Since its founding in 1947, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, or NASCAR, has been the stuff of dreams. Every teenager who ever crouched behind the wheel of the family sedan for the first time harbored visions of speed, zooming around the banked ovals of their minds before ever attempting that first parallel parking maneuver.
That’s because, unlike other forms of automotive competitions like Formula 1, sprint car, or even dragsters, NASCAR is a stock car racing series. The cars look like the cars we all drive every day – sort of. They’re the cars we drive every day taken up a few notches, with racing engines, aero kits, fiberglass bodies, roll cages, and tons of other upgrades that make them faster, better handling, and more challenging to drive. Today’s NASCAR vehicles are capable of running at over 200 miles per hour on the track, while a consumer sedan like the Toyota Camry tops out at 133 mph (don’t test this at home).
NASCAR races take place on banked 2.5-mile oval tracks in a counter-clockwise direction, and run from 400 to 500 miles, depending on venue and event. That means the cars only turn left, and run the same course 160 to 200 times in an afternoon. Sounds kind of monotonous – except it isn’t. The endurance, reflexes, concentration and driving skill on display is mesmerizing and compelling to watch, and the visual, sonic and visceral impact of dozens of race cars rounding the track at once can be very exciting.
NASCAR has always known that relating to its fans is the key to its popularity, so it created opportunities for fans to get closer to drivers during race weekends, and to actually get behind the wheel of a race-driven NASCAR vehicle on a NASCAR track in the NASCAR Racing Experience.
Offered at stepped levels of participation from a ride-along with a professional driver all the way to an unrestricted advanced track experience, the NASCAR Racing Experience is a compressed driver training/orientation/driving course all in one day. Drivers begin with a classroom session, where they learn the basics of operation and the rules of the track. Each driver is fitted with a racing suit and helmet for use during track time – drivers wear their own shoes and gloves. Each car is outfitted with a communication system, and a spotter and driving coach guides the driver around the oval at all times. After sufficient practice laps, drivers are set loose on the track in an organized fashion. Unlike many track situations, passing is allowed during the NASCAR Racing Experience, approved and supervised by spotters and coaches, of course.
Drivers must have a current valid driver’s license to participate, and be a minimum of five feet tall/maximum of six feet, seven inches, minimum of 100 lbs/maximum of 300 lbs. The doors on NASCAR vehicles don’t operate – so you have to be spry enough to crawl into and out of the car through the window. If you have serious health conditions, this experience is probably not for you.
Prices start at $149 for a three-lap ride-along, and go up in steady increments up to $3,099 for a 48-minute track adventure. Drivers with more experience and demonstrated ability are enabled to drive cars with fewer performance restrictions.
NASCAR Racing Experience events are held at multiple locations across the country, including Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Dover International Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Kentucky Motor Speedway, Homestead Miami Speedway, Richmond International Raceway, ISM Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Myrtle Beach Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway.
Visit the NASCAR Racing Experience website for schedules, locations, pricing and further information. NASCAR runs frequent specials with significant price reductions, and also has a gift program.
Why not pick a great track location, and use BestWestern.com to find a nearby Best Western Hotels & Resorts property to make a great mini-vacation from your NASCAR Racing Experience?
