For six days in February, NASCAR fans from all over the world make an annual pilgrimage to the center of stockcar racing: Daytona Beach, Florida. Among these fans this year was freshman Haley Hartin.

Watching NASCAR has always been a tradition for the Hartin family. Hartin, her father Bruce and his girlfriend made the trip to attend the 57th Annual Daytona 500, along with the Budweiser Duels and the X-Finity races earlier in the week.

Hartin also attended the Daytona 500 race in 2014.

“I went to my first race when I was in first grade. I think I’ve been to around 17 races. I’ve been to Richmond, Charlotte and Daytona,” Hartin said.

Before the Duel Races on Thursday, Feb. 19, the Hartin’s briefly interacted with actor Vince Vaughn, the grand marshal of the 500.

The family was also granted permission by Jim Cassidy, NASCAR’s Vice President of Racing Operations, to go to the pre-race driver’s meeting. After the meeting, Hartin had her picture taken with two-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart, and NASCAR’s eleven-time Most Popular Driver who is also Hartin’s favorite driver Dale Earnhardt Junior. Hartin also got the chance to meet Carl Edwards, a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and the Sprint Cup’s only female driver, Danica Patrick.

“I’m always nervous meeting the drivers because I look up to them, but it’s a great experience,” Hartin said.

The family also had the opportunity to watch the Duel Races from pit road, and when Earnhardt won the first Duel Race, they went to Victory Lane to join in on the celebration.

“It was amazing,” Hartin said. “I never thought I would get such an awesome experience like that. But when they opened the gates to let some of us in it was just shocking, in a good way. I felt great and I was thinking how crazy lucky I was to be there.”

After the celebration was over, the Hartin’s attended the post-race interview with Earnhardt and his new crew chief, Greg Ives.

“I learned a lot from that because he just talked about so much information and I got to hear how it all works,” Hartin said.

The Hartin’s attended the X-Finity race on Saturday, Feb. 21, won by Kevin Harvick.

On Sunday, Feb. 22 the Hartin’s attended the Daytona 500, however, they got to see it from a different perspective than most race fans, as they watched from Earnhardt’s stop on pit road.

“I’m not really sure who it was who got us onto pit road, I wish I did because it was an amazing experience and I would’ve liked to thank him for it,” said Hartin.

Although driver Joey Logano ended up with the win, Hartin still had a unforgettable time.

“The overall experience was exciting, amazing and unbelievable. Being there for the wrecks is different from watching it on tv,” Hartin said. “My favorite thing about NASCAR is the fast cars, seeing them fly around the track is awesome and I love it. ”

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