NASCAR Country is the unofficial moniker that’s been given to several towns surrounding Charlotte due to their large concentration of race-related sights and attractions. The cities that make up NASCAR Country include Concord, Kannapolis, and Mooresville.

NASCAR is the organization that sanctions and governs several auto racing events, including the Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. The acronym stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. NASCAR was founded in 1948 by Bill France Sr. and is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, with four regional offices in North Carolina: Charlotte, Mooresville, Concord, and Conover. It’s the largest sanctioning body of stock car racing in the country.

Despite the small size of these cities, each is chock-full of race shops, racing venues, and even museums that highlight all things race-related. Charlotte Motor Speedway is ground zero for race fans who spend hours—rain or shine—sitting in the stands to cheer on their favorite driver as he does laps around the 1.5-mile track.

Visiting race shops is almost as popular as going to the races themselves. DEI, Penske Racing, JR Motorsports, and Stewart-Haas Racing draw crowds who want to learn more about what goes into designing the cars that their favorite drivers race around the track.

There’s history here, too. The Dale Trail and the Memory Lane Motorsports Museum highlight some of the most memorable moments—and drivers—in racing history.

NASCAR Country never fails to draw a crowd, but the busiest times of the year are during race weeks: Fans descend on Charlotte Motor Speedway to see the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 in May, and the NASCAR Banking 500 in October.

The Best of NASCAR Country

• Best Place to Strike it Rich: Reed Gold Mine
• Best Place to Quench the Need for Speed: Richard Petty Driving Experience
• Best Place to Spot a Racing Rock Star: Hendrick Motorsports
• Best Place to Score a Deal: Concord Mills Mall
• Best Place to Eat Barbeque: Lancaster’s BBQ and Wings
• Best Place to Sleep with a Racecar Driver: Hampton Inn and Suites