Motorsports near the triangle?

[GLTHFJ60]

This year I plan to get out and watch more motorsports with my father in law. A NASCAR race is in my future, but I'm also looking for racetracks that put on fun events around the triangle.

I see Piedmont Dragway, Roxboro Motor Sports, Wayne County Drag Strip and Galot motorsports park that are relatively close. I then see the Wake County Speedway and Orange County Speedway. Looks like Wake County speedway has a selection with four classes, and Orange County looks to be the same.

Has anyone been to any of the racetracks around here? Are there demo derbies or dirt track racing nearby?

EDIT: Tracks below with some notes from personal experiences.


Piedmont Dragway
Piedmont Dragway
Address: 6750 Holts Store Rd, Julian, NC 27283
- up to IHRA drag racing

Roxboro Motorsports Park
http://www.roxboromotorsportspark.com/
Address: 1452 Thomas Store Rd, Timberlake, NC 27583
- drag racing

Wake County Speedway
Latest News
Address: 2109 Simpkins Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603
- "good NC redneck stuff"
- quarter mile, stock car, etc.

Charlotte Motor Speedway
Home
Address: 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027
- nascar, nhra, dirt oval, torc racing series

VIR
www.virnow.com
Address: 1245 Pine Tree Rd, Alton, VA 24520
- lemons, hyper fest, gold cup classic (in october)

Bowman Gray Stadium
Official Site of Bowman Gray Racing - Home
Address: 1250 S Martin Luther King Jr, Winston-Salem, NC 27107
- just like wake county in feel
- circle track

Rockingham Dragway
.:: Rockingham Dragway ::.
Address: 2153 N US Hwy 1, Rockingham, NC 28379
- drag racing

Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway - Martinsville Speedway
Address: 340 Speedway Rd, Ridgeway, VA 24148
- nascar
- first race day march 23-25 2018

311 speedway
311 Motor Speedway
Address: 4390 US-311, Pine Hall, NC 27042
- dirt oval
- "daytona of dirt"

 

[mtweller]

Wake County Speedway is a trip. Often there are drivers fighting in the pits and sometimes fans in the stands. Good NC redneck stuff. You and bring in a 6-pack cooler. Just a word of warning, don't wear flip flops or long pants that might drag the ground to the trough bathroom. Ask me how I know that's a bad idea.

 

[forrest5000]

I’ve gone to the 600 at Charlotte motor speedway, for about five years , could care less about the race . The tailgating and the rest of the activities around are Worth it . Ask @lowtops

 

[izzyandsue]

If Danville VA (Milton NC) is not too far, thats the home of Virginia International Raceway, the largest road racing circuit in the US, and an amazing facility. Strongly recommend to watch races there, camping allowed too. May 18th is the Hyperfest, and besides all the high speed stuff they have off-road as well.

 

[izzyandsue]

And this is an hour south of Charlotte, but a hell of a weekend and show.

Race – 24 Hours of LEMONS

 

[GLTHFJ60]

VIR and Charlotte are both on the list for sure! I'm looking primarily for local places that are easier to do as a day, or afternoon, trip.

 

[lt1fire]

Can't help much with things up that way but I went to just about every race held at the charlotte race complex (Drag, Nascar, dirt track) throughout the years. The one advantage working in the trucking industry and safelite had in that market was all the tickets we got from different teams we either sponsored or did work for.

Plus I did the Mud races at big lick, drifting, the now dead Uwharrie race (first time i'd been out there and was amazing), tractor pulls, tug o war, etc.....

NC has a lot going on when it comes to motorsports. The only things it was missing were my favorite kind of racing (rally, desert, Lemans)

If you ever make it out this way in your travels we can catch one of the rally events here and drink some good beers.

 

[erymer]

Wake County Speedway is a trip. Often there are drivers fighting in the pits and sometimes fans in the stands. Good NC redneck stuff. You and bring in a 6-pack cooler. Just a word of warning, don't wear flip flops or long pants that might drag the ground to the trough bathroom. Ask me how I know that's a bad idea.

Sounds like every race night here at Bowman Gray Stadium. lol

 

[erymer]

If Danville VA (Milton NC) is not too far, thats the home of Virginia International Raceway, the largest road racing circuit in the US, and an amazing facility. Strongly recommend to watch races there, camping allowed too. May 18th is the Hyperfest, and besides all the high speed stuff they have off-road as well.

Funny you should mention this. At the risk of being a complete tease, we had another club just reach out to Stacy about having some ONSC participation to the off road stuff. Still collecting info at this point but once we are able to get enough details we'll share what they have going on.

 

[izzyandsue]

I will PM on you this, I do have some first hand knowledge

 

[lumbee1]

This sounds like the making of a club event.

 

[jamesurq]

And this is an hour south of Charlotte, but a hell of a weekend and show.

Race – 24 Hours of LEMONS

One of these days we'll find a land cruiser thats crap enough for us to make a Lemons "racer" out of it..... I'm in for that, when the time comes.

That said, Bowman Gray is a blast. If you like Nascar people watching, you'll love Bowman Gray.

 

[NCFJ]

We used to watch the reality show about Bowman Gray, was funny as heck.

 

[izzyandsue]

Every can has a lid.....

 

[GarnerFJ40]

Rockingham is only a 1.5 hour drive south of Raleigh...

 

[erymer]

Another one I would absolutely plan on doing if it comes back it the Torc racing series. I went to the one in Charlotte a couple years back and @lt1fire was there as well. had an absolute blast.



TORC 2018 PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE | TORC

 

[fj40z]

@GLTHFJ60 Martinsville is 25 minutes from my house. If you wanna go I’d definitely be down. Used to go to a lot of NASCAR races but haven’t been to one in almost 20 years. I kinda want to go to Martinsville though since it’s so close.

Also 311 Speedway is about 10 minutes from the house. It’s a dirt track that’s been around for years that recently reopened.

 

[jfz80]

This sounds like the makingnof a club event

Redneck Run anyone?
Shouldnt be any contention over the title

Ive never been to a nascar race so i suppose im due. Johnny. Theres a bed and an aerobed here if you like.

Bowman Gray 45 min
311 raceway 15 min
Martinsville 45 min.

Im sure @Rice has some caraway stories

 

[stevezero]

I think one of the late model/modified races at Martinsville would be better than the big series races. more cars, race your way in, etc. VIR would be cool too, along with 311. I havent been to a dirt track in at least 20 years. I'm not sure I'm up for the Madhouse (Bowman Gray). I have too many teef in my mouf

 

[NCFJ]

Local dirt track and paved tracks are a lot more fun than whatever they call Winston Cup these days. The Cup cars have become so homogenized and drivers have become so PC it is sad. A driver is asked a question about his driving and the answer uses the plural "we". All to stress that it is a team sport. I remember when you could tell the type car due to the body, because they were real cars and then even the bodies were made to look like a real car.

I grew up going to Flemmington Speedway in NJ, great dirt track, then they paved it Sitting in the first 5-10 rows in turn one required safety glasses due to dirt being flung. So cool to watch cars fly down the straight and all of a sudden, bang, going sideways using opposite lock steering through the turns using the skinny pedal to steer.