The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina has combined the history of racing with the high-tech world of today to offer something of interest to every generation of race fans.
The 150,000-square-foot facility is located in uptown Charlotte and is an interactive entertainment attraction which was built to honor the history and heritage of NASCAR. The Hall of Fame has blended that history with high-tech attractions that appeal to today's generation of fans.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame's Glory Road and Great Hall
Referred to as the "Times Square" of the Hall of Fame, The Great Hall has rotating exhibits and an interactive 14'x14' video billboard with. On opening day, visitors could view Jimmie Johnson's four NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship trophies in the Great Hall.
Glory Road allows visitors to see 18 historic cars that are a part of racing history. Fans can walk along the racing surface as they experience the high banks that make up many NASCAR tracks. Although the cars will be rotated to keep the display fresh, the original group of cars provides a history lesson for NASCAR fans as it shows the evolution of the sport and its drivers.
Fans Can Participate in Race Week at NASCAR Hall of Fame
From changing a tire to driving a car, the Race Week and Simulator Experiences give fans a unique look at what goes into preparing and driving a race car.
Fans can look at an engine, practice changing a tire and fueling a car, take a walk through a full-size NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler and then take the wheel of one of eight iRacing simulators. To help with the authenticity of the simulator cars, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. helped develop the software and former Sprint Cup Champion Terry Labonte developed the cars.
Fans can feel the excitement of driving the simulator cars as they start the engines, shift gears and practice their driving skills while competing against each other.
Heritage Speedway at NASCAR Hall of Fame is Rich in Artifacts
From NASCAR fan Charlotte Simpson's private collection of over 2,000 Jeff Gordon die-cast models to a moonshine still that Hall of Fame driver Junior Johnson helped assemble, the collection of artifacts on display in the Heritage Speedway gives a snapshot of racing across the ages.
Trophies, pictures, outdated timing and scoring equipment, and fire suits share space with race cars driven by legendary drivers on tracks across the south. Videos help explain the significance of the displays and the people who were a part of its history.
The Charlotte area is home to most NASCAR race teams and drivers, which makes it a popular location for NASCAR's tribute to its past. Fans who visit the Charlotte area for races or to tour the race shops of their favorite drivers will now have another race-related attraction to add to their agenda.
2010 Hall of Fame Inductees
Former drivers Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson and Richard Petty along with NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr., and former NASCAR president, chairman and CEO Bill France, Jr., were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.
The Hall opened to the public on May 11, 2010. Its artifacts will be rotated to keep the content fresh for the fans.
Rosalie Thompson - Rosalie Thompson enjoys writing about NASCAR, real estate, gardening and travel in the Southeastern United States. After graduating from ...
