Charlotte: The Queen City of Racing

With a host of big-name NASCAR competitions held throughout the year, the "Queen City" is definitely a hub for all things auto racing. Even beyond the track, there's still plenty of history and entertainment to rev up excitement for the whole family during your Charlotte visit.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

The smell of burning rubber, the sound of revving engines, the crowd roaring with delight—welcome to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Known as "The Beast of the East," the speedway annually hosts several major stock car racing events—each drawing upward of 134,000 enthusiastic fans. The big races are typically held in the spring and fall, but the speedway offers other exciting events year-round. If you miss race day, you can still get a thrill on a guided tour of the pit road, Victory Circle and more. Fasten your seat belt and take a ride on the actual track, experiencing the 24-degree banked turns for yourself.

Nascar Hall of Fame

Racing simulators, real-life pit displays and a full-size hauler make this no ordinary museum. History comes alive in the form of 31 maintained automobiles that span the history of race car development, along with numerous educational films and displays. Gearheads will love tinkering with the fully operational engine dynamometer or one of the other 50-plus interactive kiosks. With something for everyone, the Hall of Fame spans more than 150,000 square feet and exhibits nearly 1,000 artifacts over four floors.

Michael Waltrip Racing Tour

Wonder how race cars become such finely tuned machines? A visit to Michael Waltrip Racing, 30 minutes north of Charlotte in Cornelius, will answer all of your questions and more. The tour gives you behind-the-scenes access to every aspect of race car assembly and manufacturing and is open to all ages. First, perch atop a catwalk to view actual work in progress at two machine shops and the paint booth. You'll observe the assembly of gears and transmissions, chassis and suspensions, and shocks and springs. The second segment is a guided tour that leads you to the hauler bay, where the transporter trucks are housed, the pit practice arena and the fabrication shop.

Richard Petty Driving Experience

Sit in the driver's seat and experience what it's like to drive a racecar.

Why simply watch a race when you can be in one? Get behind the wheel of your own race car and feel the adrenaline surge. With a variety of packages to choose from, the Richard Petty Driving Experience gets you right out on the same Charlotte Motor Speedway that the professionals use. Feel the explosion of energy as you hit the gas on your 600-horsepower race car and fly over the banked turns of the historic track. If that's a bit too much for you to handle, you can ride along with a professional driver and just hold on for dear life instead of worrying about spinning your own car out of control.

Victory Lane Karting

If you're infected with the excitement of stock car racing but don't have the desire—or the courage—to get out on the motor speedway itself, make a pit stop at Victory Lane Karting. Decked out in a helmet and racing jump suit, you'll be safe from the elements, but not from the wall or other drivers. Even though you may not experience the 600-horsepower of a real race car, you'll reach speeds of up to 45 mph, which feels much faster when you're sitting just two inches off the ground. Kids age 8 and older can join in the fun.

Memory Lane Museum

Drive back in time to the Memory Lane Museum in Mooresville, a short half-hour drive north of Charlotte. From yesterday's moonshine runners to today's high-performance race cars, the museum traces the development of stock cars through many one-of-a-kind displays that include drag cars, sprint cars, soap box derby cars and go-carts. See how safety features have evolved over the years when you view the display of wrecked race cars of all types. Movie fans will surely enjoy the display of cars used in the hit film, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

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