3 Blues race through their day off at NASCAR event – STLtoday.com

PHOENIX, Ariz. •  Blues fans enjoy watching Colton Parayko flying up and down the ice.

Parayko says he likes speed, too, and the defenseman gets his fix in the form of racing.

“Formula One, Indy Car, NASCAR … every series,” the 23-year-old said. “My dad (Tom) has always been a racing fan and every Sunday the races were always on. I used to dirt bike race when I was younger. It’s just something that you start following.”

On the Blues’ day off Sunday in Arizona, Parayko got as close to the action as he’s ever been to the action. He, along with teammates Carter Hutton and Alex Pietrangelo, were part of a group invited to attend the NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 at Phoenix International Raceway.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” Parayko said. “NASCAR really treated us well. We had a couple of individuals that helped us around all day, show the different things. It was as professional as can be. We’re all still pretty high in the clouds.”

The day began with three laps around the one-mile, low-banked oval track, continued with tour of the teams’ trailers, an introduction at the drivers’ pre-race meeting and then to pit lane for the start of the race.

“A lot of drivers came up to us and just shook our hands and thanked us for being there,” Hutton said. “At one point, I hollered over at Ryan Blaney, Parayko’s favorite driver, but obviously he’s too shy to open up his mouth. So I yelled over at him and he thanked us for being there.”

For three NHL players who are used to the brisk breeze inside the rink, it was quite a climate change at the track, where temperatures were close to 100 degrees.

“It was hot,” Pietrangelo said. “I mean it’s pretty remarkable what these guys go through. I think anytime I have an opportunity to watch a different sport live, you get a real different appreciation for it. To see the temperatures that those guys drive in, what they go through to prepare for a race, it’s pretty cool to see.”

Hutton had never seen a professional race in person.

“Seeing it on TV before didn’t do it justice at all,” he said. “These guys are so good, they’re so close to each other and so close to the walls at high speed, it’s amazing what they can do with the car.

“What I found so interesting is they’re recruiting ex-Division I basketball and football players to work in the crew pit because they want great athletes that can be fast. They have their strength and conditioning coaches and their chefs are with them … all the stuff that goes into it, where before I thought they just wheeled up with the car and someone put gas in it and they were good to go.”

There’s strategy involved as well, and veteran Ryan Newman’s decision to stay on the track when the leaders took a pit stop during a caution with six laps remaining allowed him to fend off the competition for his first win since 2013.

“I actually did pick the winner, that’s all I’m going to say,” Pietrangelo said.

The Blues left the track Sunday with lifetime memories.

“I started at the top, so it’s definitely going to be hard to go back and watch from the stands now,” Hutton said.

“We weren’t expecting anything like that and for them to give us that opportunity was pretty special, especially for me since I really enjoy the sport and enjoy watching it,” Parayko said. “I don’t know if we’ll ever get that opportunity to watch a race again. My dad was jealous for sure.”