I am a NASCAR obsessed nut, and I make no qualms about it. This year I had the chance to attend the August race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. It should have been simple; I planned to drive up on Saturday night, go to the race on Sunday, and then drive back to Ohio that night. Instead I woke up Sunday morning to storms that shook the whole hotel, and rain so extreme that everyone at the track knew the race would be cancelled, which it was at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

I had two choices; find an overpriced hotel for the night, or drive back to Ohio and make the return trip to Brooklyn the next morning. I decided to go home, and had a day of rest when the race was once again postponed. The Sunday race was eventually scheduled for Tuesday morning at 10 am. That's where my road trip horror story starts.

The drive from Ohio to Brooklyn was between 3-4 hours, and I left my house at 6 am, planning on arriving in town just as the race started. I made good time all the way up Interstate 75, until I noticed the "Road Closed" signs. How could the road be closed? This is the major highway through the entire state! Thinking it was a mistake, and that it was actually just one lane closed, I pressed forward. And yes, I-75 really was closed, due to massive flooding from the 3 day storm.

They directed us to a smaller town, down to a 2 lane road, and onto a smaller highway. Eventually this highway would lead to another road, which would circle back around to I-75. After ten minutes, we reached the detour, and traffic was backed up 7 miles. After a quick look at the atlas, I found a faster way around the detour and headed west.

I slipped off the major highway onto a series of back roads that would eventually lead me into Michigan. The first warning was the houses with water up past their foundations, and houses that were surrounded by water, making them look like small islands. My "shortcut" did cut at least 15 minutes off the trip, until I found the Department of Transportation workers. They warned me that the roads were rough ahead, but I kept going.

After a few miles of sloshing through water 2-3 foot deep, I came across another group of workers, and this time I was turned back. "You can't pass through." They refused to let me drive any further because the roads were literally impassable. I had to turn around completely and re-trace my route.

My 3 hour trip to Brooklyn, Michigan? It turned into nearly seven hours stuck in a car by myself. I made it to the track just in time to see the last 50 laps. Even worse? It took another 6 to make it back home that same night.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Eblin.
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