Jay Pennell
Sprint Cup Correspondent
HardcoreRaceFans.com

Hardcore Race Fans making the trip to the Charlotte, NC area this week for the annual Memorial Day weekend race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway have a number of things to do and see in Race Country USA. Outside the shopping, partying and socializing at the track itself, there are many things going on this week catered to you, the race fans.

14th Annual Food Lion Speed Street

This annual festival of speed, food and fun takes place once again in the heart of Uptown Charlotte (that’s downtown for you visiting race fans). From Thursday, May 22nd until Saturday, May 24th, NASCAR takes over the main drag in Charlotte to allow fans the chance to meet some of their favorite drivers, listen to great live music, enjoy sponsor give-a-ways and eat some wonderful food – all within walking distance. Three stages are set up at different locations throughout the festival that will showcase various live acts including Flyleaf, Seether, Kellie Pickler, Chevelle and Travis Tritt – just to name a few. Friday night, the Coca-Cola Stage will host the weekly program Trackside Live with Steve Byrnes, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Hammond and others.

Friday, fans will have the chance to meet some of their favorite drivers, and if they are lucky, get an autograph or two. Drivers such as Ryan Newman, Bobby Labonte, Casey Mears, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Petty and Matt Kenseth, among others, will be on hand. Fans will be required to have a wristband in order to receive an autograph. Saturday, NASCAR legends Bobby Allison and Richard Petty will be on hand. Always a great time, the Food Lion Speed Street gives fans the opportunity to get away from the track and see the Uptown Charlotte area. Sponsor freebies and good eats are always a plus, and anytime fans have an opportunity to get an autograph is worth the trip.

7th Annual Gillett Evernham Motorsports Fan Appreciation Day

Up the road a bit (I-77 to I-40 to be exact), Gillett Evernham Motorsports is hosting its seventh annual Fan Appreciation Day at the team’s race shop in Statesville, NC on Friday, May 23rd from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Fans are invited to come take part in the festivities and tour the race shop. GEM drivers Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler, Patrick Carpentier and Chase Miller, along with co-owner Ray Evernham will be on hand to sign autographs at 9 a.m. If you would like to be a part of this autograph session, you will be required to have a wristband (400 wristbands will be given out at 7:30 a.m.).

“Fan appreciation day is one of the days I really look forward to,” Evernham explained. “It's our chance to return the dedication the fans have given us all year. We put a lot of hard work and preparation into giving our fans an enjoyable day here at the shop, so we hope everyone will come join us for a great event." Fans will also be able to enjoy pit stop and fabrication shop demonstrations, get an up-close look at show cars and browse the team’s gift shop. A silent auction will also be held to benefit Ray Evernham’s foundation, Racing For a Reason.

Gillett Evernham Motorsports is located at 320 Aviation Drive, Statesville, NC 28677. For more information – including directions – be sure to visit www.gillettevernham.com.

3rd Annual Chip Ganassi Racing w/ Felix Sebates Fan Appreciation Day

Also taking place Friday, May 23rd is the annual CGRFS Fan Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Located just minutes from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, fans will be able to take extended tours of the team’s shop, watch pit stop and car wrapping demonstrations and take advantage of discounted team merchandise. Drivers Juan Pablo Montoya, Reed Sorenson, Dario Franchitti, Bryan Clauson and Kevin Hamlin will be signing autographs noon – 2 p.m. gain, wristbands are required and can be obtained at the team’s shop.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sebates is located at 8500 Westmoreland Drive NW, Concord, NC 28027. For more information, visit www.chipganassiracing.com.

Penske Racing Fan Fest

Another option for Friday (May 23rd) is the Penske Racing Fan Fest, held at the team’s shop from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. This unique shop is the home to not only the Penske Racing NASCAR teams, but also its Indy Car and American Le Mans Series teams. Fans making the trip to this beautiful facility will not be disappointed with number events going on. From 7 a.m. until 11 a.m., Penske Racing will be host to a live broadcast of Sirius Satellite Radio’s NASCAR Channel program “The Morning Drive” with hosts Mike Bagley and David Poole. Fans will be invited to tour the 425,000-square-foot facility and earn up to 10% off team merchandise. Race simulators and remote control cars will be available, while fans will have the chance to win raffle baskets containing unique autographed items (all proceeds go to the drivers’ charity of choice).

