Information about Lowes Motor Speedway as well as other attractions, lodging and restaurants in the area around the track. Also, specials offered to save some money while attending the race.

Track Facts

• 1.5 miles quad-oval
• 400 laps = 600 miles
• 24 degrees banking in turns, 5 degrees on straights
• 165,000 seats
• The speedway’s racing surface came apart badly during the first World 600, designed to be NASCAR’s ultimate endurance test, with Joe Lee Johnson surviving to win on June 19, 1960.
• Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip tie with most wins at 6; Gordon and Johnson are active drivers with most wins at 5.

Top Rated Hotels (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Suburban Extended Stay Concord
• SpringHill Suites Charlotte Concord Mills Speedway
• Comfort Suites
• Hampton Inn and Suites Charlotte at Concord Mills
• Wingate Inn Concord

Dining Recommendations Away from Track (per TripAdvisor.com)

• The Little Dooey Barbeque & Blues – 8524 Pit Stop Ct, Concord, (704) 979-5400
• Emma’s Carolina Cuisine – 11 Union St S Ste 108, Concord, (704) 788-1098
• Romano’s – 349 Copperfield Blvd NE, Concord, (704) 782-5020

Other Area Attractions

• Race shops – visit the following web sites to find the race shops open to the public around Charlotte:
• All drivers – www.raceshops.com
• Mooresville NC – www.racecityusa.org
• Carowinds – 14523 Carowinds Blvd Charlotte, NC 28241, (704) 588 2600; Amusement park; Open daily March 28 – Aug 23. Regular admission $46.99.

Specials

• Charlotte-Area Hotels Reduce Race Week Room Rates: In a collaborative effort, regional tourism bureaus and officials at Lowe’s Motor Speedway have worked with area hotel operators to secure lower room rates for race fans attending the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 16, and the 50th Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. More than 80 hotels within approximately one hour of the 1.5-mile superspeedway have agreed to reduce their race week room rates by 15 percent and waive their minimum stay requirements. The full list of participating hotels is available online for fans to reference at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/hotels. In addition to the lower hotel rates, cost savings extend to the speedway as well. The Coca-Cola 600 Family Four Pack, which includes four race tickets to the Coca-Cola 600, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola brand soft drinks, is available for just $39.75 a person. Similarly, the Rite Aid Family Four Pack includes four tickets to the Sprint All-Star Race, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola brand soft drinks for the low price of $24.75 a person. The May Super Ticket special is also available, allowing fans the opportunity to see Windstream Pole Night qualifying, the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 Nationwide Series race and the Coca-Cola 600, all for as low as $89.

Information about Darlington Raceway as well as other attractions, lodging and restaurants in the area around the track. Also, specials offered to save some money while attending the race.

Track Facts

• 1.366 miles oval
• 367 laps = 501 miles
• 25 degrees banking in turns 1 & 2, 23 degrees in turns 3 & 4, 3 degrees front-stretch, 2 degrees back-stretch
• 63,000 seats
• The first race was scheduled for Labor Day 1950 and was not expected to draw more than 10,000 fans, but a crowd of more than 25,000 showed up. Californian Johnny Mantz drove to victory that day in the first Southern 500. The race took more than six hours to complete.
• David Pearson is all-time winner with 10 races; Jeff Gordon is active driver with most wins at 7.

Top Rated Hotels (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Best Value Inn

Dining Recommendations Away from Track (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Boss Hog Smokehouse – 1536 S. Main St, Darlington, (843) 393-9534
• Country Barn Restaurant – 2233 W. Harry Byrd Blvd, Darlington, (843) 395-2257
• Raceway Grill – 1207 Harry Byrd, Darlington, (843) 393-7339

Other Area Attractions

• Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum – 301 Harry Byrd Hwy, Darlington, SC , (843) 395-8821; The Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA Hall of Fame offer those who are interested in the history of stock car racing an in-depth look at the roots of the sport, and has a lot to pique the interest of newer fans as well. 9AM – 5PM Mon – Sat; Adults $5.40, children under 12 free.

Specials

• All You Can Eat Tix Package returns at Darlington: The immensely popular all-you-can-eat Colvin Grill ticket package will return for the 2009 Southern 500. Ticket packages start at $50 and can be purchased by calling 1-866-459-RACE or logging onto DarlingtonRaceway.com. Each package includes seating in the Colvin grandstand and unlimited hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips and soft drinks in the Colvin Grill. Additionally, fans who have already purchased tickets for the 2009 Southern 500 or plan to purchase tickets in a grandstand other than Colvin may add the all-you-can-eat package to their existing ticket for only $15 per person. Each fan who takes advantage of this unique offer will receive a special wristband valid for admission to the Colvin Grill adjacent to the Colvin grandstand outside of turn 2 at Darlington Raceway. The grill will open at 5:00 p.m. on May 9th and will close at 7:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to act quickly as only a limited number of Colvin Grill ticket packages are available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Darlington Raceway ticket office at 866-459-RACE or online at darlingtonraceway.com.(Darlington Raceway PR)(3-10-2009)

Information about Richmond International as well as other attractions, lodging and restaurants in the area around the track. Also, specials offered to save some money while attending the race.

