Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a premier motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, just outside the city of Charlotte. It is renowned for hosting major NASCAR events and is a central hub for stock car racing culture. The Speedway spans nearly 2,000 acres and features various racing configurations, including oval, road course, and karting tracks. It plays a significant role in NASCAR’s heritage and modern racing activities.
History
The speedway was designed and constructed in 1959 by two motorsport pioneers: O. Bruton Smith, a prominent automobile dealer, and Curtis Turner, an early NASCAR star and promoter. Their vision was to build a 1.5-mile superspeedway that could rival prestigious racing venues. The construction process faced significant challenges—including blasting through a solid granite slab and overcoming financial difficulties—that pushed initial costs higher than expected, from an original $1 million estimate to closer to $2 million. Despite the hurdles, the complex officially opened on June 19, 1960, hosting its inaugural race, the World 600 (now known as the Coca-Cola 600).
In the early 1960s, financial hardships and ownership changes occurred, with Smith temporarily losing control but regaining majority ownership by 1975. Smith then hired H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler as general manager, and together they focused on facility improvements, including adding grandstand seating, luxury suites, enhanced concessions, and amenities. A seven-story tower, known as Smith Tower, was completed in 1988, housing corporate offices, hospitality areas, and the exclusive Speedway Club.
The speedway broke new ground in 1992 by installing a lighting system capable of daylight simulation, allowing it to become the first track to host night racing. In 2018, Charlotte Motor Speedway introduced the “ROVAL,” a 2.28-mile, 17-turn road-oval hybrid course, marking the first road course race in NASCAR Cup Series history.
Most Famous Races Held
Charlotte Motor Speedway is best known for two flagship NASCAR Cup Series events: the Coca-Cola 600, held annually since the track’s opening, and the Bank of America ROVAL 400, which started with the addition of the ROVAL course in 2018. The track has historic significance as the site of milestone events such as Janet Guthrie becoming the first woman to race in a NASCAR Cup Series event in 1976 and Jeff Gordon winning his first Cup Series race in 1994. The World 600 was originally designed to rival iconic endurance races, emphasizing the Speedway’s high status in American auto racing.
Track Information
The primary oval track at Charlotte Motor Speedway is 1.5 miles long, with high-banked turns designed for high-speed stock car racing. The complex also includes a 2.28-mile ROVAL course that combines the traditional oval with a road course layout to challenge drivers with 17 turns, a unique feature in NASCAR. Additionally, the facility contains a 2.25-mile road course and a karting track, supporting various racing disciplines and events.
The Speedway is deeply intertwined with the NASCAR ecosystem, with over 90% of NASCAR teams based within the Greater Charlotte area. It generates approximately $450 million annually and is a cultural touchstone within the community, also hosting exclusive hospitality and entertainment venues.