racing, with Bank of America 500 Week just days away. As a part of the
ongoing Fans First initiative at Charlotte Motor Speedway, visitors
can expect plenty of recently-added amenities, events, displays and
upgrades at The Greatest Place to See the Race. Below is a sampling of
what's new for October.
Facility Enhancements
New Fan Zone Combines Souvenir Rigs, Powerade PlayZone, Interactive
Displays
The most noticeable upgrade at Charlotte Motor Speedway this October
will take place outside the track in the reconfigured Fan Zone,
located outside Turns 1 and 2 near the speedway's main entrance. The
Fan Zone will now include the popular souvenir rigs, which were
previously located across Highway 29. This move will alleviate some of
the Highway 29 pedestrian foot traffic on race day and make it more
convenient for fans to find and buy their favorite driver's gear. The
Fan Zone will also include the enhanced Powerade PlayZone, which will
be located across from Gate 6, conveniently located for parents
adjacent to the restrooms. The Powerade PlayZone will feature a Ferris
wheel, racing-themed inflatable slides, bounce houses, face painters,
balloon twisters, jugglers and a special Kazoobie Kazoo program on
Friday, Oct. 14, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Santa Claus will also stop by
the Powerade PlayZone for an early holiday visit. The new Fan Zone
will also include popular corporate trackside displays and live
entertainment, including the Sprint Experience and SPEED Stage.
Renovated Restrooms on the Frontstretch
The restrooms on Charlotte Motor Speedway's frontstretch concourse
received a renovation over the summer that included several upgrades.
All of the toilets and sinks in the men's and women's restrooms were
replaced, and new flush valves were installed to increase the overall
efficiency of the facilities. The restroom floors and walls also
received a fresh coat of paint.
Tickets and Upgrades
New Smoke-Free Section, Expanded Family Seating Section Tickets Now
Available
Charlotte Motor Speedway is offering a new smoke-free seating option
for the Bank of America 500 on Oct. 15. Alcohol is permitted, but the
Ford Grandstand, New Veranda and Club Deck and Upper Terrace Sections
AA-G located on the frontstretch are now smoke-free. Also, the Family
Seating Section, which is smoke-and-alcohol free, has moved to the
Toyota Fourth Turn Terrace Sections X-GG. The Family Seating Section
will feature an inflatable monster truck bounce house, face painter,
caricature artist, remote control cars, appearances by Lug Nut, racing-
themed booster seats and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Coca-Cola Fan Van.
Bank of America 500 Pit Passes Good for Three Days; Kids Pit Passes
are Free
Take a tour of the pit area with a pre-race Pit Pass and look for your
favorite NASCAR driver, take pictures of race cars and see behind-the-
scenes action before the green flag drops on Oct. 15. Bank of America
500 Pit Passes now include access to Pit Road and limited areas in the
infield on Thursday, Oct. 13 starting at 3 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 14
starting at 2:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 15 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Pit passes can be picked up at the Gate 4 pit pass trailer from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Pre-race pit passes for children 12 and under are available for free
for the Bank of America 500. Children ages 13 through 18 can get a pit
pass for half the adult price. Quantities are limited.
Driver Access
Autograph Opportunities with OktoberFast Fan Festival, Nationwide
Series Session
The biggest names in NASCAR will be on hand during Bank of America 500
Week and fans will have plenty of chances to get a driver autograph.
The OktoberFast Fan Festival presented by Budweiser features a NASCAR
Sprint Cup Series driver autograph session at noon on Thursday, Oct.
13, with Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray, Juan
Pablo Montoya, A.J. Allmendinger, Casey Mears, Robby Gordon and Joe
Nemechek in the OktoberFast Tent. The purchase of an OktoberFast pass
is required for entry into the session. Fans will receive two driver
autographs per person as determined by a lottery the morning of the
event. On Friday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. a NASCAR Nationwide Series driver
autograph session will be held on pit road. Dollar General 300 Miles
of Courage ticketholders can get a free wristband for entry to the
session, which is limited to 250 fans, Friday morning at the Turn 4
tunnel.
