In 2016, a fire caused massive damage to the ThorSport Racing shop in Sandusky, O.H., including the destruction of the team's fabrication shop. Both races are a playoff elimination race in the Round of 12, only 8 drivers will remain in the playoffs following the events. Want to know the most dangerous tracks this season? To celebrate NASCARs 75th season, Dale Earnhardt Jr., alongside North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, announced that the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at the track in May. Hendrick Motorsports is currently the most successful team in NASCAR. Hendrick Motorsports is located in Concord, North Carolina, one mile from Charlotte Motor Speedway. His aggressive driving style earned him the nicknames "The Intimidator . Ever since we moved to North Carolina we have been tracking down and documenting the locations of former NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series race team shops. This 77,000 square foot high-tech and environmentally friendly facility is home to Kyle [] Pinkys is well known for their delicious burgers, hot waffle fries and the classic VW bug on the roof of their original Westside location (a converted auto repair shop). The first official NASCAR race was held in Charlotte, North Carolina. The town of Kannapolis, North Carolina, has a self-guided Dale Trail that you can follow to walk in his footsteps. Cabarrus County is located just 20 minutes north of Charlotte, North Carolina. Cabarrus County is located just 20 minutes north of Charlotte, North Carolina. Youll find weekly races here every Friday night from March until October. Even though this is the home of NASCAR the facilities also include an incredible 4-lane-wide Zmax Dragway and a phenomenal clay oval for Sprint Car races. And when its time to cool your heels, consider unwinding at our tranquil retreats or wineries throughout the county. It's More Than Just White Sand Beaches on the Caribbean Sea! Founded in 2020 by Justin Marks who also founded the GoPro Motorplex and Grammy award-winning artist, Pitbull, Trackhouse Racing is an up-and-coming team in NASCAR thanks to the success of drivers Ross Chastain and Daniel Surez. It was in a conference room at the team's Mooresville, North Carolina, shop, or in a team hauler at the track. But did you know they got their start catering at Charlotte Motor Speedway? What hotel will you be staying at in Mooresville? Watch the video below to see the campus of Hendrick Motorsports like never before. Co-owned by three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Tony Stewart also known as Smoke and Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America, Stewart-Haas Racing is a force to be reckoned with on the NASCAR circuit. Updated: Jan 27, 2023 / 02:05 PM EST. Whether youre visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame or are just in the area, dont forget to stop by the Gear Shop. The Official NASCAR Shop features NASCAR apparel for fans in the most popular brands of sports attire. We have a diverse restaurant scene with more than 75 locally owned and operated spots to grab some grub in Concord, Harrisburg, Kannapolis, Midland and Mount Pleasant. Read more. Caraway Speedway, a .455-mile asphalt oval in Sophia near Asheboro, is a NASCAR Weekly Racing Series sanctioned track. By early 2007, all of Penske's race teams called the massive structure home. Based in the 47,000-square foot shop that was home to Earnhardts No. Another one of the restaurants Guy Fieri visited during his Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2015 was the Pit Road Bar & Grill. The Top Five NASCAR Race Shops in North Carolina. Today, as always, we seek the best talent to build on the sport's success. Overall, graduates from this racing school have led 10,000 laps and won a combined eight championships and 300 races. The 25 Adult Rental Karts (Ages 16+) are capable of speeds over [], Visit the 66,000 square foot facility owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and shop JR Nation, a retail store with more than 500 items exclusive to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his [], Since the teams inception, KKR has amassed over 170 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series wins, including the prestigious Knoxville Nationals (2018) and Kings Royal (2013), both with driver Brad []. Spring race at Las Vegas has seen Hendrick Motorsports hit the jackpot of late / Viewer's guide, fast facts for Las Vegas. The Petty Museum preserves the heritage of Petty Engineering and Petty Enterprises, a family business with a formative influence on American motorsports and on automotive design, construction, and safety. Current hours are 9:00am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Pay a visit during race week at Charlotte Motor Speedway, or drop by for one of their Mustang owners events. The main reason that NASCAR drivers live in North Carolina is due to the location of the job that they have been hired to do. Its no wonder Mooresville is also known as Race City USA! Most of the hotels have info brochures in their lobbies (I know the Holiday Inn Express has them). Most famously known as the home of seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt the Intimidator and his famous number three Goodwrench Chevrolets, Richard Childress Racing has all sorts of history that race fans will love. One of the most popular exhibits is Glory Road, a banked ramp leading to the second floor that highlights racetracks around the U.S. and showcases historic race cars. Homes of Nascar greats. The Dirt Track is part three of the larger Charlotte Motor Speedway complex in Concord. NASCAR All-Star RaceMore Info. Editorial credit: Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.com