Bank of America 500 (Charlotte, Concord, Huntersville: how much, house, school)

[SunnyKayak]

Bank of America race is coming up October 11th.
photo image off some radom photobucket user

IM SO PUMPED AND TICKLED thanks again stripes17 of informing on how to get those two free tickets in the Turn 4 Club.

I was watching this past weekends race and saw some kid bouncing back and forth at the bottom off the fence and I thought... I wonder how much soda he had to drink .....LMAO

Im excited and concern about this race since im rather new to this race world. I know I have to wait to see what to wear later when that forcast comes out and I know I will probably need two different outfits or probably 4 depending how much someone elses beer get spilled on me.

What do people do all day? If it is a night time race and you arrive after 2pm what do you do to kill time in the mean time?
Do you people watch?

Once you go in the gate can you come back out? and do they use a hand stamp or wrist band to know?
I understand you can tail gate and I never tail gated but will take my partner tail gate but do people invite you over to their gatherings like eat out on their portable grills? etc

I know the race will go on from 2pm til 2am and wow I use this time to catch a nap while my partner watches the race so I am actually pumped and excited because this is totally out of my realms of things I enjoy.

If I am coming from Huntersville would it be wise to head down Poplar Tent Rd to Derita rd to Concord Mills Blvd?
Or should we route are selves into Charlotte and come up Hwy 29?

Who else is going? Who are you pulling for and who do you think will win since those sometimes can be different

Thank you Bank of America for doing the 2 ticket giveaway.
Thats the Carolina spirit Im talking about

[Doorway]

Sunny, I can't answer not even one of your questions but I have to tell you I have the goose bumps reading this. Your excitement is radiating out of my screen and into my home. I hope you have the time of your life!!!!!!!

[Stripes17]

I went to this race a couple of years ago. We took Poplar Tent across 85 and then took Pitt School over to 29 and then down to the track. We parked in the last section of the speedway closest to the Auto Museum on northbound 29. It's a decent walk to the track and back to the car, but we got right out onto the highway after the race. It took us 45 minutes from the parking spot to our home in Mooresville. That's not bad!!!

We got to the track really early that day. I think about noon. We bought some food and walked around the concession trailers. Then we watched the Speed TV Raceday broadcast outside the main track entrance.

There's also stuff going on inside the track as well. There's concerts, sometimes they have stunt driving, drag car exhibitions, etc.

Just go with an open mind and enjoy all that goes on. It's really a spectacle for a first time fan. Driver introductions, opening invocation, the national anthem all take place before the command to start the engines. You'll also get to see some type of military aircraft do a flyover at the end of the anthem. It's awesome to see our military power that up-close and personal.

As far as who to root for, that's up to you. Discussing which driver you pull for can be as senstive as politics and religion! It's fun to watch the fans cheer and boo the drivers out there.

Have a great time. Let us know how you liked it.

[aardvarks]

Originally Posted by SunnyKayak

Bank of America race is coming up October 11th.
photo image off some radom photobucket user

IM SO PUMPED AND TICKLED thanks again stripes17 of informing on how to get those two free tickets in the Turn 4 Club.

I was watching this past weekends race and saw some kid bouncing back and forth at the bottom off the fence and I thought... I wonder how much soda he had to drink .....LMAO

Im excited and concern about this race since im rather new to this race world. I know I have to wait to see what to wear later when that forcast comes out and I know I will probably need two different outfits or probably 4 depending how much someone elses beer get spilled on me.

What do people do all day? If it is a night time race and you arrive after 2pm what do you do to kill time in the mean time?
Do you people watch?

Once you go in the gate can you come back out? and do they use a hand stamp or wrist band to know?
I understand you can tail gate and I never tail gated but will take my partner tail gate but do people invite you over to their gatherings like eat out on their portable grills? etc

I know the race will go on from 2pm til 2am and wow I use this time to catch a nap while my partner watches the race so I am actually pumped and excited because this is totally out of my realms of things I enjoy.

If I am coming from Huntersville would it wize to head down Poplar Tent Rd to Derita to Concord Mills Blvd?
Or should we route are selves into Charlotte and come up Hwy 29?

Who else is going? Who are you pulling for and who do you think will win since those sometimes can be different

Thank you Bank of America for doing the 2 ticket giveaway.
Thats the Carolina spirit Im talking about

Hello Sunny, we went to the Bank of America 500 last yr and had a great time.

