5555 Concord Pkwy S., Concord
704/455-3204
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com

The 1.5-mile oval track at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the Taj Mahal of North Carolina. Fans flock to the superspeedway to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers racing around the track. Charlotte Motor Speedway is often called “the beast of the Southeast” for the number of wrecks that happen on the track.

The track was built in 1959 and hosts two major races every season—the Coca-Cola 600 and the Sprint All-Star Race, both in May. A 20,000-square-foot Sprint Cup garage was added in 1994.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Jeff Gordon Racing School both offer programs at the track throughout the year. Several movies, including Days of Thunder and Speedway, were filmed on the track.

The speedway complex also includes a 2.25-mile road course and a 0.6-mile go-kart track. In 2008, the zMAX Dragway held its first race. The state-of-the-art drag strip has been called “the finest drag racing facility in the world.”

On non-race days, fans can take a guided tour of the facility; it includes stops at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage, pit road, and victory circle. The tour also includes a ride around the track to feel the force of the 24-degree banking turns. (The lap is done in a passenger van, not a stock car, and the speedometer never climbs about 40 mph.)

Tours are offered Monday to Saturday (on non-event days) at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. Tours are $5 and depart from the gift shop; no reservations are required.