BROOKLYN, MI. – Thousands of NASCAR fans converged on Michigan International Speedway for the Pure Michigan 400 on Sunday, Aug. 13. Many of them brought along a significant other.
Some were dragged, some came willingly but reluctantly and others came enthusiastically. Most of them, though, said they have a connection through NASCAR racing.
NASCAR races are something Pat and Molly June of Adrian have in common, which they said is important after 30 years of marriage.
Racing actually brought Wally Luttermoser and Jen Inman together. They met last August in the infield at MIS and plan on attending both races every year together from now on.
Dennis and Lois Reed of Buchanan met in high school but discovered that NASCAR races are something that brings them closer together.
They spend their vacation going to different races. Sunday was their fourth race at MIS. They have also been to Daytona and plan on eventually making it to Bristol and Talladega.
Janet Hunter of Allegan surprised her husband, Craig, with a trip to MIS six years ago for their anniversary.
“He was in love,” Janet Hunter said. “If he wasn’t my husband then, he would have been.”
They’ve been coming to the track ever since.
TJ and Melissa Clement of Castle Rock, Colo. were visiting for a friend’s wedding and decided to attend their first race at MIS. TJ has been a race fan more than 25 years and Melissa has chosen to embrace it.
“It’s one of those things where your partner loves something so you can choose to embrace it or not,” she said.
The Clements were with Ron and Megan Gilbert of Portland, Ore. who were also in town for the wedding. Megan supports Ron’s NASCAR habit and attended the race on Sunday. But she typically lets him watch on his own.
“It makes for a good Sunday afternoon, Ron Gilbert said. “She goes shopping and I go watch the race with a buddy.”
Some couples bond over their favorite driver like Craig and Tonya Atwell of Harrison, who both support Kevin Harvick.
Others, such as John and Irene Tome of Toronto, make it more of a competition. He cheers for Jimmie Johnson, but she supports Martin Truex Jr. because she said she had to pick someone different.