Starting in Concord, NC at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, this road trip hits up the NASCAR Hall of Fame, raceways, and speedways, and will fill you up with seafood shacks and BBQ joints.
Your first stop is the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Designed and built in 1959, this has become a premiere stock car racing destination. Just 13 miles from Charlotte, the speedway offers RV rental units if you decide you wanna camp for the weekend , catch the races and tailgate in your own rental RV.
2
North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame
Next up is the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame, which covers everything from drag racing to stock-car racing, and showcases the best that motorsports has to offer. Check out more than 40 cars, and revisit some of racing's greatest moments in history. The best part: All proceeds from this nonprofit go to SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now).
Another essential racing Hall of Fame is Charlotte's own NASCAR Hall of Fame. There are tons of interactive stations that provide an immersive experience for gearheads of all types. The 150,000-square-foot high-tech facility also features a state-of-the-art theater. Oh, and if you get hungry there's a Buffalo Wild Wings on site.
4
Hudson's Smokehouse
When you're in the mood to fuel up on some delicious road food, head to Lexington, South Carolina's Hudson Smokehouse. This iconic barbecue joint serves up hearty portions of delicious southern fare. Tip: The Sunday buffet features favorites like ribs and shrimp and grits.
5
Pirate's House Restaurant
Or if you'd like your meal with a heaping side of history, drive a little further to Savannah, Georgia's historic Pirate's House Restaurant. This pirate-themed joint will absolutely fill you up on standard Southern delicacies, but it's the ambiance here that really makes this place a must-visit. The walls of the restaurant's Treasure Room are full of framed pages from a very rare, early edition of "Treasure Island," in which author Robert Louis Stevenson mentions Savannah several times, and it's believed some of the action in the classic adventure book actually took place in the historic Pirate's House itself! Tip: Try the fried green tomatoes.
From Savannah, drive to Waynesville to hit up a race at the Golden Isles Speedway just off US-82. Considered one of the best dirt tracks in all of the South, it opened in 1967 and has been a racing fixture ever since.
7
Singleton's Seafood Shack
Just over the border in Atlantic Beach, Florida, head to Singleton Seafood Shack. This place was featured on Guy Fieri's TV show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" and is known for its fresh seafood. In fact, they've won renown for their Cajun fried grub!
Then, it's on to the New Smyrna Speedway off SR-44. This asphalt track is a little less than half a mile in length, but it showcases some of the best racing East of the Mississippi. Every Saturday night you can catch the Florida Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing stock cars at the track!
Lastly, finish up your Southern-fried man-cation with a visit to the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. First held in 1959, the Daytona 500 has become the most significant and prestigious race in all of NASCAR. Today, you can treat yourself with the "Richard Petty Driving Experience", which takes you around the track at an epic 150 mph for the most adrenaline-pumping white-knuckle drive of your life.
Ready to hit the road for some of the East Coast's best southern speedtracks? Make sure to check out the racing schedules before you hit the road, as many of the races on these southern speedways are held on weekends.
Valvoline Instant Oil
You’re ready for your road trip. Make sure your car is, too. Stop by your neighborhood Valvoline Instant Oil Change for a drive-thru oil change in about 15 minutes. You can stay in your car while we do the work. Plus, you’ll get a free 18-point vehicle inspection to help you get ready for the road.
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