Track Facts

• .750 miles D-shaped oval
• 400 laps = 300 miles
• 14 degrees banking in turns, 8 degrees front-stretch, 2 degrees back-stretch
• 112,029 seats
• In 1953, the track was called Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds and NASCAR brought its Grand National Series to town, with Lee Petty getting the victory on April 19, 1953.
• Richard Petty is all-time winner with 13 races; among active drivers Stewart, Johnson and Earnhardt Jr. each have 3 wins.

Top Rated Hotels (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Richmond NW
• The Jefferson Hotel
• The Westin Richmond
• Courtyard by Marriott Richmond Northwest
• Embassy Suites Richmond – The Commerce Center

Dining Recommendations Away from Track (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Millie’s – 2603 E Main St, Richmond, (804) 643 5512
• Sensi – 2222 E Cary St, Richmond, (804) 648 3463
• Buz & Ned’s Real Barbeque – 1119 N Blvd, Richmond, (804) 355 6055

Other Area Attractions

• The Museum and White House of the Confederacy – 1201 E. Clay St. Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 649-1861; This white-columned southern architectural masterpiece, high on a hill overlooking Shockoe Valley, was home and headquarters of Confederate States President Jefferson Davis, and now contains the nation’s largest collection of Confederate artifacts. 10AM – 5PM Mon-Sat, Sun Noon – 5PM; Museum & White House $4 – $8 each or $6 – $11 combo.

Information about Talledega Superspeedway as well as other attractions, lodging and restaurants in the area around the track. Also, specials offered to save some money while attending the race.

Track Facts

• 2.66 miles tri-oval
• 188 laps = 500 miles
• 33 degrees banking in turns,16.5 degrees front-stretch, 2 degrees back-stretch
• 143,231 seats
• Prior to the Cup race on Sept. 14, 1969, the practice and qualifying speeds were so high (Charlie Glotzbach won the pole at 199.466 mph) that the tire companies could not come up with a compound that held together for many laps. The Professional Drivers Association (PDA), led by Richard Petty, declared the situation unsafe, and left the track Saturday afternoon. Bill France decided the race would go on, using the drivers that decided not to participate in the boycott, plus some of those who had raced the day before. The full 500 miles were run without a major incident.
• Dale Earnhardt is all-time winner with 10 races, Jeff Gordon is active driver with most wins of 6 races.

Top Rated Hotels (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Holiday Inn Express Lincoln
• Comfort Inn Lincoln
• Americas Best Value Inn Riverside/Pell City
• Super 8 Motel Talladega
• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Pell City

Dining Recommendations Away from Track (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Dj’s Diner – 151 Stemley Bridge Road, Talladega (256) 761-0255
• Classic on Noble – 1024 Noble Street, Anniston, (256)-237-5388

Other Area Attractions

• International Motorsports Hall of Fame – 3198 Speedway Boulevard Talladega, AL 35160, (256) 362-5002; Opened in April of 1983, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of motorsports. 9AM – 4PM, Adults $10, children 7-17 $5, under 6 free.
• DeSoto Caverns – 5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway Childersburg, AL 35044-5663, (800) 933-2283 2301; One of the first officially recorded caves in 1796 is today a popular attraction with rides, exhibits and outdoor activities the whole family can enjoy. 9AM – 5PM; Cavern tours $16-$18.

Specials

• Talladega Superspeedway has partnered with Americrown Service Corporation to further reduce the cost of attending a race for fans, by dramatically reducing concession prices. Beginning in April, combo meals featuring a hamburger, fries and a drink will be packaged at nearly a 25% savings over the cost of the meal if each item were purchased separately. Another combo package featuring a hotdog instead of a hamburger, again offers a 25% savings.

Information about Phoenix International as well as other attractions, lodging and restaurants in the area around the track.

Track Facts

• 1 mile tri-oval
• 500 laps = 500 miles
• 11 degrees banking in turns 1 & 2, 9 degrees turns 3 &4, 3 degrees front-stretch, 9 degrees back-stretch
• 76,800 seats
• The Nov. 6, 1988, wound up being the first Cup victory for Alan Kulwicki, the tough-minded independent driver who would go on to win the 1992 Cup Series title. Upon taking the checkered flag that day, Kulwicki turned around and took his victory lap backward, going clockwise around the track, giving birth to his now famous “Polish victory lap.”
• Jimmie Johnson is active driver with most wins of 3 races.

