Charlotte Track Night Sets Event Records

CONCORD, N.C. (July 5, 2017) – In the debut Track Night in America driven by Tire Rack event at the famed facility, 90 drivers tackled the same Charlotte Motor Speedway road course that the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series machines will take on during the 2018 playoffs.

In addition to the on-track participants that filled the Novice, Intermediate and Advance classifications, 193 people took part in free touring laps. The touring laps, a staple of every Track Night event, allow spectators to take an on-track lap of the 13-turn, 2.4-mile ROVAL that incorporates all four turns of the NASCAR oval.

The controlled lap total set a new high-water mark for the three-year-old program, designed as the “Fastest Way to Get on Track” for automotive enthusiasts and a way to make on-track experiences at race circuits across the country more accessible to the general public. Fans on track included long time race fans who gained a new perspective and appreciation of their racing heroes.

One such participant, from the KONI Novice Experience, savored his hour of track time, at speed. After years of attending events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Billy Manuel was finally able to get on to the racing surface. And go as fast as he was comfortable in his Dodge Charger.

"I've been coming here for 50 years and never been on track,” Manuel said. “This is great!"

The event got an additional unsolicited promotional boost thanks to the Twitter account of Mike Joy (@MikeJoy500) and a plug from Joy during the FOX NASCAR broadcast from Sonoma.  The long time sports car enthusiast, SCCA member, and esteemed broadcaster attended the event with his son, Scott.

Track Night in America driven by Tire Rack takes place at venues across the country. Participants need little more than a well-maintained car and a helmet to participate in the KONI Novice Experience for first time track participants, or the Falken Fast Pass options available for Intermediate or Advanced groups. Paced laps are always free during the events. Available venues and sign-up opportunities can be found at www.TrackNightInAmerica.com.

 

About SCCA Track Night in America:

Driven by Tire Rack, SCCA Track Night in America is “The Fastest Way to Get on Track” for automotive enthusiasts. Launched in 2015, Track Night in America was developed by the SCCA Experiential Programs Dept. as a way to make on-track experiences at race circuits more accessible to the general public. The Sports Car Club of America®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 116 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Chevrolet, the Official Truck of the SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Mobil 1, the Official Oil of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit www.scca.com.

Photo by Tradd Slayton