Fans at Michigan International Speedway rise as drivers take their pace laps. Credit: Autostock

Tailgating: Michigan

The birthplace of the automobile is the apt host for this week's race. Michigan International Speedway is actually located in Brooklyn, Mich., -- 67 miles southwest of Detroit -- in the beautiful Irish Hills.

MIS sits on U.S. Highway 12 in Brooklyn, one mile west of M-50. The track is:

MICHIGAN INT'L SPEEDWAY •   Buy tickets! •   Book last-minute travel •   Track page •   Official Web site

• 18 miles southeast of Jackson, Michigan
• 38 miles from U.S. 23 and I-94
• 55 miles from I-96 Interchange at Lansing, Michigan
• 58 miles from I-75 Interchange at Toledo, Ohio
• 67 miles southwest of Detroit, Michigan

Review the speedway's inbound and outbound maps before you head out. Plan a route that puts you in a parking lot as close to your seat as possible and where you can leave with the least amount of hassle. It looks like there may be some construction going on near the speedway, so be aware.

Road work and traffic updates: Michigan DOT, 760 AM-WJR Detroit

Speedway Parking: Day parking on MIS property is free of charge. Overnight parking in these lots is not permitted.

	Fans get up close and personal with Jeff Gordon. Credit: Autostock
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Speedway camping: Call 1-800-354-1010 for reservations and availability. There are six campgrounds. All campgrounds include: Showers, portable restrooms, dump station and fresh water.

Private camping and parking: I found five private campgrounds within about half a mile from the ticket office. They are located all around the track (M-50 and Hwy 12), so find one that is most convenient for your seats.

Each fan is permitted to bring into the grandstands:

• One soft-sided bag/cooler, no larger than 6 x 6 x 12 inches. Examples include soft-sided cooler (may contain removable plastic liner), scanner bag, fanny pack, purse, binocular bag, etc. This one bag may be carried in any manner, (i.e. by handle, with shoulder straps, on a belt, etc.). The soft-sided cooler may contain ice and/or freezer packs.

• One clear plastic bag, no larger than 18 x 18 x 4 inches. Clear plastic bags may not contain ice or freezer packs.

• Binoculars, scanners, headsets, cameras (not in a bag) worn separately over the neck or on the belt are also allowed. Standard seat cushions and stadium seats carried separately are also allowed and will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Michigan is another track that has good access to the drivers from the infield. pre-race pit passes are $50 and are valid all three days of the event weekend.

The AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza at the speedway offers a newly redesigned area for merchandise trailers, corporate displays and a plaza area where fans can relax and view the Walk of Champions.

Cascade Falls Park in nearby Jackson. The park has paddle boat rides, miniature golf, an outdoor basketball court, horseshoe pits, four tennis courts, playground and picnic areas and a shelter (by reservation). Also included in the park is a pier for handicapped fishing, the Cascades Short Course and driving range, and the Cascades 18-hole championship golf course.

An overhead view of MIS. Credit: Autostock

If you decide to visit Detroit, check out the Belle Isle Aquarium, the oldest continuously operating public aquarium in North America. This aquarium features unique displays, electric eels, freshwater stingrays, and coral reef fish. Belle Isle is located in the middle of the Detroit River, about 2.5 miles east of downtown Detroit. Also located on Belle Island, a 1,000 acre island, is a beach, zoo, athletic complex, casino, fishing piers, conservatory and a golf course.

Detroit Zoo - One of the country's largest zoos, this zoo features hundreds of exotic animals, a wildlife interpretive center, an amphibian research center, a butterfly and hummingbird garden, and much more. There is also an art gallery, theater, and multimedia interactive exhibits located here.

A visit to Michigan would not be complete without a trip to the Henry Ford Estate. Tour the 56-room mansion and see many personal artifacts, Mr. Ford's personal garage and cars, and the giant generators placed by Henry Ford and Thomas Edison that still generate electricity today.

Roush Automotive Collection open house and autograph session, Thurs., June 15, 5-8 p.m. Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Eric Darnell, David Ragan and Michel Jourdain will be on hand until 6:30. Parking and shuttle service to the Roush Automotive Collection will be available at Madonna University located on the northwest corner of Levan Rd. and Schoolcraft (I-96) in Livonia. Shuttle service will begin at 2 p.m. and will run until 8:30 p.m.

Jo Ann Hlavac is the producer of Laidbackracing.com, a fan site devoted to NASCAR tailgating. The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.