THE GOVX 200 NASCAR RACE: IN REVIEW
One last look back at the laps, leaders, and legendary moments.
By: Devin Pangaro
In the very early hours of Thursday, March 6th a contingent of GOVX employees loaded into a multi-seat sprinter van stocked with official swag, display products, booth set-up equipment, and curiously enough...sandbags. Over the next 300 miles, the excitement built exponentially as Dutch Bros. drinks were consumed, pre-prepared playlists raged over the speakers, and discussions were held on just how undeniably thrilling it was that we were really doing this.
To catch you up, we had the honorable distinction of serving as the title sponsor, a prestigious designation that established the March 8th Spring NASCAR Xfinity Series race held at Phoenix Raceway as the inaugural GOVX 200. In short, this was massive for the team, our NASCAR partnership, and GOVX as a whole.
7 MASSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
7. THE DAY BEGAN WITH A 100+MPH TOUR OF THE TRACK
Before we dispersed to our main posts for the GOVX 200, the team was treated to a pre-race NASCAR pace car tour of the historic Phoenix Raceway track. For many of us, it was our first time both on a NASCAR track and in a pace car, and for me, it represented something of a bucket list item.
In just a single lap, we were given a sneak preview at what it takes to maneuver the sharp turns at triple digit speeds and marvel at the skill necessary to do so for hundreds of miles at a time. This was complimented by a guided tour of the garages and Phoenix Raceway infield, and helped set the tone for what was to come.
6. THE MIDWAY SERVED AS THE GOVX PIT BOX
No, we're not talking about “America’s Living Symbol of Freedom” - The USS Midway. In this case, the midway area is basically a giant concourse area within the Phoenix Raceway grounds where fans can enjoy a variety of attractions, entertainment options, and food (s/o Rudy’s Trackside) before they get to their seats.
This is where we had our booth set-up for the big race, complete with cornhole boards, a YETI cooler giveaway, and plenty of discount code coupons and freebies to give out. We even got a front row view as NASCAR legend Kyle Busch sat down for an interview just a few feet away from our station.
5. THE GOVX COMMUNITY ROLLED DEEP
Thousands deep, to be specific. Over the course of the race, we had the privilege of meeting a legion of existing GOVX members as they stopped by to claim their limited edition GOVX 200 Challenge Coins and chat. Personally, this was an extremely rewarding experience, as the opportunity to interact with those who serve and express my gratitude in person cannot be understated.
Over the course of the day, we met with multiple Vietnam Veterans, as well as various Arizona-based EMS workers, law enforcement officers, and active duty servicemembers. If you’re reading this, a special thank you to the correctional officer who was gracious enough to drop some stories about what it’s like to work on Death Row.
As another bonus, we were also able to rub shoulders with various educators, government and medical services workers who either were new to GOVX as a whole or didn’t even realize they qualified for membership. Being able to evangelize what we do, why we do it, and what we have to offer as 40,000+ NASCAR fans flooded the gates was a major part of what made the weekend a success.
4. OUR LOGO WAS EVERYWHERE (AND WE MEAN EVERYWHERE)
So as mentioned before, Team GOVX stormed into town on Thursday. By Friday morning, we dealt with a literal freak storm while setting up for Saturday’s GOVX 200. Not going to say it was easy, but hey, nothing worth doing ever is. In preparation for the big event, we lugged our 24x6 GOVX inflatable up the ominously named Rattlesnake Hill overlooking the track, found a good spot, and weighed it down with the unusually useful sandbags. The iconic hillside provided a killer backdrop to the event and a spectacular vantage point to watch for NASCAR fans willing to make the trek.
Our big bubbly-lettered boy got plenty of shine time on the live CW broadcast, as did our track signage, official race logo, and mighty GOVX 200 Victory Trophy (more on that in a minute). Even the GOVX booth made a quick cameo coming back from a stage break.
3.THE GUESTS OF HONOR GOT IT STARTED
Traditionally, a Grand Marshal serves a dignitary role at a NASCAR event and are tasked with the ceremonial duty of delivering the iconic “Drivers, start your engines!” line marking the start of the race. For the GOVX 200, we happened to have two. Actors Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption, Starship Troopers) and Luke Cook (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, S.W.A.T.) from The CW’s Good Cop/Bad Cop series did the honors.
Additionally, Brigadier General David J. Berkland, Commander of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base was also on hand to serve as the Honorary Starter, dropping the green flag as the field charges through the tri-oval to start the race. General Berkland later joined us for a meet and greet in the GOVX suite.
2. IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THE LAST LAP AND A RIDICULOUS PHOTO FINISH
Oh yeah, there was a RACE. A pure overtime thriller, the GOVX 200 brought the thrills from start to finish through late lead changes, controversial door-to-door contact and the 26th closest finish in Xfinity Series history (and 2nd closest in track history).
When it was all said and done, it was Aric Almirola securing an early 41st birthday present for himself by finishing just 0.045 second ahead of a hot-on-his-heels Alex Bowman. For Almirola, it was his eighth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season. The win represented something of an upset, with Justin Allgaier in control for much of the GOVX 200, leading for 135 laps before ultimately falling to 5th.
1. IT GOT SUPER LIT IN VICTORY LANE
First things first, if you’ve never seen a victory burnout live and in person, you’re missing out. It’s quite possibly one of the coolest celebratory moments in sports. Immediately following the race, Team GOVX made a mad dash down to the infield and Victory Lane to welcome Aric Almirola and his racing team to the Winner’s Circle.
From there, our very own Aaron Pelander, Chief Brand Officer of GOVX took the stage to present Almirola with the inaugural GOVX 200 trophy. Our design team put in a ton of effort to make this trophy stand out while retaining an extreme level of badassery. Safe to say, they understood the assignment.
After that we assembled our teams for an epic social-media shattering group photo. As the crowd began to file out and the commotion calmed, I took a moment to just take it all in.
Although we’d be back at the track about 12 hours later to watch Christopher Bell secure his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series win at the Shriners Children’s 500, this day felt like it belonged to the GOVX community – and that made it well worth the effort.