As far as getting there, you're better off avoiding 29 as long as possible, take Poplar Tent to Odel school rd, it comes out right by the track.

We brought a grill and lots of fixins and tailgated for a while. Next we went across the street from Lowes next to the dirt track, all of the sponsors have booths set up and have contests and giveaways going which are a lot of fun.

We then found our seats about 90 minutes before the race, and watched all of the driver introductions and our nations colors.

Than I cheered on the 16 car.

A couple of things to remember:

Be sure to bring ear protection, those cars are loud, it's like 43 Harley Davidson's going by your house 500 times.

and

Bring good walking shoes, you will be walking a long way.


PM me if you have other ??????.

[ellemaew]

Last year, CATS also had a bus service from the Northlake Mall that left something like on the hour up until about 2 hours before the race started. They pick you up right across the street from the entrance to the track after the race. Last year it was about $20/person, not sure what it would be this year, or if they have it even. It was kind of nice to sit back and let someone else worry about the traffic.

As far as going in and out of the track, you can do that all day long. Usually they just re-check your ticket stub. Where they can get really picky is your seats - when we went to Infineon my daughter didn't take hers with her when she went to the bathroom and I had to take it to her to get her back down to her seat.

There are souvenir trailers to browse through, people to watch, tons of food to eat, demos to watch... ditto ditto ditto what aardvarks said - wear comfortable walking shoes!!!!! I will be curious to see what the pre-race show is this time - Humpy always had quite the spectacular show - at the spring race last year they had guys rappelling down from military helicopters into the stands, howitzers blowing things up.... And for an extra $100/person you can get a pit pass - honestly, after doing it last year, I wouldn't do it again - at least not for $100. They also have one this year for $130 that gets you a garage tour and into the pre-race concert, but that's a lot of money!!

Oh, and I'm pulling for Tony Stewart - his lucks gotta change sometime!! As far as winning, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jimmy Johnson win - he's really good at Lowe's - and good in general (dang, that hurts to say

[jaynarie]

I will be there and the way you mentioned is the way I go. Afterwards, sometimes you may be directed in another direction. After the All-Star race, I was forced to get on SB 85 I then got of on WT Harris and went up to 77. Another time I was redirected onto Pitts School Rd.

I am a 9 fan I have seen him win 4 Cup races (which is huge because he has won 9 races + the All Star race. So, I have been there when he won almost half his races!!!)


And, free tickets? Are they still giving away free tickets? I haven't bought mine yet (was waiting on my dad and now he isn't coming).

[Stripes17]

Originally Posted by jaynarie

And, free tickets? Are they still giving away free tickets? I haven't bought mine yet (was waiting on my dad and now he isn't coming).

Here's the link to the deal Sunny got in on...

Charlotte Observer - Carolina News Panthers Hurricanes Sports Banking NASCAR Racing | www.charlotteobserver.com

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by Stripes17

Here's the link to the deal Sunny got in on...

Charlotte Observer - Carolina News Panthers Hurricanes Sports Banking NASCAR Racing | www.charlotteobserver.com

I got my tickets on Thursday at a kannapolis branch and I got the last ones at that branch but there is also higher fan base in that area.

The website says BOA purchased 1600 tickets so technically there only giving away to 800 new customers since they give two and they are all in the Turn Four Terrace. I called various branches to verify if they had tickets then put 4 locations in my GPS in case one ran out before I got there. Best non scientific way to scope out branches for you is to think of branches in areas that you would feel there isnt much of a fan base.

Not everyone who reads the observer is a Nascar fan nor not all Nascar fans read the observer so you may have a chance wish you or anyone luck. I will have to say it great PR and they now have me as a customer .

[Hoagie58]

I'll be at the race. As a matter of fact, I won a contest, and get to drive a Tundra for driver intorductions. I am so freaking stoked I cant stand it!!! Not sure if it's a TOS violation to do so, but thanks WSOC for this awesome opportunity!!! Sunny, I'll be sure to wave to you! Yo'll have a great time!! Oh- Go Tony!!!!

[aardvarks]

Wow! that's cool Hoagie, congrat's.

Be careful, especially if you're driving Biffle around. LOL