Driver Intro Route Changed to Give Fans More Driver Visibility and
Access
Fans who purchase a Driver Intro Pass for the Bank of America 500 can
now get closer to the stars of NASCAR with the new driver introduction
route from the garage area to the frontstretch pre-race stage. Drivers
will walk around Turns 3 or 4 of the speedway's frontstretch quarter-
mile, giving fans more visibility to drivers. Driver Intro Pass
holders will be permitted to stand along the secured driver intro
route and cheer on their favorite drivers just before the drop of the
green flag for the Bank of America 500. The limited-issue Driver Intro
Pass also allows fans to be front and center at the driver
introduction stage, tour the pit area and take pictures on Pit Road.
Logistics
Handicapped Parking Expanded; Season Ticket Holder Parking Closer to
Track
A new handicapped parking lot will open for Bank of America 500 Week,
as a result of the souvenir rigs moving across Highway 29 to the new
Fan Zone. The handicapped lot at the front entrance of the speedway
will move from the Silver Parking Lot to Lot U, across Bruton Smith
Boulevard. In comparison to the Silver Parking Lot, Lot U is closer to
the speedway and is larger, offering more access for handicapped
visitors. Fans with handicapped parking passes should enter Lot U off
Bruton Smith Boulevard. In addition, Victory Lane Club season ticket
holders will continue to enter Lot W on Bruton Smith Boulevard to
park, but will now turn left at the lot entrance, enabling them to
park even closer to the track.
On the Track
Women of NASCAR Race in Better Half Dash for Charity
The guys will step aside when the ladies put on the firesuits for the
inaugural Better Half Dash, a 25-lap Bandolero race at 2:30 p.m. on
Charlotte Motor Speedway's frontstretch quarter mile oval as a part of
the Bank of America 500 pre-race activities on Oct. 15. Participants
include Angie Skinner, wife of 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
champion Mike Skinner and SPEED television personality Wendy
Venturini. The charity race will support Motor Racing Outreach (MRO)
and Speedway Children's Charities (SCC). Fans can donate $10 to MRO
and SCC by texting "MOTOR" to 20222 through Oct. 15.
Entertainment
New Reserved Tailgating Zone Gets the Fun Started Early
Charlotte Motor Speedway is offering fans a chance make memories
before they even walk through the gates with the addition of a new
reserved tailgating zone. Located outside of the track between Turns 1
and 2, the tailgating zone includes reserved spaces that measure 50
feet by 25 feet to accommodate even the biggest tailgating
extravaganza. The reserved tailgating lot area will open at 7 a.m. on
Oct. 15 before the Bank of America 500. Fans can reserve a space for
just $50 by calling 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Spots are limited.
Fans Can Keep the Fun Going with Post-Race Live Music
Just because the checkered flag flies, it doesn't mean the fun has to
stop. After Bojangles' Pole Night on Thursday, Oct. 13, fans can enjoy
a performance by Trial by Fire, a Journey cover band. Following the
Dollar General 300 Miles of Courage on Friday, Oct. 14, fans can enjoy
a post-race concert with Tuesday's Gone, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute
band. On Saturday, Oct. 15, following the Bank of America 500, all-
female AC/DC tribute band Shoot to Thrill will entertain fans. All
three concerts will be in the Budweiser Block Party area, located
outside of Turns 1 and 2 on Morehead Road.
Tickets for all October races at Charlotte Motor Speedway can be
purchased online atwww.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the
speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). The Bank of America
Fan 4 Pack includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four Coca-Cola
drinks starting at just $39.75 per person.
For daily updates on October race activities, connect with Charlotte
Motor Speedway by following on Twitter at www.twitter.com/
CLTMotorSpdwy or become a Facebook fan atwww.facebook.com/
charlottemotorspeedway.
