The North Carolina Motorsports Association
www.ncmotorsportsassociation.org
The nonprofit corporation designed to be a representatives for the motorsports industry in North Carolina. The North Carolina Motorsports Association is a trade association for the motorsports industry in our state. We are involved in public policy, workforce development, educational initiatives, networking and business development as these areas relate to motorsports. Motorsports has a yearly impact in NC of 5.9 billion dollars and the state industry sustains 26,000 jobs. The NCMA's Mission is: Proactively promote causes and programs important to members; Provide legislative and regulatory representation for members at both the state and local levels; Develop and support economic impact studies to raise awareness of the financial impact of the motorsports industry; Serve as a clearing house for information related to motorsports in North Carolina; Secure assistance and training for NCMA members through relationships with universities, community colleges and technical schools; Implement programs to PROMOTE MOTORSPORTS IN NORTH CAROLINA. - Chairman, Richard Petty - Vice Chairman, Rick Hendrick - Executive Director, Andy Papathanassiou - Director, Alaina Kelley Davis


Lowes Motor Speedway
www.lowesmotorspeedway.com
Lowe's Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 by current chairman O. Bruton Smith. The late Curtis Turner, one of stock car racing's earliest driving stars, was Smith's business partner.

Together, they built their dream of a 1.5-mile superspeedway on the outskirts of The Queen City and, on June 19, 1960, the first World 600 was run at the new facility.

In 1961, like many superspeedways of the era, the track fell into Chapter 11 reorganization from which it eventually emerged despite lagging ticket sales. After his departure from the speedway in 1962, Smith pursued other business interests in Texas and Illinois. Working within Ford Motor Company's dealership program, Smith became quite successful and began purchasing shares of stock in Lowe's Motor Speedway. By 1975 Smith had again become the majority stockholder in the speedway, regaining control of its day-to-day operations.

He hired current president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler as general manager and the two began to implement plans for needed improvements and expansion.

During the ensuing years, Smith and Wheeler demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction, building a facility that continuously established new industry standards.Thousands of grandstand seats and luxury suites were built. Food concessions and restroom facilities were added and modernized to increase the comfort of race fans.

Smith Tower, a 135,000-square-foot, seven-story facility connected to the speedway's grandstands, was erected and opened in 1988. The building houses the speedway's corporate offices, ticket office, souvenir gift shop, leased office space and The Speedway Club, an exclusive dining and entertainment facility.

Under the watchful eye of Smith and direction of Wheeler, in 1984 Lowe's Motor Speedway became the only sports facility in America to offer year-round living accommodations when it built 40 condominiums high above turn one. Twelve additional condominium units were added in 1991.

Another innovation implemented by Smith and Wheeler was a $1.7 million, 1,200-fixture permanent lighting system developed by MUSCO Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate daylight without glare, shadows or obtusive light poles.

The lighting system was installed in 1992, allowing Lowe's Motor Speedway to be the first modern superspeedway to host night auto racing.

Ever cognizant of the competitors as well as the spectators, Smith and Wheeler added a new $1 million, 20,000-square-foot NEXTEL Cup garage area in 1994.

Other additions and improvements include the development of the speedway's 2,000-plus acres. In addition to the speedway, the property, some of which is leased, includes an industrial park that serves as home to several motorsports-related businesses, a modern landfill facility operated by BFI and a natural wildlife habitat.

In addition to the 1.5-mile quad oval, the Lowe's Motor Speedway complex includes a 2.25-mile road course and a six-tenths-mile karting layout in the speedway's infield; a quarter-mile asphalt oval utilizing part of the speedway's frontstretch and pit road; and a one-fifth-mile oval located outside turn three of the superspeedway.

Three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events, two NASCAR Busch Series races and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event are among the major events held on the 1.5-mile superspeedway. The Richard Petty Driving Experience and the Fast Track High Performance Driving School and the also use the track extensively throughout the year.

Other events on the various tracks include a weekly, nationally televised short-track series for Legends Cars, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters; World Karting Association regional, national and international races.

In May 2000, a state-of-the-art four-tenths-mile clay oval The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway—was completed across Highway 29 from the speedway. The stadium-style facility has nearly 15,000 seats and plays host to the Dirt Late Model, Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Monster Truck and more.

Corporations such as Lowe's Home Improvement, Coca-Cola, Miller Brewing, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and DuPont have rented the speedway to film television commercials or to entertain employees and clients with food, music and race car rides.

Motion pictures such as "Days of Thunder," "Speedway" and "Stroker Ace" and even music videos like Tracy Lawrence's "If the Good Die Young" have been filmed at the speedway. Adding to rental dates are race team testing and automobile manufacturer research.

Lowe's Motor Speedway also annually presents two of the nation's largest car shows and swap meets—the Food Lion AutoFairs in April and September. With track rentals and track events, the speedway is used more than 300 days per year.

Smith and Wheeler will quickly point out they have yet to complete their vision, and they continue to improve and expand the facility.

