Just because there’s no Sprint Cup race scheduled this
week doesn’t mean race fans won’t have plenty to do in
the Charlotte area.
Charlotte Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and five
of the top teams in NASCAR are participating in Charlotte
Speedfest, scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
One of the highlights will be an appearance at Charlotte
Motor Speedway by 2011 Hall of Fame inductee David Pearson, who
will sign autographs starting at 2 p.m. Pearson won a record 14
poles at Charlotte, including a stretch of 11 in a row.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is offering free vouchers for its
simulator rides, available at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket
office. Fans must purchase a Hall of Fame admission to take
advantage of the free simulator rides.
Fans can attend the festivities free of charge. On Saturday
only, they can purchase ticket packages to races at Charlotte that
carry additional benefits. The first 30 fans to purchase qualifying
premium ticket packages will receive a free Richard Petty Driving
Experience track ride.
Those who purchase $150 or more in tickets will get the
opportunity to race their personal vehicles down the strip at zMAX
Dragway, receive a free one-night hotel stay and a free piece of
Sam Bass Racing art.
Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas
Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing also are
providing special opportunities in conjunction with Charlotte
Speedfest.
The Roush Fenway Racing gift shop and museum in Concord will
be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., featuring 15 percent discounts
on all 2011 merchandise plus a free 3D-gaming show car simulator
display.
At Hendrick Motorsports, also in Concord, the museum and
team store will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with 15 percent
discounts on all regularly priced merchandise. Fans also will
receive a free Jimmie Johnson team championship hat with purchases
of $50 or more.
In Huntersville, N.C., Joe Gibbs Racing’s gift shop
will be open from noon to 2 p.m. and feature 20 percent discounts
in conjunction with the team’s celebration of 20 years in
NASCAR.
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in Concord will be open from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. with show car and trophy displays, plus special
merchandise discounts. The team will offer a free Jamie McMurray
2010 Daytona 500 victory poster with a $25 purchase and a free
McMurray Daytona 500 victory hat with a $50 purchase.
In Kannapolis, N.C., Stewart-Haas Racing will offer a 20
percent discount on all merchandise in its gift shop, excluding
sheet metal. Fans can get a free team shop shirt with the purchase
of $50 or more.
Although the Cup and Nationwide series have the weekend off,
the Camping World Truck Series resumes Saturday at Darlington
Raceway, about three hours south of Charlotte. The Too Tough to
Tame 200 is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET.
