While it was not a sellout crowd, attendance for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway was very good considering what it cost to see a race these days. A few empty seats could be seen but Hardcore Race Fans packed the grandstands for the most part.

One major concern among fans is the rising cost of fuel. The average for one gallon of regular gasoline among Charlotte, North Carolina area gas stations is $3.89 this Memorial Day weekend.

Many fans have expressed their concerns through polls and interviews conducted during 600 race week by HardcoreRaceFans.com. Several said they would do "whatever it takes to get to the track," and others saying they would have to cut back the on number of races they will attend this year.

Some fans displayed messages on their vehicles expressing their allegiance to the sport in light of the current economy. HardcoreRaceFans.com spotted one SUV on Bruton Smith Blvd. sporting "we sold the house for gas...Charlotte bound."

One reason the Lowe's Motor Speedway enjoyed a good crowd for the 600 in these turbulent times is due to their dilligence in being fan friendly. The speedway worked hard to accomdate fans with ticket packages, allowing thousands to attend several different events for a discounted overall price. Also, it didn't hurt that the Charlotte area experienced beautiful weather with temperatures in the seventies most all week.

Speed Street in uptown Charlotte announced a collective crowd of "several hundred thousand" visitors during the three day racing celebration and The Dirt Track at Lowe's packed the granstand for Friday night's World of Outlaws Sprint Car show.

Hardcore Race Fans proved once again that racing is alive and well in Charlotte and that there are no other fans like Hardcore Race Fans.