Going to the NASCAR race? Here’s how you can zip to the speedway — or avoid traffic
Tens of thousands of race fans will fill up Concord-area roads for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race and festivities at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Expect lots more cars on roads in northeast Mecklenburg County and southwest Cabarrus County leading up to Sunday’s race, including Interstate 85, U.S. 29, N.C. 49 and Bruton Smith Boulevard, N.C. Department of Transportation officials advised.
Overhead and portable message signs will alert drivers to potential problem traffic areas and suggest alternate routes, according to NCDOT.
Drivers can check real-time traffic information at www.DriveNC.gov, highway officials said.
One bit of relief: Road construction over the holiday weekend has been suspended statewide.
Worst road for 600 traffic
Bruton Smith Boulevard often sees the most traffic on 600 race weekends, state highway officials said.
That’s because mobile direction services and GPS devices direct drivers to the route when heading to the speedway, according to NCDOT.
Fans headed to the track should take U.S. 29 instead, officials advised.
Best routes to the speedway
Fans should follow these directions to the speedway, according to NCDOT:
▪ From South Carolina: Take I-77 North to the I-485 outer loop — Exit 1B — and then to U.S. 29 North — Exit 32 — or N.C. 49 North —Exit 33.
▪ From west of Charlotte: Take I-85 North to I-485 — Exit 30 — and follow I-485 Inner to U.S. 29 North. An alternate route is I-85 North to Poplar Tent Road — Exit 52 — to Pitts School Road to U.S. 29 South.
▪ From east of Charlotte: Take I-485 outer loop to U.S. 29 North — Exit 32 — or N.C. 49 North — Exit 33.
▪ From north of Charlotte: Take I-85 South to George W. Liles Parkway — Exit 54 — to U.S. 29 South.
Advice to commuters, non-fans
Commuters who use I-85 through the speedway area should leave earlier or, better yet, find an alternative away from the routes used by fans to get to the speedway, highway officials urged.
After race events, traffic is directed away from the speedway. Drivers should always follow the direction of law enforcement, NCDOT officials said.
Charlotte race weekend schedule
Friday
▪ Speed Street opens, 2 p.m.
▪
▪ Xfinity qualifying, 4 p.m.
▪ ARCA race, 6 p.m.
▪ Truck Series race, 8:30 p.m.
▪ Flo Rida concert, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday
▪ Speed Street opens, 9 a.m.
▪ Xfinity race, 1 p.m.
▪ Coca-Cola 600 qualifying, 7:35 p.m.
▪ Steve Miller Band concert, 8:30 p.m.
Sunday
▪ Speed Street opens, 10 a.m.
▪ Lynyrd Skynyrd concert (pit road), 3:50 p.m.
▪ Military appreciation show, 4:55 p.m.
▪ Driver introductions, 5:30 p.m.
▪ Coca-Cola 600, 6 p.m.
Where to park, find shuttles
Visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/parking-and-directions/ for more information.
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Going to the NASCAR race? Here’s how you can zip to the speedway — or avoid traffic."