For many fans, race weekend is as much about family as it is about racing

MARTINSVILLE (WSLS 10) - It's the last weekend in October and that means NASCAR is back in Martinsville.

For many fans, the weekend is about much more than racing.

Michael Moorefield and his family have been camped out at the speedway all week. It's the family's first time camping at the speedway.

"Very excited. Glad to be here. Been camping since Monday," Moorefield said.

He said he's enjoying the sport from this new perspective.

"Just hearing people party, have a good time. Everybody's nice. You couldn't ask for a better time."

He's also enjoying the opportunity to meet new people.

"I've met people from all over the country. My neighbor camper right now is from Alaska."

But, he's not the only one in the family excited to be camping at the speedway.

"We get to hear all the racing and stuff while we're down there camping," said his daughter, Hayley Davidson.

Other campers, like Janice Maroun who flew in from California, said the race is an opportunity for them to be with family they don't get to see very often.

"It's always a big thing for us," Maroun explained. "Actually, we get in line two weeks before the campground opens just so we can get the spot we really like so we can all be together."

Once they're all together, they make the most out of the experience.

"We decorate for the Halloween weekend. We have family, the children, and we just have a lot of fun," said Maroun.

And, that's what race weekend is really all about.

Moorefield said he and his family are already making plans to come back and camp in April for the STP 500.