Charlotte, North Carolina – Home of InvestEd 2008

Things to Do, Places to Go, Sites to See

NASCAR and Sporting Facilities

The National Association for Stock Car Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) selected Charlotte to be the home of its Hall of Fame, which currently is in the building phase. Check out the various links for NASCAR activities.

NASCAR (motor sports)
5555 Concord Parkway South
Concord NC 28027
Phone: 800-455-3267

Charlotte is NASCAR's hometown, so you can bet there's plenty to do around town on a race weekend! Race promoter/car dealer Bruton Smith and driver Curtis Turner formed a partnership to build a 1.5-mile oval track north of Charlotte in 1959. On June 19, 1960, the first World 600 was run at the new facility. Three NASCAR Nextel Cup Series events, two Busch Series races and a Craftsman Truck Series race, are among the major events held on the 1.5-mile super speedway. Other events on the various tracks include a weekly nationally televised short-track series for Legends Cars, Bandoleros, and Thunder Roadsters, as well as World Karting Association regional, national, and international races.

NASCAR Scene
120 W Morehead Street #320
Charlotte NC 28202
Phone: 704-371-3966

SceneDaily is the online presence of NASCAR Scene, the nation's leading weekly publication in the sport. Specializing in the Sprint Cup and the Nationwide and Craftsman Truck series, SceneDaily delivers the most comprehensive NASCAR coverage you'll find anywhere.

Lowe’s Motor Speedway (motor sports)
5555 Concord Pkwy S
Concord NC 28027-4600
Phone: 704-455-3200

The stadium-style facility has nearly 15,000 seats and hosts Dirt Late Models, Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Monster Trucks, and more. Lowe's Motor Speedway also annually presents two of the nation's largest car shows and swap meets: the Food Lion AutoFairs in April and September. With track rentals and track events, the speedway is used more than 300 days per year.

Giftshops and Museums (and some tours) are available for many of the NASCAR teams. Some are listed here:

Penske Racing
Penske Racing
200 Penske Way
Mooresville NC 28115
Phone: 704-664-2300

Penske's three NASCAR teams, two NEXTEL Cup and one Busch, occupy 240,781 square feet (that’s eight acres!) of this complex. Fans may stroll through a large gift shop or watch the crews prepare for upcoming NASCAR races from a 330-foot fan walk

Dale Earnhardt, Inc
Dale Earnhardt Hwy 3
Mooresville NC 28117
Phone: 704-662-8000

Fans stopping at Dale Earnhardt Inc. will see uniforms that Dale wore throughout his entire career, trophies of Dale Earnhardt Inc. drivers, the Chevrolet in which Martin Truex Jr. clinched his 2005 Busch Series victory, showcases or memorabilia featuring well-known drivers, and other racing collectibles.

Richard Petty Museum
142 W Academy Street
Randleman NC 27317
Phone: 336-495-1143

Available for purchase are Richard Petty and Bobby Labonte sweatshirts, logo golf shirts, kid’s shirts, hats, license plate frames, mugs, and much more.

Richard Childress Racing Museum
180 Industrial Drive
Welcome NC 27374
Phone: 366-731-3389 or 800-476-3389

RCR Museum and Gift Shop includes Richard Childress’ personal collection of hot rods, along with a view of many of RCR's greatest race cars, including the 1998 Daytona 500 winning car Dale Earnhardt drove to victory. The museum offers a self-guided tour.

Joe Gibbs Racing
13415 Reese Boulevard West
Huntersville NC 28078
Phone: 704-944-5000

The spacious Joe Gibbs Racing Souvenir Store, located inside the JGR Raceshop, offers exclusive merchandise, as well as many popular items no NASCAR fan should be without.

Bank of America Stadium
800 S Mint St
Charlotte NC 28202
Phone: 704-358-7407

The Bank of America Stadium, a 73,504-seat open-air football facility first opened in 1996 as the Carolinas Stadium, is the year-round home of the Carolina Panthers. It features many unique elements, such as massive arches and towers at the entries. Public tours of the stadium are offered each Wednesday. The stadium also has been used to host a Rolling Stones concert, NCAA men's soccer championships, and a Billy Graham crusade. Since Bank of America acquired naming rights of the stadium in 2004, many local folks refer to the facility as "The Vault" or "The Bank.".

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