced the idea of making NASCAR races a regular part of their lives.
The stability of the Cup schedule during those years made planning trips relatively easy. Sweidel appreciated the predictability, allowing fans to book travel and accommodations with confidence. But in recent years, NASCAR’s efforts to expand into new markets and revise the schedule have added an element of unpredictability, leading fans like Sweidel to eagerly await each season’s schedule announcement.
The dynamic changes in the schedule bring both excitement and uncertainty. Sweidel understands that some tracks may be removed, as she couldn’t attend races at Chicagoland and Kentucky before they were dropped. As a result, there’s a sense of urgency to visit new tracks before they potentially disappear from NASCAR’s long-term plans.
One advantage that Sweidel and her husband enjoy is the ability to stay on Air Force bases, often at a more reasonable cost than nearby hotels. This helps them manage expenses when traveling to multiple NASCAR races each year.
Sweidel shared a serendipitous moment from their Dover Motor Speedway visit, which was near Dover Air Force Base. When the Cup race was postponed due to rain, they had an extra day and decided to watch a movie. As they walked into the theater, they crossed paths with NASCAR drivers Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Bubba Wallace. Sweidel, a fan of Blaney, took the opportunity to ask for a photo, and he warmly obliged.
The highlight of Sweidel’s NASCAR journey is a jacket covered in patches, commemorating the tracks she’s visited. Some patches were purchased at the tracks, while others required finding historic patches on eBay. The jacket serves as a cherished keepsake, a testament to her adventures, and a symbol of her dedication to the sport. She even intends to be buried in it, with a goal of accumulating at least 25 patches, saying, “I love it so much.”
Elaine Sweidel’s remarkable commitment to attending races at various NASCAR tracks around the country is a testament to her passion for the sport and her determination to reach her goal, one track at a time.
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