Super fans know that Charlotte, NC is the home of NASCAR, and racing season is already underway! If you're visiting Lake Norman and want to spend a perfect day exploring all things NASCAR, we have your guide to the area's top racing attractions.
A racing fan's guide to Mooresville
Start your day at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Here, die-hard fans and novices alike can enjoy the authentic stock cars and drag racers while learning the fascinating stories behind them and the drivers who made them famous. Displays and memorabilia include historic moments from racing and NASCAR legends, past and present.
Can't get enough? Check out Memory Lane Museum - a classic car museum, NASCAR museum, muscle car museum, movie museum, toy museum, and history museum all in one! Featuring over 100 vehicles on display, this unique museum is an impressive collection of automobiles and related items.
If you're feeling the need for speed, Trackhouse Motorplex is an outdoor, 0.7-mile, 11-turn karting facility open to the public seven days a week, year-round. With karts that reach speeds up to 55 mph, the experience delivers an exciting and high-adrenaline racing experience.
To round out your day, visit JR Motorsports and/or Penske Racing for an insider's look at some famous race shops. JR Motorsports is Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 66,000-square-foot facility that offers guided tours and an extensive gift shop. At Penske Racing, visitors can view the race shop from above via a 432-foot fan walk to see the NASCAR truck bay, set up plates and work stations while team members prepare the race cars. You may even catch a sighting of your favorite driver as they walk through the shop! Don't forget to visit the fan store for a souvenir.
Before the day is done, be sure to grab a bite to eat at Lancaster's BBQ, where the entire restaurant is filled with racing memorabilia.
A racing fan's guide to Concord & Kannapolis
Charlotte Motor Speedway is the main event for NASCAR enthusiasts, and visitors there will be met with a number of activities to enjoy, including attending events, taking guided tours and visiting The Dirt Track which hosts thrilling events such as monster trucks and sprint cars.
For an extreme adrenaline rush, you can get behind the wheel and drive the track yourself with a racing school partnered with the speedway. Prices and offers vary.
Before or after visiting the speedway, fans can drive The Dale Trail around town, including a visit to the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza. Get your map of the stops on The Dale Trail at the Cabarrus County Visitor Information Center.
If your appetite is fired up as much as your spirits, Michael Waltrip Taproom is worth a pit stop for an extensive beer menu, delicious food, and sports galore.
A racing fan's guide to Charlotte
True fans will want to carve out plenty of time to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the attached gift store, The Gear Shop, in Charlotte. With more than 50 interactive experiences, including an iRacing simulator, guests of all ages will delight in everything the museum has to offer.
Before you head home, be sure to visit SouthBound, a popular restaurant serving Southern California street food in the hip South End neighborhood. NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson is one of the co-owners!
Where to Stay
There's really no choice other than a luxury lake house when you're spending time in the Lake Norman area. StayLakeNorman offers vacation rentals with high-end amenities and concierge services that exceed expectations. If your stay leads to falling in love with the idea of living on the lake or investing in a property of your own, our real estate team will be your guide to making that dream a reality.
