With most of NASCAR’s teams and drivers based nearby, Lowe’s Motor Speedway is NASCAR’s hometown track. With two of the sport’s premier races -- the Nextel All-Star Challenge and the Coca-Cola 600 -- crammed into a nine-day stretch, the Charlotte stop is always one of the best in NASCAR.

The track hosted its first NASCAR race, the World 600, in 1960, and continues to host NASCAR’s longest race, now known as the Coca-Cola 600. Since 1985, Charlotte has also hosted all but one of NASCAR’s mid-season all-star events.

In 2005, the track service was ground down in a process called “levigating” that led to a NASCAR-record 20 cautions during the Coca-Cola 600, mostly due to tire trouble. Drivers complained so much that the track was completely resurfaced.

Many fans combine a trip to the Charlotte race with a chance to visit many of the teams’ raceshops, which are located in the Charlotte area, particularly in Mooresville, or to visit the state’s Auto Racing Hall of Fame. In 2006, it was announced that Charlotte would be the home to the new NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Another favorite for race fans is a stop at Quaker Steak & Lube, a motorsports-themed restaurant located just a mile west of the speedway on Gateway Lane in Concord.

Track website

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Where to stay:

Quality Inn Rock Hill,SC 2625 Cherry Rd, (803) 329-3121

Where to eat:

Cracker Barrell 7809 Lyles Ln, Concord, NC (704) 979-0404

Sidetrips:

Paramount Carowinds, Charlotte, NC (704) 588-2600

Photos:

Track Winners
1960

• Joe Lee Johnson
• Speedy Thomson

1961

• Richard Petty
• Joe Weatherly
• David Pearson
• Joe Weatherly

1962

• Nelson Stacy
• Junior Johnson

1963

• Fred Lorenzen
• Junior Johnson

1964

• Jim Paschal
• Fred Lorenzen

1965

• Fred Lorenzen won both races

1966

• Marvin Panch
• LeeRoy Yarbrough

1967

• Jim Paschal
• Buddy Baker

1968

• Buddy Baker
• Charlie Glotzbach

1969

• LeeRoy Yarbrough
• Donnie Alison

1970

• Donnie Alison
• LeeRoy Yarbrough

1971

• Bobby Alison won both races

1972

• Buddy Baker
• Bobby Alison

1973

• Buddy Baker
• Cale Yarborough

1974

• David Peason won both races

1975

• Richard Petty won both races

1976

• David Pearson
• Donnie Alison

1977

• Richard Petty
• Benny Parsons

1978

• Darrell Wltrip
• Bobby Alison

1979

• Darrell Waltrip
• Cale Yarbrough

1980

• Benny Parsons
• Dale Earnhardt

1981

• Bobby Alison
• Darrell Walrtip

1982

• Neil Bonnett
• Harry Gant

1983

• Neil Bonnett
• Richard Petty

1984

• Bobby Alison
• Bill Elliott

1985

• Darrell Waltrip
• Cale Yarbrough

1986

• Dale Earnhardt won both races

1987

• Kyle Petty
• Bill Elliott

1988

• Darrel Waltrip
• Rusty Wallace

1989

• Darrell Waltrip
• Ken Schrader

1990

• Rusty Wallace
• Davey Alison

1991

• Davey Alison
• Geoffrey Bodine

1992

• Dale Earnhardt
• Mark Martin

1993

• Dale Earnhardt
• Ernie Irvan

1994

• Jeff Gordon
• Dale Jarrett

1995

• Bobby Labonte
• Mark Martin

1996

• Dale Jarrett
• Terry Labonte

1997

• Jeff Gordon
• Dale Jarrett

1998

• Jeff Gordon
• Mark Martin

1999

• Jeff Burton
• Jeff Gordon

2000

• Matt Kenseth
• Bobby Labonte

2001

• Jeff Burton
• Sterling Marlin

2002

• Mark Martin
• Jamie McMurry

2003

• Jimmie Johnson
• Tony Stewart

2004

• Jimmie Johnson won both races

2005

• Jimmie Johnson won both races

2006

• Kasey Khane won both races

2007

• Casey Mears
• Jeff Gordon

2008

• Kasey Khane
• Jeff Burton

2009

• David Reutimann