Homestead's Petty Driving Experience: The 150-mph Ride of your Life

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Reporter Sarah Elder zips up her firesuit, standard safety equipment for NASCAR drivers.

Photo Credit: Trevor Green

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The author can report that the racing helmet sure pinches the cheeks.

Photo Credit: Trevor Green

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Sarah Elder receives final instructions before her 150-mph ride at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Photo Credit: Trevor Green

At Homestead Miami Speedway, scene of NASCAR's thrilling 2011 finale, the author takes her turn on the track.

Homestead – I can't think.

The sounds of the speedway are overwhelming.

The throat-clearing rumble of a 750-horsepower engine, idling and ready.

The rising roar of a car getting up to speed.

The racing scream of 150 miles per hour.

"Are you nervous?" a speedway official asks.

I shake my head: No. My ride is here.

Race drivers don't use doors; they jump in through the window. I will crawl. Top-heavy in a safety helmet and swimming in my oversized fire suit, I go feet first, wiggle a bit and plop. 

My driver, James Stephenson, is waiting. His red cheeks are squeezed so hard by his helmet they almost touch his nose. It feels like all the heat in Miami has been stuffed into the front seat.  Stephenson and I exchange thumbs up and he leans on the gas...

The Homestead Miami Speedway is hallowed ground, scene of the climax of NASCAR's 2011 season (won this year by Tony Stewart). And Florida is one of auto racing's meccas.

The Daytona International Speedway is NASCAR's holiest shrine and headquarters. Sebring is celebrating 60 years as one of the world's leading destinations for endurance racers. Gainesville is synonymous with dragsters.

The Richard Petty Experience, founded by the NASCAR legend known as "The King," shares the rush with the common man. The experience tours more than 20 NASCAR-racing locations, including Homestead, Daytona and Disney in Florida.

In January 2012, the Walt Disney World Speedway is adding a road racing experience with exotic cars. Drivers will have their pick of these speed divas: a Lamborghini, an Audi R8, Ferrari or a Porsche.

"We've already sold 300 driving experiences," said Mike Bartelli, Chief Marketing Officer of Petty Holdings. "The Ferrari 458 is the most popular. I think it will stay that way."

At Homestead, I chose the ride-along experience. Or you can do it yourself. Either way, it's an adrenalin cocktail of risk, speed and rumble.

On the first turn, Stephenson lets off the gas as the car glides within a few feet of the wall. The g-force sits on my chest like a heavy hand. My body is planted in the seat.

This is what 150 mph feels like.

The green flag goes up. Two more laps.

I understand the risk of going fast. Some faith is required. The drivers know what they are doing. This car was built to keep me safe.

The doors have crush panels, and a protective steel cage is built around the driver's seat. Head and neck restraints have been standard since Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. And every driver wears a flame-retardant suit, gloves, head mask and helmet.

The checkered flag goes up. We're done.

Around the last turn I take in a deep breath.  The three laps took a little more than two minutes.

My feet back on the ground, in stillness, it takes time to adjust to zero.

I think I left part of me on the track after the centrifugal experience of three tight, fast oval loops.  What remains of me might topple at the first try of removing the fire suit.

The engine noise has changed, too. So distracting at first, now I feel a rhythm bouncing off the walls. It sounds like... a growl.

If You Go

Walt Disney Word Speedway
Open seven days a week. Both the Exotic Driving  Experience and the Richard Petty Driving Experience can be booked in advance. Call 1-800- 237-3889 or go to drivepetty.com.
To find out more about the Exotic Driving Experience, visit exoticdriving.com to learn more about the six vehicles offered.

Homestead Miami Speedway
Don't miss Grand Prix, April 28-29, 2012
For information on events, go to homesteadmiamispeedway.com.

Daytona International Speedway
Don't miss the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Jan. 28-29, 2012
For more information on events, go to daytonainternationalspeedway.com.