Why Should Race Car Drivers Have All the Fun?

Why Should Race Car Drivers Have All the Fun?

FUN WITH CARS IN CABARRUS COUNTY

BY: JASON HUDDLE

In the Spring and Fall each year, we watch NASCAR drivers rip around Charlotte Motor Speedway at speeds close to 200 miles per hour. It’s only natural for one to wonder what that feels like. For car fans, there is something about not just watching a race, but being in it, or being able to get up close with those famous cars that instill vivid childhood memories and leave lasting impressions.

Fortunately, this is Cabarrus County and racing is what we do. There are several museums, interactive racing experiences, and even opportunities to take your own family cruiser on the dragstrip to battle your nextdoor neighbor. Here are some popular and exciting opportunities which are available this summer for you.

Off to the Races

Photo Courtesy: Charlotte Motor Speedway

FRIDAY NIGHT DRAGS: June 14-Aug. 23 (Friday nights, except July 5)

Outlaw Drag Wars, at zMAX Dragway, has several opportunities for fans to ‘light the tree’ and ‘mash the loud pedal’.

Hot rods, street rods and junior dragsters take to zMAX Dragway’s quarter-mile each Friday through August 23 (except July 5) in all-out battles for drag-racing supremacy. As an ode to the “run what you brung” philosophy of drag racing, fans can enter their personal cars or motorcycles – dubbed “grocery getters” – in competition for $30.

New for this year are elimination races, which provide trophies and prizes to the fastest shoes on the strip in five different categories. Look for E10Drift drift-car shows, as well as races for genuine NHRA-style Wallys on June 14 and August 23. These are the same trophies NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car winners claim.

BOJANGLES’ SUMMER SHOOTOUT: June 10-July 30 (2 Monday nights/8 Tuesday nights)

The Bojangle’s Summer Shootout Series is a fun and inexpensive way to spend summer nights with the Family at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Photo Courtesy: Charlotte Motor Speedway

Many future stars of NASCAR began their careers on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s front stretch quarter-mile oval in the summer. Now, the Bojangles’ Summer Shootout is gearing up for its

26th season. This is a grassroots racing series comprised of Legend Cars and Bandoleros. The 8-week series gives rising-star racers as young as eight years old a chance to shine on the same track as past Shootout alumni including Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon and Daniel Hemric.

In addition to the hard-nosed racing action, fans can enjoy spectacular “halftime” entertainment including school bus races and power-wheels races. Fans get in for $8 each night, while kids 13 and under get are free.

STOCK CAR RACING EXPERIENCES

There are few feelings that equate to pushing 150 miles per hour, or more, behind the wheel of a car. There are several companies which provide exactly that. Thrill-seekers can take a ride alongside a driving instructor, or strap in for the ride of a lifetime in a genuine NASCAR race car to fully appreciate the spectacle that is competition in the world’s best stock car racing series. Most providers offer ride-alongs, as well as driving experiences that suit every fan’s need and budget. You can enjoy the NASCAR Racing Experience through the Charlotte Motor Speedway, but there are also Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Fast Track Driving School, as well. Visit www.nascarracingexperience. com, www.fasttrackracing.com or www.drivepetty.com/ for more information.

NASCAR Driving Experience (Above) and K-1 Speed (Below) offer drivers the opportunity to put themselves behind the wheel and experience real competition.

Photos used courtesy: Visit Cabarrus

DRAGSTRIP EXPERIENCE

If all-out speed is your thing, you may want to try out Pure Speed Drag Experience at zMAX Dragway. Drive experiences start with a half-day course where you can take the wheel of a dragster, or let one of the professional instructors take you for the ride of your life in a newly designed two-seat S&W Big Block Chevy powered dragster. The experience even includes a smokey burnout. For more information, visit www. purespeedracing.com.