Once a horse-racing track, the Occoneechee Speedway became a NASCAR track in early 1949, till it finally closed doors in 1969. JR Motorsports is located at 349 Cayuga Dr. Search. furniture, museums, gaming, film sites, etc. Roper was in. Its also home to their sister team, Haas F1 Team the only Formula 1 team in the United States which made an appearance in Netflixs popular docuseries, Formula 1: Drive to Survive. While you cant tour the F1 side just yet, their NASCAR side provides an extensive look into the careers of Stewart, Kevin Harvick and their other accomplished drivers. May 26, 2023. Free shipping for many products! Even though this is one of the older tracks it is absolutely one of the most modern and has a history of firsts including the first to hold night races and of course the first to hold a legendary 600-mile race! Come watch their original modified series, or catch a race from their sportsman, street stock or stadium stock series. link to Hendrick Motorsports: NASCAR Racing Teams, six top racing teams are centered in North Carolina, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/158008-the-top-5-nasar-race-shops-in-north-carolina, https://www.britannica.com/event/Prohibition-United-States-history-1920-1933, https://www.visitlakenorman.org/blog/post/celebrities-in-lake-norman/, What are the NASCAR Racing Teams for 2023. What it is, however, is the personal collection of one of NASCAR's most successful, and most famous, drivers ever to strap on a helmet. The quarter-mile track also hosts pro-stock motorcycle and car races. You may even catch a glimpse of your favorite drivers and team members. Just under half-a-mile long, this clay track attracts drivers and race fans from across the Carolinas. NHRA Fall Weekend . scenes of some of the most famous race teams ever or show you what the speedway looks like when it gets ready to host a NASCAR race weekend. Toggle navigation. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop features 5,800 square feet of unique gifts for gear heads of all ages. If you want even more racing, Charlotte is a great home base for Rockingham Speedway a former NASCAR track and the filming location for Days of Thunder as well as current NASCAR tracks like Bristol, Martinsville, Darlington and Atlanta. Dale Earnhardt Inc. 2 of 7. Spend the day touring race shops, many of which offer viewing rooms where you can watch crew members working on the cars, or explore the history of auto racing in one of our motorsports museums. Browse through our list of racing attractions in Mooresville to find your ideal activity! Huntersville is the home of Joe Gibbs Racing and our central location provides quick, easy access to all area race shops and related attractions. Plus, there are tons of great hotels just minutes away from the track (including the Concord Embassy Suites who hosted us during our visit). The Richard Childress Racing Museum, located front and center on the 52-acre RCR campus in Welcome, North Carolina, offers visitors a walk through time and traces how an independent one-car team evolved into one of NASCARs most successful organizations. Another successful name in racing is Roush, with 400 wins and 31 championships spread across NASCARs top three divisions and drag racing. Tuesday Wednesday are the best days to . Nicknamed Speed City USA, Concord is home to Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway, The Dirt Track and top NASCAR race shops including Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Closed on July 2 in observance of Independence Day. The timeline shows that the end of the prohibition shifted the majoritys need for bootlegging to only one group, the moonshiners. Another phase of renovation starts in 2023, and while that means a temporary pause on racing at the track, itll pave the way for something astronomical. What is so special about North Carolina? If you're feeling adventurous, pick up the phone hidden behind the red curtain in the back of SouthBound to gain access to Backstage Lounge. Where do NASCAR teams have bases in Charlotte? Free admission. NASCAR benefits from the skills and commitment of exceptional people. Sun May 21 5:00 PM. 4. Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureaus Visitor Center, got their start catering at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Top Places to Stop on the Charlotte Light Rail, Round-Up of Charlottes Award-Winning Craft Beers, Charlotte's Stadiums, Ballparks and Sports Attractions, Charlotte Shopping, Dining & Entertainment Centers, The Ultimate List of Craft Beer in Charlotte. Written . The sport started here when bootleggers souped up their cars to outrun the law - and then began racing one another. North Carolina Education Lottery 200. theme & water parks, gems, zoos, aquariums, etc. Visitors will have no problem finding places to eat in Cabarrus County. Tours to Charlotte Motor Speedway, race shops and NASCAR museums. To celebrate NASCAR's 75th season, Dale Earnhardt Jr., alongside North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, announced that the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at the track in May. This weekend, NASCAR goes road course racing in Charlotte, North Carolina. 3 pit crew member and Museum curator Danny Chocolate Myers in his office, often recording his live show on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Dine in the restaurants they dine in, play in the places they play and stay in the area most drivers call home. romantic attractions, spas, health & wellness, etc. North Wilkesboro will become the fifth host of the NASCAR All-Star Race, which will stage its 39th running next spring. They need to be able to test new ideas and use simulators to try and get the best performance that they can out of the cars. While I'm willing to trek to legendary tracks like Darlington and even Chicagoland, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or Autoclub Raceway - it's great to see a complete package like they have built here in Charlotte. Seven-time NASCAR Cup series champion Jimmie Johnson is one of the co-owners of this taco and tequila spot. Accessibility. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'motorracingsports_com-banner-1','ezslot_16',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-motorracingsports_com-banner-1-0'); The home of the sport was in North Carolina, where the home of racing stays to this day, which is why so many NASCAR drivers live in North Carolina. This map was created by a user. In addition, they launched [], Walk among the legends at The NC Auto Racing Walk of Fame! If you are coming to Charlotte to visit NASCAR sites, then you are probably planning to visit the track for a race. The sprint karting track is based on the famous and historic Kartodromo Parma circuit in Italy and the fleet of Rental Karts reach speeds up to 55 mph. It's a place where fans can uncover new stories and get in on the action at every turn with more than 50 interactive experiences. Their original Mooresville location fittingly, a former gas station is a NASCAR lovers paradise, with over 10,000 square feet of racing memorabilia spread across three stories. Peek behind the scenes at Hendrick Motorsports near Concord and Stewart-Haas Racing in Kannapolis, among others, to see how teams prepare for race day. The first high-performance vehicle was created out of a need for speed and performance. Kyle Busch Motorsports. There are TONS of ordinary buildings in the greater Charlotte area that you may pass every day not knowing what type of legendary racing cars have comer from within those walls. Come on the right day and you may meet one of their sponsored drivers, a spotter or another member of the NASCAR family. NHRA Fall Weekend; Betway NHRA Carolina Nationals. Mooresville Motorsports Race Shop - 725 Performance Road, Mooresville, NC. Many of the race team shops are located within minutes of the track. Exclusive VIP access to NASCAR shops and garages. Truex has two wins, seven top-five finishes and 13 top-10s and has led a total of 301 laps in 22 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Las Vegas. Appropriately located in Race City, USA, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a must-see museum. You'll be ready to show your support when you sport this 3CHI Blister T-Shirt by Richard Childress Racing Team Collection. 23XI Racing - 222 Raceway Dr, Mooresville Front Row Motorsports - 114 Meadow Hill Cir, Mooresville Hendrick Motorsports - 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd, Charlotte Purchase your RCR Museum and Team Store All-Access Pass | Store.RCRRacing.com, Museum & Team Store Hours:Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.*Saturday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.*, *The last ticket will be sold one hour prior to closing to allow visitors to fully experience the museum. Last but certainly not least is the fact that the Charlotte Motor Speedway is located in Concord, North Carolina - just minutes from downtown. Est in 2001 a fun exciting 7 hour tour to the top NASCAR Race Shops in Mooresville, Huntersville, Kannapolis & Concord . Where are the NASCAR race shops in North Carolina? . Less than 20 miles to Charlotte, Mooresville, and the Speedway, with 19 great hotels to choose from, Lake Norman gives you NASCAR, so get your engines running for a trip to remember. One thing reigns supreme in the Charlotte region: Racing. Some museums and shops may have an additional entry fee that is not covered in this tour price. 0 of 7. Less than 20 miles to Charlotte, Mooresville, and the Speedway, with 19 great hotels to choose from, Lake Norman gives you NASCAR, so get your engines running for a trip to remember. This site requires that javascript is enabled. Theres even a kids menu. Sodi Honda top-of-the-line racing karts challenge any driver with top speeds of 45 mph at just two inches off the ground. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation, the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ducks Unlimited, all actively involved in the conservation of the nation's wildlife and natural resources, are showcased in this area along with many of the animal trophies Childress has taken over the years. For the full Childress experience, head to Childress Vineyards after your visit for a glass of wine at one of the must-try vineyards near Charlotte. The trophy Ricky Stenhouse, Jr . Charlottes got plenty of great sports gear and antique shops within a short drive of each other. Those days are gone, but the legacy remains at the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR Hall of Fame, racing schools, team shops and motorsports museums. Youll find everything from exhibits and the current NC Hall of Famers to real-life stock cars that played a part in some of auto racings greatest moments. North Carolina speedways hosted 30 of those events at places like Greensboro, North Wilkesboro, Lexington, Wadesboro, Hillsborough, Elkin, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. These links may direct users to sites other than this one and have tracking codes attached or embedded in the page to help brands better understand the value we provide to them. For most sports though, there is an inherent challenge with that since everything is so spread out. Fan Experience and a life-size wax figure of the team owner sculpted by Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Trending. The Ford Flathead V8 was created, giving the bootleggers a way