Top Rated Hotels (per TripAdvisor.com)

• Homewood Suites Phoenix-Avondale
• Best Western Phoenix Goodyear Inn
• Quality Inn & Suites Goodyear
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Goodyear – West Phoenix Area
• Holiday Inn Express Goodyear

Dining Recommendations Away from Track (per TripAdvisor.com)

• 1 Brother’s Pizza Inc. – 11435 W Buckeye Rd, Avondale (623) 936-9797
• Rumbi Island Grill – 9915 W. Mcdowell Rd, Avondale (623)-936-1527

Other Area Attractions

• Desert Botanical Gardens – 1201 N Galvin Pkwy Phoenix, AZ 85008, (480) 941-1225; Located in Papago Park, these gardens offer visitors an opportunity to learn about desert flora.
• Heard Museum – 2301 North Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 252-8848; The foremost showcase of Native American art and culture in the U.S., the Heard Museum reveals the cultures of tribes in the region through exhibits, demonstrations and live performances and displays the work of contemporary Native American artists.

Information about Texas Motor Speedway as well as other attractions, lodging and restaurants in the area around the track.

Track Facts

• 1.5 mile Tri-Oval
• 334 laps = 501 miles
• 24 degrees banking in the turns, 5 degrees on the straight-aways
• 191,122 track capacity
• On April 5, 1997, Mark Martin won the first NASCAR event at TMS, a Busch Series event. Jeff Burton won the inaugural Cup Series race in front of a sellout crowd on the next afternoon.
• Carl Edwards is active driver with most wins of 3 races.

Top Rated Hotels
Per TripAdvisor.com

• Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle
• Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club
• Sleep Inn & Suites Speedway
• Hampton Inn and Suites North Fort Worth – Alliance Airport
• Residence Inn Fort Worth Alliance/Airport

Dining Recommendations Away from Track
Per TripAdvisor.com

• Saltgrass Steak House - 5845 Sandshell Dr
  (817) 306-7900
• Cristina’s Mexican Restaurant – 2003 E Hwy 114, Roanoke
  (817) 430-4545
• Sonny Bryans Smokehouse Westport Pkwy – 2421 Westport Pkwy. Fort Worth
  (817) 224-9191
• Snooty Pig Cafe – 2401 Westport Pkwy Ste 120, Fort Worth
  (817) 837-1077

Other Area Attractions

• Bureau of Engraving and Printing – 9000 Blue Mound Rd, Fort Worth, (817) 231 4000; The free, 45-minute guided tours are available Monday through Friday. Tour features include displays and exhibits showing the history of U.S. paper currency, the production process and its technology, an informative 15-minute film of the production process, a quarter-mile long elevated walkway tour overlooking the currency production floor, the Moneyfactory Gift Shop, and three live demonstration exhibits; a turn-of-the century spider press, a mutilated currency redemption desk, and an engraver’s bench. Mon-Fri 8:30 – 3:30, last tour at 2 PM.
• Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District – 131 E Exchange Ave Fort Worth, TX 76106, (817) 624-4741; Historic site, History museum, Town center/square/plaza, Scenic/historic walking area, Mall, Museum, Neighborhood, Historic walking area.

Here are some great tidbits about Martinsville as well as other things around the track.

Track Facts

• .526 mile oval
• 500 laps = 263 miles
• 12 degrees banking in the turns, flat on the straight-aways
• 65,000 seats
• H. Clay Earles built Martinsville Speedway in 1947 as a dirt track before the formation of NASCAR. The first race was run on September 7, 1947 and Robert “Red” Byron won $500 out of a $2,000 purse. The track hosted the sixth race in the NASCAR series (Strictly Stock) that eventually became the NEXTEL Cup Series. It was won by Byron as well in a 1949 Oldsmobile on September 25, 1949.
• Richard Petty is all-time leader of wins with 15 races.
• Jeff Gordon is active driver with most wins of 7 races.

Top Rated Hotels
Per TripAdvisor.com 

• Jameson Inn – Martinsville
• Holiday Inn Express Martinsville
• Hampton Inn Martinsville
• Super 8 Martinsville
• Best Western Martinsville Inn

Dining Recommendations Away from the Track (Make sure you get a Hotdog at the track!)
Per TripAdvisor.com 

• Dixie Pig Barbecue – 817 N. Memorial Boulevard, Martinsville 
  (276) 632-9082
• Rania’S Best Bar And Grill Restaurant Inc – 147 E Main St, Martinsville
  (276) 638-4462
• Captain Tom’s Seafood – 2615 Greensboro Rd, Martinsville
  (276) 666-0326

Other Area Attractions

If you are going to be in the Martinsville area more than just the race, here are some other area attractions.