INDY EXPERIENCE

Just because this is the south, doesn’t mean you can’t also enjoy the Indy car experience as well. The Mario Andretti Racing Experience puts you behind the wheel of a Formula-1 car. There is no instructor sitting with you, but there is one in your ear. It’s just you and the road. Options vary on ability, from ‘Rookie’ to ‘World Champion’. Visit www.andrettiracing.com for more information.

Fans can feel what it’s like to be a race car driver through places like NASCAR Driving Experience or show off their Go-Kart Skills at the Speedpark at Concord Mills or K-1 Speed.

GO-KART RACING

Go-Karts aren’t just for kids, Mario, or his friends anymore. Now, adults can race on local indoor and outdoor tracks at speeds that might make even thrill junkies nervous. Bad weather is no problem at K-1 Speed. Here, the all-electric karts provide a driving experience like no other, and the professionally designed indoor

track will challenge even veteran racers. If you like the outdoor air in your face, then the Speedpark at Concord Mills might be for you. Equipped with 4 go-kart tracks, as well as bungee jumping and a mini-golf course, there’s something for the entire family. Visit www. thespeedpark.com or www. k1speed.com/concord-location for more information.

The Need for Speed!

There are plenty of auto museums and race shops to tour in and around Cabarrus County. Charlotte Motor Speedway also hosts monthly “cruise-in” style events known as “Cars and Coffee” on the third Saturday of each month (excluding May and October), from 7 to 10 a.m. (bottom photo).

Photos used courtesy: Visit Cabarrus

Backing Up Classics Museum

Photos used courtesy: Visit Cabarrus

Roush Fenway Racing

Photo Credit: Kimberly Brouillette

Cars and Coffee at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Photos used courtesy: Charlotte Motor Speedway

SPEEDWAY TOURS

For some, just being there is enough. Charlotte Motor Speedway has a variety of tours available to fans that allow them to experience for perspective of the racecar driver, without the death-defying speeds, as well as behind the scenes access that the public rarely sees. You can visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/ experiences/speedway-tours to plan your experience.

FORD EXPERIENCE TOUR

New this year is the Ford Experience Tour, where you can stroll through the new Mustang Owner’s Museum (featured in this month’s issue of CM), go behind the scenes at Roush Racing, then grab a swag bag and visit the Cabarrus Visitor’s Bureau and end up with a van ride around the mile and a half oval track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

MUSEUMS AND RACE SHOPS

Cabarrus County has several auto museums where enthusiasts can get up close and personal with cars of the past. To begin with, Backing

Up Classics Motor Car museum has more than 50 vehicles on display in an 18,000 square-foot building that sits in the shadow of Charlotte Motor Speedway. The museum features classics, antiques, 50s, 60s, muscle cars and a gift shop fully stocked with NASCAR merchandise and automotive collectibles. Visit www. backingupclassics.com for hours and ticket information.

Curb Motorsports Museum, located in Kannapolis, showcases NASCAR, Indy and modified race cars, as well as LeeAnn Rimes’ very first car, a 1995 black Dodge Viper. Two rare glimpses of NASCAR history are on display in the #2 car that Dale Earnhardt drove in his 1st Winston Cup Championship, and the #43 car Richard Petty drove in his 199th Winston Cup win. Petty’s sistercar, the one he drove for his 200th Winston Cup win, now resides at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. Displayed among the auto racing memorabilia are gold record awards, autographed posters from country and pop superstars, and tons of photos of recording artists. You can

visit www.mikecurb.com/motorsports for more information on the museum and its founder, Mike Curb.

Several race shops call Cabarrus County home and that means you have access to real race cars. Chip Gnassi Racing, Roush Fenway Racing and Stewart-Haas racing are all located within the county, and provide opportunities for visitors to view authentic race cars. Tours are sometimes available, as well. For a complete list of race shops open to the public in and around Cabarrus County, visit www.visitcabarrus.com.

Writer’s note: Special thanks to the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Cabarrus Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for providing photography and much of the information found in this article.