Must visit race related attractions in the Carolinas?

S

slideways

Member
I recently found out I am going to SC for about a week in June. I have conviced my wife to take a day and go up and visit DEI, we'll be in Gaffney so it isn't too far, but what other places are must see's in the area? I'm dying to see a race at Cherokee but I don't think we'll be there on a Sat. night.

Any suggestions are highly appreciated!
 
We had some friends go there the week before BRISTOL and they said by far the DEI group was the coolest people of all the shops. They said Roush was a VERY close 2nd. They are all over you are sure to have a GREAT Time. Be safe and let us know how it was ;)
 
Hendricks Motorsports complex is pretty amazing also, they've got a pretty cool museum with a viewing area into one of the garages (probably Brian Vicker's) You could also walk right into Terry Labonte's shop and check out what they were doing . I'm not a fan of any of the drivers, but the place was still cool. Hendrick's is right down the road from Lowe's Speedway so you can stop and see that while you're there. Almost right across the street from Lowe's is Sam Bass's studio he's the dude who does all the racing art. It's worth seeing! We also stopped by Penske's shop and Crusty Rusty's (Rusty Wallace Inc.) new shop is right across the street. DEI is awesome, but when we were there you couldn't see any of the shop area, just the museum and store. They did have some awesome cars on display. That whole area is a racer and race fans paradise, they have maps available that show you where all the race shops and race attractions are, they are a big help in finding the stuff because a lot of the shops and showrooms are back in industrial parks.
 
Racing in NC

If you get on I-85 and come in to the Charlotte area - there's quite a bit.

Ex. 49 is Speedway Blvd. (hang a right and you'll dead end into Lowe's Motor Speedway). At the Speedway, make a right and at the first light, if you make a right and go down about 1.5 miles you'll see the sign for Hendrick Motorsports. They have a museum and gift shop. They are currently in the process of constructing a new two-team garage to combine the 5 and 25 teams in the same Cup facility like the 48/24 teams so it's a little wild right now. There, they will have fliers for other activities/must sees and maps.

Back on that road, as you head back towards 29 and if you continue through the light and parallel the Spwy, there is Action and the Sam Bass Gallery on the right.

If you cross over I-85 and make a left on Speedway Blvd. you pass Concord Mills Mall. Where the road comes to a T (right where I live - Speedway Blvd. & Derita Rd.), make a right and about 3/4 mi. down the road on the left you will see the NASCAR R&D Center and on the right is Concord Regional Airport, Roush Racing, Team Calibre and MB2/MBV Motorsports.

On a backway to DEI you pass Schrader's as well.

Off of I-77 in Mooresville there's the Motorsports Hall of Fame thing (never been there) and a lot of shops in the Lakeside Business Park (Penske, Yates, Rensi, Ganassi, Ultra, PPI, Bang, Braun, etc.).

If you need advice on backroads from DEI or anything just let me know. I'm moving next week so it's a bit wild with email but I'll be glad to help.

~M

PS: Our new Quaker Steak & Lube is about finished too and is right on Speedway Blvd. :)
 
You have to check out RCR. They took the old shops that Dale Earnhardt ran out of and turned it into a museum. It has the shops setup the way they were when Dale was alive, old and new Childress cars, etc. You can also go down the street and check out their new shop and see a few of the areas through the observation windows. Their website has information on the museum.

http://www.rcrracing.com


DEI was cool but you could only see the lobby area and the showroom when we were there last year. I think Hendrick Racing and Evernham Motorsports are both having open houses on the Friday before the 600. The Petty museum was just redone last year and sounds like fun, but it's over an hour from Charlotte.
 
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