Due to uncertain weather conductions and the continued development of monitorable global situations, the scheduled Air Force flyover was canceled the week of the race. However, NASCAR organizers had a truly genius idea.

“After the USAF bailed on us, we looked around and remembered that Embry-Riddle was right next door with their fleet of trainer aircraft. So we called them up and they were more than happy to work with us on such a short notice”, NASCAR media manager Bill Navidson told us in an interview.

Within a day, the folks at NASCAR and ERAU came to an agreement and drafted the flight plan for 28 Cessnas and 10 twin engined Diamonds to fly in formation over the track. The student pilots would break formation after the fly-over and continue on with whatever its flight students do (presumably fly). The whole ordeal was cheap too.

“Pay them? We paid those student pilots with experience and flight hours!”, Bill said. “Hell at this rate we’ll try to book them for the 500 in January too!”

While we’re sure the spectacle of blue, white, and gold Cessnas flying in a sloppy V formation was riveting stuff, some RaceFans™️ were less enthused.

One fan told us, “I was really looking forwards to getting my ear drums burst by a buncha F16s in full afterburner, but instead my mouth tastes a little bit like lead.”

Yeah. I bet it does.