More than 10,000 stadium-style seats, 20 new executive suites and 40 special 32-seat boxes were built in turn four in 1995. In May 1997, the Diamond Tower Terrace grandstand was opened along the backstretch to accommodate an additional 26,000 race fans for The Winston and Coca-Cola 600. In May 1998, an 11,000-seat expansion of the new Diamond Tower Terrace was completed, bringing the total seating capacity of Lowe's Motor Speedway to approximately 147,000. Then in May 1999, more than 10,000 new seats were completed in the Fourth Turn Terrace grandstand. A 10,860-seat expansion of the Ford grandstand on the frontstretch was completed in May 2000, bringing the speedway's total seating capacity to 167,000.

Most recently the track added a new garage area for the NASCAR Busch Series, a new state-of-the-art media facility and additional restrooms and showers for use by those enjoying the action from the speedway's infield.

These additions are all part of a long-term project calling for additional grandstand seating, infrastructure improvements, spectator amenities and the development of adjacent land for possible commercial real estate ventures.

Building on the basic philosophy of keeping spectator and competitor comfort a high priority, Lowe's Motor Speedway continues to be a leading promoter and marketer of motorsports activities in the United States.


The Speedway Club
http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/speedway/the_speedway_club/
The Speedway Club opened in 1987 to provide a luxurious atmosphere for those wishing to entertain in a motorsports environment. The Speedway Club has grown into one of the largest private clubs of its type in the nation.

Located high above Lowe's Motor Speedway frontstretch, The Speedway Club has more than 4,500 members who look to the club to assist in entertaining friends and clients. Open year-round, The Speedway Club's dining room offers the area's finest cuisine and entertainment along with a spectacular view of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway.

Members of The Speedway Club also have the opportunity to purchase premium frontstretch seating for all NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series events at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Seating opportunities range from climate-controlled Club Suites to open-air box seats located on the Club Deck of Ford Tower. The Speedway Club's banquet facilities can host anything from small meetings to weddings and large banquets with several hundred guests.

NASCAR fans, experience the race in style with The Speedway Club's Access Pass. The Access Pass combines reserved frontstretch seating with amenities for one package price. It includes premium frontstretch seating, dinner in The Speedway Club, guided pre-race pit tour, reserved parking, souvenir program, pit-passes and credential holder. Prices vary depending on seating option (New Veranda or Clubhouse) and event.

Speedway Motorsports
www.speedwaymotorsports.com
Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) is a leading marketer and promoter of motorsports entertainment in the United States. SMI owns six premier speedway facilities in growing markets across the country and has one of the largest total permanent seating capacities, with the highest average number of seats per speedway, in the motorsports industry. Speedway Motorsports also provides souvenir merchandising through SMI Properties, manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars through 600 Racing, as well as broadcasts syndicated racing programs through Performance Racing Network. SMI is headquartered in Concord, NC and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol TRK. At December 31, 2005 total permanent seating capacity was approximately 775,000

Hendrick Motorsports
www.hendrickmotorsports.com
It's hard to believe that just 20 years ago, Hendrick Motorsports was little more than two men and a dream. Rick Hendrick was a businessman who wanted to find his way into racing, and Harry Hyde was a veteran racer not yet ready to be put out to pasture. Together, they hatched a scheme to start a small team just to compete in a few select events. From that day over 20 years ago, HMS has grown into a motorsports superpower. From a single entry in a single series, the HMS operation has grown to four entries in NASCAR's Winston Cup Series and another in the Busch Series every week. The most impressive part of that statistic is that every one of those entries can, and, infact, often does bring home a win.

Hendrick Motorsports has won nine NASCAR championships in the last decade and currently fields teams in the sanctioning body’s top two divisions -- the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series and Busch Series. Drivers include Kyle Busch of the No. 5 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Kellogg’s Racing team, Jeff Gordon of the No. 24 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup DuPont Team, Brian Vickers of the No. 25 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup GMAC Racing team, Terry Labonte of the No. 44 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Kellogg’s Team, Jimmie Johnson of the No. 48 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Lowe’s Team and NASCAR Busch Series driver Kyle Busch of the No. 5 Lowe’s entry.

Hendrick Motorsports has won the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Championship in 1995 with Jeff Gordon, 1996 with Terry Labonte, 1997 and 1998 with Jeff Gordon and again in 2001 with Jeff Gordon. Hendrick Motorsports won its’ first NASCAR Busch Series Championship with driver Brian Vickers in 2003. The organization has also won three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crowns with Jack Sprague in 1997,1999, and 2001.

Founded by Rick Hendrick over two decades ago Hendrick Motorsports has fielded some of the most famous names in NASCAR in its Chevrolets. Drivers who have sat behind the wheel of a Hendrick Chevy include Dale Earnhardt, Tim Richmond, Geoff Bodine, Brett Bodine, Ken Schrader, Darrell Waltrip, Benny Parsons, Ricky Rudd, Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte, Ricky Craven, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Jimmie Johnson, Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch, Ricky Hendrick, and Jack Sprague.


