The Atlanta Motor Speedway is located in the city of Atlanta, just outside of the state of Georgia in the United States of America. The facility is most well known for its annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that is held in early October. The track opened on May 2, 1960 and has grown in size over the years from a quarter of a mile to a mile in length. In 2007 a record-breaking 250,000 people attended the event, making it the largest sporting event of its kind in North America at the time! It is so popular that it is frequently voted among the top ten most visited sporting venues in the world.
Today, the Atlanta Motor Speedway is open to the general public and is host to international racing events throughout the year. The speedway also houses the headquarters for NASCAR, which is one of the biggest leagues in all of sports. For more information about the facility, check out these links:
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
While the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is the marquee event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, they also host a variety of other racing events that are open to the public. The biggest of these is the Chili Bowl, which is a NASCAR-sanctioned race that takes place in early January and was first held in 1946. Over the years, the Chili Bowl has grown in size and scope, attracting competitors from all over the world. In addition to the Chili Bowl, the Atlanta Motor Speedway also hosts the Gatorade Duels, which are mid-October exhibitions that pit multiple NASCAR teams against one another in an effort to promote youth motorsport. The Atlanta Motor Speedway also hosts the All-Star Race, which is a NASCAR-sanctioned exhibition that pits the top drivers in all of motorsport against one another and is similar to the Indianapolis 500. In 2019 the All-Star Race will be held on July 24th and will be one of the final events on the NASCAR schedule before the playoffs begin in early September.
The good news for sports fans is that tickets for any of the above-mentioned events at the Atlanta Motor Speedway are generally cheaper than the regular price of admission for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. So, be sure to check out the special offers before the season starts or during the summer.
The Georgia Cup Racing Series
The Georgia Cup Racing Series is a group of motorsport races held throughout the year at the Atlanta Motor Speedway as well as other locations across the country. The most prestigious race in the series is the Grand National Semiconductor Championship, which is a 75 lap race that is held in February. The Grand National is one of the biggest races of the year in NASCAR and it is run on a Monday night in early October. In addition to the Grand National, the series also features the season finale, which is a 120 lap race that is named after legendary driver and founder of NASCAR, Curtis Turner. The event is known as the Southern Grand Nationals and it is named after Turner’s home state of Alabama. The final event in the series is the Carload of Cars 300, which is a 300 lap race that is one of the oldest continuous sporting events in America and is held at the end of the season in November.
The Atlanta Motor Speedway also hosts a variety of other motorsport events, including mini-golf, helicopter rides, and even a go-kart race! The good news for fans is that many of these events are free or have low admission fees. So, be sure to check out the website for the Atlanta Motor Speedway during the offseason if any of these appeal to you.
The NASCAR Heat Series
The NASCAR Heat Series is an All-star racing league that is endorsed by NASCAR and is designed for fans who are passionate about the sport. The series pits drivers against one another in an effort to promote competitive racing while raising funds for various charities. The series also features a variety of events, including road rallies, exhibition matches, and even a few traditional NASCAR races! One of the signature motorsport events in the series is the Chili Beat, which is a 25 lap race that takes place in early January and was first held in 1967. The series also holds the Dirty Miler, which is a 300 lap dirt-track race that takes place in the spring and was first held in 1977. The Dirty Miler is usually the final event of the regular season and it is so-named because of all the tire kicking and burning that goes on before the end of the race!
The good news for fans of NASCAR is that tickets for most of the above-mentioned events are generally cheaper than the regular price of admission for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series! So, be sure to check out the special offers before the season starts or during the summer if any of these events appeal to you.
Other Popular Racing Events At The Speedway
The Atlanta Motor Speedway also hosts a variety of other racing events, including car shows, demolition derbies, and some traditional NASCAR races. The good news for fans is that many of these events are free or have low admission fees. So, be sure to check out the website for the track during the offseason if any of these appeal to you.
The popular demolition derbies held at the track include the King of the Road race, the Queen of the Road race, and the Super Bowl of the Road race. These events feature vintage cars and motorcycles from the 1940s through the 1970s, which are put on display for the public and then raced against one another. The exhibition races are usually a lot of fun and they give fans a chance to get up close and personal with some of their favorite cars from years gone by! Finally, if you are a fan of NASCAR and car shows, be sure to check out the Annual Spring Race Meet, which takes place in March and is a traditional event at the track. In 2020 it will mark the 86th running of the Meet and it is one of the biggest gatherings of vintage cars in all of North America!
The above-mentioned races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway are among the most prominent sporting events in the world. Be sure to mark your calendars for the big ones and be sure to check out the website for the track during the offseason if any of these events appeal to you.