to boost speed and performance in the vehicles they used to continue running moonshine. This makes the entire area easy to get to since Charlotte has a major international airport and is a hub for American Airlines. The last win on it was by Richard Petty and this was also the place where Louise Smith became NASCAR's first female driver. This is a fun tour according to the receptionist who are in the NASCARRace Shops. This 100,000 square foot facility features karts that sit only an inch off the track and are capable of [], PIT Instruction and Training offers individuals and groups the chance to get up close and personal with the fastest 13 seconds in sports! Current hours are 9:00am-4:30pm Monday through Friday. Along with the teams Cup Series success, the museum also showcases RCRs championship efforts in the NASCAR Xfinity, Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Racing Series. . Ralph Dale Earnhardt (/ r n h r t /; April 29, 1951 - February 18, 2001) was an American professional stock car driver and team owner, who raced from 1975 to 2001 in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably driving the No. The Appalachian Mountains are famous for many reasons, not just for NASCAR. By continuing to use our site you agree to ourprivacy notice. Closed for major holidays. 5. We have found these places and share pictures from back in the day for almost all of them. The campus features state-of-the-art facilities and technology, which the organizations four NASCAR Cup Series teams employ in preparation for race day. North Carolina is the home of NASCAR for several reasons. A tribute to the history of NASCAR and the drivers, crew members and team owners who popularized the fast-paced sport, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is part museum and part interactive racing experience. While the area boasts being home to Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and the Kannapolis hometown of Dale Earnhardt Sr., you also can make a pit stop at a race shop for almost every team in NASCAR.Peek behind the scenes at Hendrick Motorsports near Concord and Stewart-Haas Racing in . You can also catch him reading a good book, watching the best TV and movies, or watching his beloved Panthers, Hornets, Hurricanes, and App State Mountaineers dominate their competition. The action doesnt stop once the checkered flag drops. This was especially cool to see his garage since thanks to one of his sponsors - Kelley Blue Book - we'll be meeting with Chase and the rest of his team in a few weeks during the race weekend in Loudon, NH coming up at the end of September! Moonshine began losing popularity, giving way to more legal alcoholic beverages. During your tour of the Richard Childress Racing Museum, youll get to see those iconic Dale Earnhardt Chevrolets first hand including the one from his legendary win at the 1998 Daytona 500 and learn more about how they were built. It is one of the most apparent reasons why NASCAR drivers live in this state, even though the majority of the racers still call California their hometown. On North Carolina's Lake Norman, there's no disputing the driver: It's Nascar. Experience racing at these exciting destinations. You can even learn about the deep-rooted history in our region through museums, landmarks, and self-guided tours. Home to 2017 NASCAR Cup Champion Martin Truex, Jr., The Martin Truex Jr. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. Owner Roger Penske has influenced NASCAR, IndyCar and every circuit in between, earning Team Penske the esteemed moniker of the New York Yankees of motorsports. Just like the Yankees, Team Penske spares no expense, so its no surprise that their Mooresville team headquarters is state-of-the art. The town of Kannapolis, North Carolina, has a self-guided Dale Trail that you can follow to walk in his footsteps. Or see winning race cars and trophies at Penske Racing and JR Motorsports in Mooresville andother memorabilia from the teams greatest moments. /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. Here are the best places to watch racing in the greater Charlotte area. JR Motorsports (pronounced "Junior Motorsports") is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series, CARS Tour, and occasionally in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.The team is based in Mooresville, North Carolina, co-owned by former NASCAR Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister Kelley . The sport started here when bootleggers souped up their cars to outrun the law and then began racing one another. If not, you don't know what you are missing. But if youre looking for apparel and memorabilia with a NASCAR twist, these two stores are a must-visit. Granted, that is a job for the technicians, but the driver must be able to test out the changes on the track or inside the shop with the help of innovative technology. Not only do they make fan gear like the amazing FanVision system that provides all sorts of video, audio, and racing data but they also provide radios and other gear that allow the teams to communicate. When it comes to winning races, Kyle Busch has you covered. Did you know that 90% of NASCAR race shops are located in Concord, Kannapolis and the surrounding area? Charlie Leonard is a Charlotte-area native with an in-depth knowledge of all things culture. Another phase of renovation starts in 2023, and while that means a temporary pause on racing at the track, it'll pave the way for something astronomical. Hall of fame careers built under a roof that now houses a business completely unaware of its legendary past. Many of their cars have been featured in films around North Carolina, including Days of Thunder, The Color Purple, Leatherheads and Talladega Nights..