Warning: For those of you who are allergic to redneck sports, this will probably not have much interest for you.
Actually, NASCAR is not really a redneck sport any more. It is huge business. Today, my wife and I experienced just a tiny portion of that world during our short vacation trip to Charlotte. I think I can safely say that today was an eye opener for both of us.
We started our day at Lowes Motor Speedway which is owned by Bruton Smith and Speedway Motor Sports. SMS owns and operates seven of the tracks that host races in the 36 race NASCAR season. The other tracks are Las Vegas Motor Speedway (where the race is this weekend), Texas Motor Speedway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol (Tennessee) Motor Speedway, Infineon (California) Raceway, and as of last fall, New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Lowes is where I first reminded how much business is behind everything about NASCAR. My wife, Mary, and I took a tour of the track and the guide filled us in on the fact that the track is in use pretty much every day. This weekend, for instance, there is a huge go-cart event at the track. There are also the driving experiences that operate at the track, taking turns giving fans the opportunity to either ride in a race car, or actually drive a race car. Those experiences start at around $100 to ride in a race car at 180 miles per hour, and go all the way up to over $3,000 to drive a race car a total of 80 laps at speeds over 160 miles per hour.
The companies that offer the racing experiences are owned by both current and former stars of NASCAR. The most familiar is The Richard Petty Driving Experience. But both Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett are affiliated with other companies in that business. All three companies have dates scheduled at many of the tracks around the country where NASCAR races.
Our tour around the track was done in a 12-passenger van with a running history of the track provided by our driver, Arlene. She also filled us in on the facts and figures for the track. Arlene has worked at the track since 1969, and has been a guide since 1989, so she knew a lot of facts. The highlight of the tour was when Arlene pulled out on the track and took us for a one lap circuit of the track. With the steep banking in the turns, it honestly felt like our van could just flop onto its side. Mary was convinced we were doomed…but at the same time would love to go back and do it again. It was a great experience for $5.00 per person.
We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting the operations of Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and Michael Waltrip Racing (Raceworld, U.S.A.). By far the best race shop to visit is the new facilities Michael Waltrip has created out of a closed-down multi-plex movie theater. Visitor can walk above virtually every area of the operating race shop and see what goes on as the crews get cars ready for upcoming races.
Keeping in mind that each shop prepares cars for three to four drivers, and each time has 8-12 cars under some phase of the building process, and each car costs in the neighborhood of $275,000 to build, you can get some kind of idea how much money is involved in NASCAR. At Hendrick Motorsports, there are over 600 full-time employees at any given time. No, NASCAR racing is certainly not the redneck sport it started out as.
Tomorrow we are going to continue our tours of a couple more race shops and then head back to Raleigh to pick up our pup from the kennel where she’s boarded. This trip has been so much fun so far I hate to think about going back. But the best part is, I think the seed has been planted to get Mary to come back to Lowes for an actual race weekend.
Awesome post! Living in Indianapolis, the town is buzzing all year with motorsports. Also many racing teams reside here in Indianapolis and the surrounding suburbs.
John Force
Andretti Racing
Glidden Racing
Just to name a couple of heavy hitters.
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Dazd: Before moving to North Carolina, I lived in Lafayette, IN. Sadly, I never took an opportunity to visit the Brickyard. I guess it never dawned on me that there would be any reason to go to the track at times other than when there’s a race there. On one of my trips back to see my kids I will be making a pilgrimage there. When I was a kid we listened to every Indy 500 on the radio on Memorial Day.
Scott: We did have a very good time. Now we’re talking about making one of the races in May at Lowes Motor Speedway. We already have tickets for the New Hampshire race in September. My daughter lives up there and is expecting a baby in July, so we have the perfect excuse for the trip. It’s just a bonus to be able to go to a race.
Sounds like you are enjoying your playtime. This is good to hear, as we all need to take the time and enjoy ourselves from time to time. I too am a fan of auto racing. I actually will be making my first trip over to Indianapolis in the morning. The purpose is to watch my son compete with his drum line, but I am hoping to be able to make it over to The Brickyard and have a look around. And for those of you who don’t get the whole racing thing, you just need to go one time. The thrill of seeing all of these cars going so fast, so close is just unbeliveable.
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whoohoo..now were cooking Lee I wish I was there with you..I have seen a lot of them butI would go again without hesitation..I am green with envy…:)))))
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No, certainly not a redneck sport and especially when NASCAR has been expanding nationwide in the past decade and for the last couple of years into Canada and Mexico.
Last year we went to the Cayuga Speedway to see monster trucks crushing anything.
Canadian NASCAR season begins in May and I am surprised early-bird tickets for Cayuga are only $25. I’m going !
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Jaffer: I hadn’t realized that NASCAR had acquired the old CASCAR series. It makes perfect sense with their ambition to expand into a wider North American market. As a side note, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s new shop is on Cayuga Road in Mooresville, NC, as is Kasey Kahn Racing. I don’t think the name is a coincidence.
Mimi: The Message in a Bottle meme is so great, I understand why you haven’t been around! I’m honored that you take time to visit when you do.
Kathy: They wouldn’t have thrown you out of the van…at least not until they got back to the pits.
I haven’t been around lately. I apologize. I’ve been lost at sea.
Your message bottle is now afloat in the vast blogosphere ocean. You are Message In a Bottle #67.
Feel free to toss in a bottle whenever you feel the urge to send a message. The blog ocean is always open. You never know what might wash ashore.
Message In A Bottle #67
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I’m not a NASCAR fan, but my Dad, brother and his wife are. It never interested me, but it’s fun to hear them talk about their favorite drivers and all the latest news. They speak of it in an almost religious way
What a cool tour you had. That part about feeling you’d tip over? That’d be the part where I’d be screaming, and then everyone would kick me out of van. Who let the crazy woman in?
Glad you’re having so much fun!!
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Just popped by to say congrats on winning the Post of the Day from The Rising Blogger. Very well deserved I would say as that was an excellent post.
Also, don’t worry about passing the award on – this isn’t one that you pass on. You accept it, you say thank you, you post about it and put it on your sidebar, and then you gloat a bit! Or at least pat yourself on the back for a post well-written!
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Linda: Thank you. This was a very unexpected, but much appreciated honor. I’m almost speechless. Almost, but not quite!