When I am on the road announcing a night race, I usually set the limit of 250 or less and I am driving home. That is with one exception, the Mohave Valley Raceway in Arizona. It is about 231 miles. If I have someone with me, I drive home from there. Alone, no way. 140 miles of that trip is through the desert. With the exception of a couple rest stops and gas stations, there is nothing and that includes lights. Great desert landscapes in the daylight, but on a moonless night, it is like driving in a dark tunnel. Not the place to be driving if you are tired. I announced the USAC/CRA there this past Saturday, got about four hours sleep at the hotel and left for home at 4:45 AM. Still drove about halfway through it in the dark but being rested, it was fine. If I have someone with me after a race there, I make that drive, but never alone. These days in California where I live ( about 35 miles east of Los Angeles) there are only three oval tracks within 100 miles of my home. Perris, Irwindale and the Orange Show Speedway.

25 years ago my weekly routine was:

FRIDAY - Drive from St Louis to Gas City (5 hours one way). Stay over in Indy.
SATURDAY – 16th Street or Putnamville. Sometimes both! Then drive back to St Louis (3-4 hours). I was often home by 3-4am.
SUNDAY – Get up and drive to Haubstadt (2.5 hours). See the show there then drive home (2.5 hours). Get a few hours sleep and back to work Monday morning fresh as a daisy.

I loved every minute of it, but I just can’t do that anymore. These days, I’m perfectly content on going to one, maybe two, special shows per month. That’s it. If I have to drive more than couple hours, I’ll splurge for a hotel.