CONCORD, NC — Hundreds of thousands of fans and millions of dollars! Race weekend means big money for our area, and also lots of traffic and congestion. This weekend is the Sprint All-Star Race, and next weekend is the Cola Cola 600. Audrina Bigos talked to families who traveled from all over the country to get in on the action on and off the track.
Engines roaring, grills going, flags flying and campers parked. For thousands of families, like the Thomas’ who came all the way from Ohio, Race Week is the highlight of the year. “They race like it’s an all-out brawl!” said fan Zane Thomas. “A million dollars on the line, nothings to lose, and a championship to win.”
“It’s awesome,” adds fan Sam Lehr of New York. “There’s no better way to spend a vacation.”
And Quentin Cox of Georgia adds, “It’s family everything. It’s awesome!”
Quentin Cox came with his family of seven. His dad, Craig Cox, says they save up every year to come spend money here. “We go downtown, that’s something we like to do. Carowinds, we enjoy the area!”
The 10-day race event will generate an estimated $230 million for the Charlotte region and support 4,200 jobs. “Visitor spending does so much for our state, and particularly our county,” said Tom Murray, CEO of Charlotte Regional Visitors’ Authority. “We’re double the amount of visitor spending than any other county in our state.”
Local businesses and vendors cash in too. “We’ve come for the past 10 years and we set up shop at three different tracks,” said food vendor Chris Ison. “But this is the best. It’s a money-maker.”
With all the money and the excitement, comes the traffic. “It’s been miserable the last couple of years with all the construction,” said Huntersville resident Micah Fuller. “The rules was ‘Don’t go near the Speedway!'”
To help ease congestion, NC DOT is limiting construction on I-85 through Memorial Day weekend. “It really makes it easier,” adds Fuller. “We can get in and out and still come to the track, go to a restaurant and eat, go to the movies around here.”