• Virginia Museum of Natural History – 21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, VA 24112. Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $9 for Adults; $7 for College Students, Seniors (60 and older), and Active Duty Military; $5 for Youth and Children 3 to 18; Free for Members and Children under 3; AAA/AARP discounts available.

By DJ

Great tidbits about Bristol as well as some other things you can do while you are in the mountains of Tennessee.

Track Facts

• .533 mile oval
• 500 laps = 266.5 miles
• 24 to 30 degrees banking in the turns, 6 to 10 degrees on straight-aways
• 160,000 seats
• Jack Smith won the inaugural event, The Volunteer 500, at BMS on July 30, 1961. However, Smith wasn’t in the driver’s seat of the Pontiac when the race ended. Smith drove the first 290 laps then had to have Johnny Allen take over as his relief driver. The two shared the $3,225 purse. The total purse for the race was $16,625.
• Darrell Waltrip is all-time leader of wins with 12 races.
• Jeff Gordon and Kurt Busch are active drivers with most wins of 5 races.

Top Rated Hotels
Per TripAdvisor.com

• Bristol Lodging Service
• Days Inn Parkway
• Hampton Inn Bristol

Dining Recommendations Away from Track
Per TripAdvisor.com

• Blue Circle – 333 Bluff City Hwy, Bristol, (423) 764-4732
• Troutdale Dining Room – 412 6TH St, Bristol, (423) 968-9099
• Simply Delicious Market Place – 2600 Volunteer Pkwy, Bristol, (423) 764-3354

Other Area Attractions

• Bristol Caverns – Hwy 435N, Bristol, TN, (423) 878-2011; March 15-Oct 31 Mon-Sat 9 am – 5 pm Sun 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Nov 1-Mar 14 Mon-Sat 10 am – 4 pm Sun12:30pm – 4:30 pm ; Call for admission prices.
• Pigeon Forge, TN
• Gatlingburg, TN
• Smokey Mountains National Park

 

The NASCAR Hall of Fame that is under construction and scheduled to open in Charlotte early 2010 has kicked off a Commemorative Brick Paver program. Yes, you too can have your own “exhibit” within the Hall inscribed with your witty pearl of wisdom you thought up all by your lonesome after about the seventh beer and the tenth wreck watching the Atlanta race.

I wonder just how many of the following phrases will eventually be found walking along the bricks?

• Earnhardt Forever!
• Earnhart Forever! (bound to be a few who can’t spell)
• Earn♥ 4ever! (please folks, have some dignity!)
• Richard Petty is the KING!
• Go Jeff Go! (or Kyle, or Jimmie, or Tony, or etc, etc)
• Ricky Bobby Rules!
• Gordon Sucks! (or Busch, or Johnson, or Stewart, or etc, etc)
• Rubbing is Racing! (better be at least one!)
• Your Message Here (somebody trying to be funny for the hundredth time)

The choice of brick sizes are either 8” x 8” with six lines of text or 4” x 8” with three lines of text. There is also an 8” x 8” logo brick available that a fan can select among different logo choices. What is interesting is the current roster of logos that are available for order:

Current Stars: Bobby Labonte, Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Elliot Sadler, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Robby Gordon, Sam Hornish Jr., Tony Steward, Michael Waltrip.

Past Legends: Alan Kulwicki, Benny Parsons, Bill Elliot, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Charles Farmer, Chuck Brown, Curtis Turner, Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jarrett, Darrell Waltrip, Davey Allison, David Pearson, Donnie Allison, Ernie Irvan, Glenn Fireball Roberts, Harry Gant, Jack Ingram, Jimmy Spencer, Junior Johnson, Larry Pearson, Lee Petty, Ned Jarrett, Neil Bonnett, Ralph Earnhardt, Randy Lajoie, Richard Petty, Ricky Craven, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Tim Flock, Tommy Ellis.

Teams: DEI, Michael Waltrip Racing, Petty, Roush Fenway, Wood Brothers, Stewart-Hass.

Tracks: Atlanta, Bristol, Infineon, Las Vegas, Lowes, New Hampshire, Texas.

Two-time champ Jimmie Johnson isn’t a current star but Sam Hornish Jr. and Dave Blaney are choices for a current star? Legendary Jimmy Spencer? A legend in his own mind perhaps! Mikey, who did you bribe for your logo?

Finally, no Daytona but thank goodness New Hampshire made the track list!

Whoever came up with the above list is a few bricks shy of a load!