Published by Christina Riley. Last Updated on February 23, 2024.
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Explore the history of stock car auto racing at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte. Filled with classic and present-day cars, interactive experiences, a walk through this museum makes racing truly come alive.
Here, you can look inside the cars driven by legends and view memorabilia that can’t be found anywhere else. The NASCAR Hall of Fame’s exhibits and interactive experiences are perfect for everyone. That goes from novices all the way to folks who never miss a race.
If you’re thinking about making a visit, take a walk with us as we share all the fun you’ll find inside.
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NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte NC
Scroll to our “Plan Your Visit” section below and you’ll find quick info such as admission and hours.
Background and Location
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte and its address is 400 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. After three years of construction, it opened in May 2010. The first racers were inducted shortly after the 2010 NASCAR Spring All-Star Race.
Things to Do at the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Beyond induction weekend, here are some of the awesomely fun things to do at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Glory Road
As soon as you walk in the hall, you’ll see a string of cars zooming towards you. The 2020-2023 exhibit of Glory Road was personally curated by Dale Earnhardt Jr (you know him, right?) and showcases 18 premier series cars around the theme of “Champions.”
These cars represent some of the sport’s most significant and memorable races. Included are the first and last championship cars from seven-time champions Jimmy Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Sr, and Richard Petty.
When introducing his contributions to Glory Road, Earnhardt said, “these cars represent what’s great about the sport.” He also explained that they give people a real chance to see original championship-winning cars.
While combing through all 71 championships and checking what cars were even available for the three-year exhibit commitment, Dale also mentioned that it wasn’t an easy process to pick who to put up there. But his passion for the sport and understanding of its history helped his selection process.
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Cars on Glory Road
The cars you’ll find on Glory Road include Richard Petty’s 1964 Plymouth Belvedere, Jimmie Johnson’s 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and even a special car from Dale Earnhardt Jr’s collection.
Senior had driven that car to championship and Jr was still working on restoring it, but knew the exhibit wouldn’t be complete with out that car.
15 drivers are featured on Glory Road, with a combined win total of 46 NASCAR premier series championships (out of 71), 1,076 race wins, 770 poles. 14 of the 15 have already been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Getting up close and personal with the championship cars is just a part of the fun. You can also work with an interactive 360-degree viewfinder to see the little tweaks and touches that each driver made to their car.
These clips from the NASCAR Hall of Fame podcast offer more in-depth stories behind some of the cars on Glory Road.
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Heritage Speedway
NASCAR hasn’t always been the sport of superspeedways and colorful cars. Heritage Speedway at the Hall of Fame explores the sport’s beginnings when bootleggers would outfit stock cars to run booze during prohibition.
Beyond NASCAR’s origins, its transformations over the last eight decades are touched upon with more than 200 artifacts, including a life-sized whiskey still.
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Hall of Honor
This oval-shaped room honors the legends of NASCAR history that are inducted each year. You’ll find racers, but also those involved with the sport’s beginnings, owners, and trailblazers.
During a weekend celebration typically at the end of January, 20 nominees are selected and 59 ballots are cast including one ballot from a nationwide fan vote. Five inductees are selected to be memorialized in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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High Octane Theater
The High Octane Theater is where you can travel from Charlotte to the sandy beaches of Daytona. This 278-seat theater’s 64-foot projection screen shows some of NASCAR’s most unforgettable moments, all in surround sound.
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Interactive Exhibits
We haven’t even gotten into the interactive exhibits you can enjoy at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The hands-on exhibits to enjoy include designing your own car in the Virtual Painting Booth, in-depth views of the most popular tracks, and listening for cues and doing a play-by-play of the race.
You can also feel that adrenaline rush as you race to change a tire in the pit simulator. And finally, you can get a close look into one of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s last cars before he retired from full-time driving in 2017.
Racing Simulator
Have you ever wanted to compete in an actual NASCAR race? Even if not, climb inside of one of these eight stock car replicas, and you’ll feel like your tires are burning up the road.
Using the same iRacing technology as NASCAR premier series drivers, each participant races against 15 competitors, and on that week’s scheduled track.
That added touch is especially cool to me, but it doesn’t stop there. The simulation is accurate down to the millimeter and friends and family can watch you on a giant 50-foot screen, too!
Racing Insiders Tour
You can explore more racing history and present-day excitement through the Hall of Fame’s Racing Insiders Tour. Join other racing fans on a private motorcoach and you’ll visit race shops and other local racing attractions around Charlotte and Cabarrus County.
Their I-77 tour includes visits to Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports, Team Penske and Kyle Busch Motorsports. The I-85 itinerary stops at Roush Fenway Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing, Steward-Hass Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports.
Your ticket includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hall of Fame and lunch at The Pit Stop. Plus, you get a second admission ticket to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, up to 90 days after your tour.
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Rent the Hall of Fame
And finally, if you want to really impress people, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is available to rent for special events. Whether you want to book the whole facility, great hall, the High Octane Theater, or the Hall of Honor, the Hall of Fame staff can work with you.
They’ll help create a specialized plan so your guests can experience it all in style!
Our Final Thoughts
From the moonshine and dirt roads to each year’s induction celebration, the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s really brings racing to life. With expertly curated exhibits and hands-on experiences, every visit to the Hall of Fame can offer new and special experiences.
Before we called North Carolina “home,” I had very little personal experience with racing. And like many people with similar knowledge of NASCAR, I came away knowing so much about the sport after visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame. But honestly, even as a racing newb, it is still fascinating to see the original cars that were driven by such legends…in person!
Whether you are new to the world of motorsports or a seasoned fan, we think there is something for everyone and every age at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. So rev your engines and speed right over to Charlotte so you can get to know more about this storied sport.
Plan Your Visit
NASCAR Hall of Fame Quick Info
Address: 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202
Hours
- Open Monday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Closed Tuesday
- Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 am 5:00 pm
Tickets
- General Admission: $27
- Seniors: $24
- Youth: $20
- Starting Grid (includes admission, Hall of Fame Lanyard, and Unlimited Simulator Rides): $36
- Pole Position (includes admission, Hall of Fame Lanyard, and Unlimited Simulator Rides and an audio tour): $41
- Victory Lane (includes admission, Hall of Fame Lanyard, and Unlimited Simulator Rides, audio tour, $10 gear shop voucher, and lunch from the Pit Stop Cafe): $49
Membership
Memberships are available, with the base level starting at $125. Check this page for more details and options.
Special Events
2nd Saturday at the Hall of Fame happens literally every second Saturday of the month. It features special programming with a new theme every month. Examples include “Celebrating the New Inductees,” “Women in Racing,” “Science in Racing,” and “Celebrate the Tracks.”
For more special events check the NASCAR Hall of Fame calendar.
Disclosure Note
Special thanks to Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority for inviting us to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a media event. All opinions within this article are our own.
