It’s cool as hell that’s what it’s like.

Hi, my name is Lauren and I know diddly squat about NASCAR. So of course it's only appropriate and also completely insane that I would have the opportunity to attend the Daytona 500, literally the biggest car race in America. Not only that, but I got to ride in a pace car and now I'm going to tell you about it.

Instagram: @lauren_yapalater

A pace car is basically a car that goes out onto the track after a crash or something to slow everyone down so the track can be checked for debris and cleaned up. They go out in front of the other cars and set the pace for caution laps, hence the name “pace car.” They look like this:

Lauren Yapalater / BuzzFeed

Like I said, I somehow got the opportunity to ride in one. This is me before the big drive:

And no those aren't stains on my shirt that's just like, how the shirt came. I don't want to talk about it.

Lauren Yapalater / BuzzFeed

We arrived to the track on a lovely Daytona Beach morning. It was the day before the Daytona 500 and the track was begging for us to drive on it.

Lauren Yapalater / BuzzFeed

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