For those of you who have been following my blog for a while now, you’ll know that one of my favorite topics to cover is traveling. I love exploring new places and seeing the sights. Now that the dust has settled on the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s time to dust off those travel plans and get exploring!
One of the best places to explore travel in the U.S.A is none other than Charlotte Motor Speedway. Located in North Carolina near the South border, Charlotte is home to one of the most historic motorsports venues in the world. It was established in 1950 and has played host to some pretty legendary racing events, including the 1960, 1969, and 1971 NASCAR Grand Slams.
If there’s one thing that Charlotte is known for it’s its speedways. The facility spans over 400 acres containing three distinct tracks: the.526-mile track, the.875-mile track, and the.375-mile ultra-fast tri-oval. If you’ve never been there, here’s a brief primer on what you can expect — it’s pretty much everything you want from a motorsport venue.
Three Legendary Tracks
At Charlotte, you’ll find three different tracks. The first is the 1.2-mile quad-oval concrete track. This is the longest track at the facility and is mainly used for practice and qualifying. It is also one of the most famous tracks in the world, being home to the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, one of the most important NASCAR races of the year. This track is often referred to as the “oval” or the “triangle”.
The second track is the 2.305-mile quad-oval concrete speedway. This track was also built in 1950 and has seen a lot of high profile racing events, including the All-Star Race, the Coca-Cola 500, the Busch Grand National Series, and the Monster Energy Cup Series. This is the main track where NASCAR races take place. It is named after the founder of NASCAR, Bill France.
The third track is the.375-mile tri-oval. This is the smallest track at Charlotte and is used mostly for qualifying. It is also the only one that is paved (concrete). It was originally built in the 1960s as a Formula One track but was later converted to a NASCAR track. The tri-oval is essentially a short oval that leads into the complex. At the end of the tri-oval is a sharp 90-degree turn into the infield, which leads to the track’s grandstands. These are the stands that extend down the track’s backstretch. At the end of the grandstands is a high wall that leads to the infield. Access to the infield is prohibited beyond this point. In addition to the above, the backstretch also features a large wooden shed that housed the scoreboard until the end of the 1990s. You’ll also find numerous iconic structures and landmarks that are a part of NASCAR‘s heritage at this track.
There is also a fourth track, the.526-mile quad-oval concrete track, located beyond the wall that separates the spectator areas from the racing areas. This track is similar to the other three but is shallower, which makes it more suitable for practice runs. It is sometimes used as an extension track if the other three are also used for racing events. This track was built in the same era as the other three and is similar in size and shape. However, it is significantly shorter, which makes it the fastest of the four.
Attend One Of The Grandest Rallies
If you consider yourself a true car enthusiast, you’ll want to make sure that you attend one of the great NASCAR rallets that take place there. Luckily, you can! Some of the biggest racing events in the world are held at Charlotte each year, including the crown jewel of NASCAR events, the Coca-Cola 600. This year is no exception, with the 2020 edition of the Coke 600 taking place on April 4th.
In order to attend this year’s Coke 600, you’ll need to purchase an “infield pass”. This costs $125 and gives you access to all areas of the speedway, including the paddock, general admission areas, corporate boxes, and terrace deck. If this is beyond your financial ability, there is still another option — apply for a student ID from a university or college near you. With a valid student ID, you can get a special pass that gives you access to the same areas as an infielder. This pass costs $60 and can be purchased in advance at any Ticketmaster outlet or online at https://ticketmaster.com/. You’ll also need to bring documentation to validate the ID. However, this is still cheaper than paying individually for all of the above.
Make A Plan
If you’re planning on visiting Charlotte, make sure to make the most of your trip by using its amenities and exploring its attractions. One of the greatest things about this place is its ease of access. From the airport, it’s only a one-hour drive to the center of town. You can’t beat that! Plan your itinerary accordingly, as there are lots of attractions and historic sites to see. You’ll also want to be sure to make the most of the tracks’ facilities. Since this is a motorsport venue, you’ll want to make sure that you utilize the practice track for drills and warm-up exercises before actual racing takes place. Remember: this is a place of historical significance and tour buses often line up there, so make sure that you’re respectful of their presence.
Make a list of everything you want to see and do, and then you can start making plans. You’ll want to prioritize your itinerary, as there are a lot of places and attractions to see. One of the best things about Charlotte is that it doesn’t take much planning to make the most of it. Simply load up on cultural attractions and sports venues, and you’re on your way to having an incredible vacation!