DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE AMERICAN ROAD TRIP
Nascar Homelands
Daytona - Charlotte
Stops on this Route:
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Make the most of your US road trip with something from our American Collection:
Nascar Homelands
Stop 1: Daytona International Speedway 1/10
Start your NASCAR adventure on the sands of Daytona Beach, the birthplace of American stockcar. Racing enthusiasts and former bootleggers first took to the beach here in the early 20th century. A track soon followed in the form of the Daytona International Speedway and the 101,500-seater stadium is still home to the fabled Daytona 500, the most prestigious race in the NASCAR calendar.
Nascar Homelands
Stop 2: Atlanta Motor Speedway 2/10
Stop off at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on your way north. Racers first took to the asphalt here in 1960, and this long-standing fixture on the NASCAR calendar is still one of the fastest races around. Film buffs might recognise a few of the corners, with the course used as a filming location for 2017 heist comedy Logan Lucky and ’80s classic Smoky & The Bandit II.
Nascar Homelands
Stop 3: Talladega Superspeedway 3/10
At 2.66 miles, Talladega Superspeedway is the longest circuit on the NASCAR calendar – and was the setting for the 2006 comedy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. It was built in the late ‘60s as a faster, tougher alternative to Daytona – one that would separate the amateurs from the professionals, where racers average up to 190mph.
It’s also believed to be cursed, having been built on the site of a former Native American burial ground, and several tragic accidents over the years have contributed to the legend. (Image credit: Broadbandito, Flickr)
Nascar Homelands
Stop 4: Bristol Motor Speedway 4/10
Experience NASCAR at its rawest and most intense at the amphitheatre-like Bristol Motor Speedway – the loudest track on the championship calendar, where volumes reach 140dB. Expect average race speeds of between 80 and 100mph on this pocket-sized, concrete-paved, 0.533-mile oval. (Image credit: Jarrett Campbell, Flickr)
Nascar Homelands
Stop 5: North Wilkesboro Speedway 5/10
North Carolina is the NASCAR state, with many of the sport’s most successful drivers and iconic teams originating here. Swing by the abandoned North Wilkesboro Speedway, once the primary location for the ‘90s Tom Cruise retro-classic, Days of Thunder.
Nascar Homelands
Stop 6: Richard Petty Museum 6/10
Think of famous NASCAR drivers and one name will be on every list: Richard Petty. Head north towards Greensboro and the Richard Petty Museum to discover the story behind the legend, known to many as The King. NASCAR’s most celebrated and successful driver – he took 200 wins from his 1,184 race – and patriarch to the four generations of Petty family racers, this museum is dedicated to the Petty’s ongoing involvement and success in this much-loved motorsport. (Image credit: Raine Carraway, Flickr)
Nascar Homelands
Stop 7: NASCAR Hall of Fame 7/10
Arrive in Charlotte, the HQ of NASCAR operations. First, you’ll want to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame, unearthing the trials, tribulations and tales behind this great sport, its drivers and its most celebrated heroes.
Charlotte is the base for many of NASCAR’s current team entries, including the mighty Hendrick Motorsports. Head to the Hendrick Museum to trace the history of the NASCAR legends and learn about all the work that goes on behind the scenes before getting a car to a racetrack. (Image credit: David Berkowitz, Flickr)
Nascar Homelands
Stop 8: Kannapolis 8/10
Think of famous NASCAR drivers and one name will be on every list: Richard Petty. Head north towards Greensboro and the Richard Petty Museum to discover the story behind the legend, known to many as The King. NASCAR’s most celebrated and successful driver – he took 200 wins from his 1,184 races – and patriarch to the four generations of Petty family racers, this museum is dedicated to the Petty’s ongoing involvement and success in this much-loved motorsport. (Image credit: Meredith Travel Marketing)
Nascar Homelands
Stop 9: Mustang Owner’s Museum 9/10
Think of the quintessential American muscle car, and the chances are you’ll go straight to the Ford Mustang. The hero of films like Bullitt and Gone in 60 Seconds, it’s also the car of choice for a proper US road trip. Arguably the best place to see the icon up close is at the Mustang Owner’s Museum in Concord, North Carolina. Opened in spring 2019, it’s the first – and only – Mustang museum in the world, displaying more than 50 of these pony cars, including models from high-performance tuners such as Roush.
Nascar Homelands
Stop 10: Charlotte Motor Speedway 10/10
You’ve seen the circuits and possibly even watched a race – now it’s time to head to the centre of the NASCAR world and try one for yourself. Many teams are based here, the Charlotte Motor Speedway is where you can not only watch bumper-to-bumper racing, but try out the NASCAR Racing Experience and take to the track. The speed, sensation and sound will be like nothing you’ve felt before – and it’ll be a fitting end to your NASCAR road trip. (Image credit: Charlotte Motor Speedway)
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