Are you an avid NASCAR fan? Then it’s time to plan a trip to Charlotte, North Carolina! Charlotte is a mecca of all things stock racing related. While you can find NASCAR related attractions that are open year round, we recommended visiting during racing season which runs from February until November. Here are our top picks for a racing themed getaway.
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY
The Charlotte Motor Speedway (Sometimes still called the Lowe’s Motor Speedway) hosts almost 400 racing events per year, including the popular Coca-Cola 600, the Spring All-State Race, the Bank of America 500 as well as other NASCAR Events. Even though the Speedway can hold 140,000 spectators, the events always sell out. Along with the Stock Car track, the Speedway is also home to a Drag Racing track. There’s always a lot going on before the events start, so if you have tickets to a race, plan to arrive early to take it all in.
NASCAR RACING EXPERIENCE
A couple of times a month, the average person has the chance to experience what it feels like to be behind the wheels of a race car with the NASCAR Racing Experience! During these events, you have a chance to either drive solo around the track or leave the driving to an expert and ride in the passenger seat. Either way, you’ll have a new appreciation of NASCAR drivers.
NASCAR HALL OF FAME
Relive the history of NASCAR at their Hall of Fame. You can spend hours or even days exploring all of the exhibits. Get a visual history in the High Octane Theater, before wandering through the ever changing exhibits in the Great Hall. Don’t forget to check out the Hall of Honor where the best of the best are inducted.
ROUSH FENWAY RACING
Roush has one of the largest racing teams in the sport. On weekdays you can visit the Roush Fenway Racing Museum and view trophies and other memorabilia from the team’s winning racers.
When you need to grab a bit to eat, you can still get into the racing theme at these local restaurants:
Lancaster’s Bar-B-Que & Wings
At Lancaster’s, you can enjoy authentic Carolina BBQ pork and delicious and spicy Buffalo wings. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a driver at the restaurant because it’s a local watering hole that’s beloved by many of the drivers. Lancaster’s is located at 9230 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville.
Big Daddy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar
In Mooresville, North Carolina, you will find this family-owned restaurant. While the Oyster Bar may sound like a fancy place, you’ll find a kid-friendly eatery filled with lots of comfort food options. The owners are big NASCAR fans – the restaurant is easy to spot as the roof is decorated with multiple racing cars!
Quaker Steak & Lube
This motorsports themed restaurant is located at 7731 Gateway Lane, in Concord, North Carolina, conveniently close to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR themed memorabilia covers the walls and ceilings and the menu has racing themed dishes like the “Revved-Up Ribeye” and “Stick Shifters”.
Looking for a place to gear-down after a day at the races? InTown Suites offers eight locations in the Charlotte area and a newly launched UpTown Suites property in Concord where you can pump the brakes and crash comfortably after an action-packed NASCAR day.
