Raleigh Durham Day Trips - Nascar Race Days For The Family
This week's "day-tripping" article is not just for sports fans and the promoters of this sport is going to make sure that's a sure thing. Just a few weeks ago, my series took us to Charlotte and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The HOF is a family-oriented museum dedicated to the history of the kind of racing that was born in the Carolinas. Over the years, the sport has undergone a few extreme make-overs and has evolved into a sport attracting millions of dollars in advertising, attendance and apparel. A visit to any of our nearby Sprint Cup tracks would find a huge crowd of fans spanning every demographic and economic group, however the recent downturn in the economy has led to, just like in Raleigh real estate, a "buyer's market" in sports.
There are five races coming up in the 2010 season that would make great day trips from the Raleigh-Durham area: Bristol (8/21), Atlanta (9/5) which may be a stretch at 370 miles but still great for a weekend, Richmond (9/11), Charlotte (10/16) and Martinsville (10/24). I was a big race fan about 15 years ago and still follow the sport from time to time and my most recent surprise was watching the Brickyard 400 last month and seeing all the empty seats in the stands. In fact, I made mention of it on my Facebook page. More than two-thirds of the Sprint Cup races this year have seen a decline in attendance compared to last year and officials and promoters are offering some unusual incentives to lure fans back to the tracks.
Within the last year, the Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted various concerts on race day, cornhole tournaments, grilling tournaments, potluck dinners for campers and allowed season ticket holders to attend the tracks press conferences. This year, the track is adding adding tours to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and to some of the sports top race shops, tours which are separate from a race ticket and something no other track can offer.
Since much of the decline in attendance has been driven by the economy, several tracks have special deals like the two free tickets to the Richmond Cup race next month for spending at least $250 at participating Home Depot stores in the Norfolk and Richmond areas and $19 student tickets to the race in Atlanta. Martinsville even sells a $25 adult ticket. Bristol Motor Speedway has had trivia contests on its Facebook page for free tickets and is having drivers such as points leader Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Elliott Sadler give away race tickets via Twitter.
By the way, here's one I just heard about. The speedway in Atlanta is prepared to feed any ticket-holding fan who sticks around until Labor Day morning following the Sunday night Sprint Cup race. To the thousands of campers scattered around the grounds, that's a free meal. Hey...let them say "there's no free lunch," I prefer breakfast anyway.
There are tons of family race tours available online or you can contact the track directly and just hop in the car and go, just make sure to watch your speed. The whole family will have an unforgettable time. with pit passes, premium seating, and personal tours of the tracks you've only seen on television!
Next time on the day trip series with Rick Freeman, we'll go island hopping to Southport and Bald Head Island so gentleman (and ladies), STOP your engines because we'll be going from racing to relaxing. See you next time!
There are five races coming up in the 2010 season that would make great day trips from the Raleigh-Durham area: Bristol (8/21), Atlanta (9/5) which may be a stretch at 370 miles but still great for a weekend, Richmond (9/11), Charlotte (10/16) and Martinsville (10/24). I was a big race fan about 15 years ago and still follow the sport from time to time and my most recent surprise was watching the Brickyard 400 last month and seeing all the empty seats in the stands. In fact, I made mention of it on my Facebook page. More than two-thirds of the Sprint Cup races this year have seen a decline in attendance compared to last year and officials and promoters are offering some unusual incentives to lure fans back to the tracks.
Within the last year, the Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted various concerts on race day, cornhole tournaments, grilling tournaments, potluck dinners for campers and allowed season ticket holders to attend the tracks press conferences. This year, the track is adding adding tours to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and to some of the sports top race shops, tours which are separate from a race ticket and something no other track can offer.
Since much of the decline in attendance has been driven by the economy, several tracks have special deals like the two free tickets to the Richmond Cup race next month for spending at least $250 at participating Home Depot stores in the Norfolk and Richmond areas and $19 student tickets to the race in Atlanta. Martinsville even sells a $25 adult ticket. Bristol Motor Speedway has had trivia contests on its Facebook page for free tickets and is having drivers such as points leader Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Elliott Sadler give away race tickets via Twitter.
By the way, here's one I just heard about. The speedway in Atlanta is prepared to feed any ticket-holding fan who sticks around until Labor Day morning following the Sunday night Sprint Cup race. To the thousands of campers scattered around the grounds, that's a free meal. Hey...let them say "there's no free lunch," I prefer breakfast anyway.
There are tons of family race tours available online or you can contact the track directly and just hop in the car and go, just make sure to watch your speed. The whole family will have an unforgettable time. with pit passes, premium seating, and personal tours of the tracks you've only seen on television!
Next time on the day trip series with Rick Freeman, we'll go island hopping to Southport and Bald Head Island so gentleman (and ladies), STOP your engines because we'll be going from racing to relaxing. See you next time!
