Charlotte

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Brings Thousands of Fans to the Queen City

For more than fifty years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has set the standard for motorsports entertainment for fans of all ages. The Mecca of Motorsports is the only race vacation destination where fans can immerse themselves in the heart of NASCAR country. Visitors can attend one-of-a-kind race spectacles such as the Coca-Cola 600 and NASCAR Sprint All- Star Race; take behind-the-scenes speedway and race shop tours; explore the new NASCAR Hall of Fame; and drive an 800-horsepower stock car. May comes alive with motorsports in Charlotte through nearly two weeks of NASCAR-related events, including festivals, concerts, unique activities, and of course racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which will host two of the premiere events on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 21 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is the annual dash for cash in NASCAR’s top series. The biggest names in the sport, including Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, will
compete in a no-holds barred “throwdown” for bragging rights and the grand prize, a $1 million payout.

From Dale Earnhardt’s legendary “pass in the grass” in the 1987 event to the dramatic final 10 laps of the 2009 race that gave Tony Stewart his first win as a team owner, the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has produced many of the sport’s greatest moments.

The 2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race festivities will kick off with a special concert in the infield for the fans featuring country-music star Dierks Bentley.

A battle of the toughest trucks on the planet also takes place as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series takes to the 1.5-mile oval for some beating and banging in the N.C. Education Lottery 200 on May 20.

Coca-Cola 600

Auto racing and American patriotism are both celebrated over Memorial Day Weekend with a full slate of NASCAR events at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Coca-Cola 600 on May 29, the yearly iron-man endurance race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, serves as the culmination of two weeks of activities in the heart of NASCAR country. The 600-mile test of will and durability will pit 43 of stock car racing’s best against each other in a slugfest to determine the winner of one of NASCAR’s most prestigious races.

Before the Coca-Cola 600, fans will be treated to the annual patriotic salute to the U.S. armed forces during the one-of-a-kind pre-race show.

Coca-Cola 600 week kicks off with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying at Windstream Pole Night on Thursday, the Circle K World of Outlaws May Showdown on Friday at the Dirt Track at Charlotte
and the NASCAR Nationwide Series race, the Top Gear 300, on Saturday.

The World’s Largest HD Video Board

In 2011, May also marks the debut of the world’s largest HD video board overlooking the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The approximately 80-feet wide and 200-feet tall screen, built by Panasonic, will cover 16,000 square feet, weigh 165,000 pounds and be lit with more than nine million LED lamps - now THAT is big-time entertainment! Fans will never miss a minute of the action on the giant screen, which will provide live race coverage, continuous running order, instant replays and interactive entertainment.

Tours, Driving Schools, Special Events and More!

While in town for the races, fans can take part in a host of activities that celebrate Charlotte’s unique position in the motorsports world and help make Charlotte Motor Speedway the greatest place to see the race.

For nearly two weeks in May, NASCAR fans can immerse themselves in countless events that celebrate their favorite sport. From the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena on May 19, to the Food Lion Speed Street festival May 26 – 28, to countless fan appreciation day events at area race team shops, spectators in town for the races can take in a host of NASCAR-related activities to truly make their trip to Charlotte in May special and unique.

In addition to special events, there are a number of options for fans to take a speedway, race shop, or NASCAR Hall of Fame tour to get a behind-the-scenes look at the history and inner-workings of NASCAR.

Also, Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts a number of driving schools at the track, which give fans the opportunity to get behind the wheel of an 800-horsepower stock car. The Richard Petty Driving Experience is the exclusive provider of ride-alongs following each NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Each ride-along participant receives three laps in a NASCAR Sprint Cup-style stock car at speeds approaching 160 mph in cars driven by professional Richard Petty Driving Experience instructors. Fans can call 1-800-BE-PETTY for more information or to make a reservation.

Camping

Charlotte Motor Speedway offers a variety of affordable camping options from standard to full-service sites for May race weeks and throughout the year. Premium camping is available in the Tom Johnson Camping Center Racing Resort within walking distance of the speedway, zMAX Dragway or The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The resort features more than 400 sites equipped with hookups for electricity, water/sewer and a picnic table. Modern restrooms/shower facilities and a large pavilion for clubs and special events are close by. With thousands of standard sites throughout the speedway property, there’s a campsite conveniently located near every grandstand and to fit every family’s budget.

The speedway also offers pre-packaged sites with all the equipment. Call the Charlotte Motor Speedway camping specialists at (704) 455-4445 for complete details.

Tickets

Individual event tickets, season ticket packages and other special ticket promotions are available for all of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s May events. For more information visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call the speedway’s ticket office at (800) 455-FANS (3267).