Again, fans visiting this Fan Fest will have the opportunity to get an autograph from Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Sam Hornish Jr. 200 tickets will be distributed beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the autograph session lasting from 9:30-11:00 a.m. "The Penske Racing Fan Fest is a great way to not only give something back to our loyal fans, but give them a peek into our shops and show them what it takes to run championship-caliber teams," explained Jonathan Gibson, Vice President, Marketing, Penske Racing. "We're going to have a lot of fun with our NASCAR stars out in force and we also have some surprises in store for our special guests."

Penske Racing is located at 200 Penske Way, Mooresville, NC 28115. Make sure to visit www.penskeracing.com for more information and directions to the shop.

JR Motorsports Fan Fest

Home of the Junior Nation, JR Motorsports will be home to a host of activities both Thursday and Friday (May 22nd and 23rd). Fans will be able to tour Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide Series and late-model race shop, as well as take part in give-a-ways, raffles, games and live entertainment. Thursday will see performances by the NAVY Band, a video game challenge and pictures with Killer, Dale Jr.’s pet boxer. Friday, fans will get the chance to meet Kelly Earnhardt-Elledge, Brad Keselowski, Landon Cassill and others starting at 12:30 p.m. 400 tickets will be distributed for the autograph session beginning at 10 a.m.

The National Guard will be on hand Friday to host the National Guard Physical Training Challenge. Fans will be invited to test their might against some of our nation’s best in a PT Challenge with the chance to win No. 88 merchandise. QVC will also be taping the program “For Race Fans Only” live from JR Motorsports from 8-10 p.m. Limited space is available, but fans are invited to attend before you leave JR Motorsports disappointed, be warned, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is not scheduled to make an appearance at this Fan Fest.

JR Motorsports is located at 349 Cayuga Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117. For more information and directions, please visit www.dalejr.com.

Victory Lane Karting 24 Hours of Charlotte

Can’t get enough racing? If you don’t have tickets for Saturday’s events at Lowe’s Motor Speedway but still want to see some great racing, head to Victory Lane Karting Center for the 24 Hours of Charlotte. The only 24-hour indoor karting race in North America, teams will test their endurance on the 11-turn, 1/3-mile indoor road course starting Saturday, May 24th at noon and ending Sunday, May 25th at noon. Fans will be asked to make a small $5 donation at the door. Half of the team’s entry fees ($1,500 per team) and 100% of the donations made at the door will go to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte.

“We are pleased to be part of the finest and largest racing community in the United States,” Fred Ogrim, owner of Victory Lane Karting Center explained. “A 24-hour race is a perfect fit for Charlotte and a great event for our track. We believe strongly in contributing to the community and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte is a perfect match.”

Fans are more than welcome to stop by and catch some of the intense on-track action. Sponsor booths will be set up in the lobby featuring products from Simpson, Red Bull, Shock Doctor, Midas Spring Water and others.

The Victory Lane Karting Center is located at 2330 Tipton Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28206. The center is open seven days a week and offers racing for adults and kids alike. Drivers testing their abilities on the track are required to wear a driver’s suit and helmet before strapping into the 9 HP Sodi Karts. VLK also plays host to a wide variety of corporate and team-building events. For more information on the 24 Hours of Charlotte and racing at Victory Lane Karting Center, be sure to visit www.victorylanekarting.com or call (704) 377-FAST.

Rite Aid Outlaw Showdown

The stars of NASCAR are not the only ones to hit the track this weekend at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The World of Outlaw Sprint Cars will run the Rite Aid Outlaw Showdown Friday night, May 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Located across Highway 29 from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s offers fans a great facility to witness some of the world’s best dirt track racers going head-to-head for a purse of $76,540.

Tickets for Friday night’s event are only $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Spectator gates open at The Dirt Track at 5 p.m., with Hot Laps beginning at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.