Penske Racing
www.penskeracing.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penske_Racing
"In April of 2005, it was announced that Porsche would build a Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) sanctioned LMP2 Class Prototype that would be entered by Penske Racing in the American Le Mans Series. The Porsche RS Spyder made it's successful debut at the ALMS season final race at Laguna Seca. the "Porsche Junioren" factory drivers Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr finished 1st in LMP2 Class and 5th Overall in the 4 Hour Endurance Race... The final event of the 2006 American Le Mans Series Championship at Laguna Seca Raceway provided the perfect backdrop for Penske and Porsche to deliver Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr dual driving titles in the LMP 2 class. The four-hour endurance event, which included both daylight and night-time racing, saw both the Porsche RS Spyder factory cars, prepared by Penske Motorsports, finish one-two in the LMP2 class and wrap up all of the championships available... For Porsche, it was the seventh and eighth drivers championship in the eight years of the American Le Mans Series, as well as the seventh, eighth and ninth manufacturers title. Porsche competitors have now earned 71 class victories (Porsche RS Spyder, Porsche 911 Turbo, and Porsche 911 GT3 R/RS/RSR) in the American Le Mans Series, and placed their cars on the pole 70 times – outdistancing all other manufacturers by a wide margin. For 2007, Penske Motorsports has already announced it will return to the American Le Mans Series to defend its championships in the LMP2 class with updated Porsche RS Spyders."

Carolinas Region Porsche Club of America
www.carolinas-pca.com
"The Carolinas Region is the largest geographical region in PCA. Our region covers most of NC and SC. Because of our size we are divided into six Areas. The Region publishes a monthly newsletter "Tobacco Roads". We host four Driver's Education Events a year as well as a PCA Club Race. With over 1,300 members we are the largest region in Zone 3 and are the 13th largest overall of 139 PCA Regions." - www.carolinas-pca.com

VIR - VIRginia International Raceway
www.virclub.com
VIRginia International Raceway hosts amateur and professional automobile and motorcycle events, driving schools, club days and private test rentals. Built around the VIRginia International Raceway, the VIR Motorsport Country Club is a high performance driving venue that also offers extensive resort facilities. VIR has certainly come a long way from its humble beginnings, and we are very proud of what we think is one of the world’s finest motorsports venues, but it remains a work in progress. We are always striving to improve, and we welcome your input and suggestions. Thank you for your interest in VIR, and we hope that you will be a regular visitor in the years to come. Sincerely yours, Harvey Siegel and Connie Nyholm, co-owners, Josh Lief, General Manager

Carolina Motorsports Park
www.carolinamotorsportspark.com
Carolina Motorsports Park, is a great track, and well run facility. It combines a wide range of turns. High speed, varying radius and a good technical section. Carolina Motorsports Park has been developed by a group of enthusiasts and racers from the south east, led by Joe Hooker and Bob Humphreys, who played leading roles in getting the project built. Land acquisition was completed in July 1998 with construction starting soon thereafter. The full 2.3 mile road course opened in July 1999. The site is an old World War II fighter-training base located about four miles south of Kershaw and seventeen miles north of Camden on Highway 521 in South Carolina, and is approximately one hour drive south of Charlotte International Airport. The west course is mostly flat, but the east track crosses a small stream running through a valley that is approximately thirty-five feet deep, resulting in some distinct elevation changes

Race Shop Tours
www.raceshoptours.net
Race Shop Tours is the result of a relationship between two friends who enjoyed showing friends and newcomers around the Race Track. They understand that fans have the desire to see race shops and other racing related facilities in the area. Within a fifty mile radius of Lowe's Motor Speedway, you can find almost every drivers shop and Race Shop Tours. Trisha Fuller, owner of Race Shop Tours, is a hospitality specialist. She has the ability to open doors and allow her clients to get "up close and personal" with the racing community. Her love for the sport and people make her a wonderfully uplifting person to be associated with. When you meet Trisha, you meet a friend and you will see this aspect of her personality on every tour. She has personal relationships with many racing team members.

“Club Ferdinand in Valle Crucis, North Carolina,
is the first “Fleet-Sharing Club” in the World composed exclusively
of the legendary Porsche Automobiles.
Three surprisingly affordable membership options
enable Members to benefit from the use of the club’s
“Luxury Sports Car Fleet” of new Porsches,
using a reservation and points system which assures equitable-share
usage of the fleet by all club members.
Explore North Carolina behind the wheel of your collection
of new Porsches and discover a whole new level of freedom.”


ClubFerdinand
1644 Broadstone Road
Historic Valle Crucis
Banner Elk, North Carolina 28604
Telephone: 828-963-5857, 828-963-2626
Fax: 828-963-6404, 626-608-3594
Toll Free: 1-888-963-5857
www.clubferdinand.us
info@clubferdinand.us

Subscribe
Contact
Comment
Apply