Plan a NASCAR-themed Weekend

April 28, 2014

Beth Shugg, Michele Huggins,

Families who play together stay together. And in this NASCAR-crazed state, families who race together take playing to an entirely different level. Get in on the nonstop thrills by speeding around NASCAR’s Charlotte Motor Speedway, drive go-karts at Concord Mills Mall, and interact with state-of-the-art exhibits at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Feel the Thrill at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and the late Curtis Warner, Charlotte Motor Speedway covers 2,000 acres and stretches 1.5 miles around, with 5-degree banking on the front and back stretches, and 24-degree banking on all four turns.

In addition to May and October race weekends, families can camp at the racetrack year-round. Choose from two daily tours at the speedway: Feel the Thrill Speedway and Over the Wall. The one-hour Feel the Thrill Speedway tour takes you a behind-the-scenes for a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Garage, as well as a trip down Pit Road and ultimately a picture in Victory Circle. Plus you get a comfy van ride around the Superspeedway to feel the full-tilt force of the 24-degree banking. The Over the Wall tour expands on the Feel the Thrill tour by adding tours of the Speedway Club and Performance Racing Network. Tickets cost $10-$20 per person. charlottemotorspeedway.com.

From June through August, Tuesday night Summer Shootouts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway consist of races between Legends cars, Bandoleros and school buses (tickets cost $10; kids under age 13 get in free).

Test Your Speed at the Speedpark
After a tour of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, race each other at the NASCAR-themed Speedpark at Concord Mills, just minutes from Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Speedpark features go karts, racing games, mini-golf and an arcade. Children as young as 3 and at least 36-inches tall can race on the Junior Racer Track. The Pro Track is for anyone 54-inches or taller, and there are two other tracks for teens and adults. You can also race side-by-side down the three-lane, 100-foot Fun Slide! And beginning June 1, guests can ride a new course in The Speedpark’s Monster Truck. thespeedpark.com.

Celebrate Racing Legends at ‘The Hall’
The NASCAR Hall of Fame, located on East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in uptown Charlotte, honors stock racing’s history, drivers and racecars. Plan to spend three or four hours there to fully experience all 50 interactive exhibits and activities. Refuel at the Pit Stop Café and take home a racing souvenir from the Gear Shop. Here are more ways to enjoy “The Hall.”

– Get up close and personal with 18 racecars on the banked ramp of Sunoco Glory Road.

– Watch a film about the history of NASCAR on the High Octane Theater’s 64-foot-wide curved screen.

– Experience the thrill of racing an iRacing Simulator ($5).

– Take the Kobolt Pit Challenge to see how quickly you can jack up a car, change a tire or refuel.

– Walk through a transporter for a first-hand look at a racing team’s nerve center.

– Watch films and view artifacts from the pre-NASCAR era (1948-1971) and modern era (1972-1999).

– Learn about the technical and safety innovations of today’s racecars.

For more information, visit nascarhall.com.