Carolinas, Georgia & South Trips (Lonely Planet, 1st Edition) - Alex Leviton [29]
Dale Earnhardt, Inc
This museum, showroom and retail store pays tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who died in 2001. 877-334-9663; www.daleearnhardtinc.com; 1675 Dale Earnhardt Hwy, Mooresville, NC; admission free; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat;
Daytona International Speedway
Every February, the largest audience in motorsports descends upon Daytona for the season-opening Daytona 500. Some come just to drink. 800-748-7467; www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com; 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL;
Daytona 500 Experience
Interactive, multi-million dollar NASCAR entertainment facility featuring IMAX, motion simulators and a tram track tour. 386-681-6800 www.daytona500experience.com; 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL; adult/child $24/19; 9am-7pm;
International Motorsports Hall of Fame
Honors not only drivers but also car designers, crew chiefs and sponsors. Highlights include numerous racing vehicles, including Ricky Bobby’s from Talladega Nights. 256-362-5002; www.motorsportshalloffame.com; 3198 Speedway Blvd, Talladega, AL; adult/child $10/5; 9am-4pm;
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Tours of this 165,000-seat speedway in the NASCAR Holy Land run hourly during non-race weeks. 704-455-3200; www.lowesmotorspeedway.com; 5555 Concord Pkwy, Concord, NC; tours $5; 9:30am-3:30pm Mon-Sat, 1:30pm-3:30pm Sun;
Memory Lane Motorsports & Historic Automotive Museum
Private collection of retired NASCAR and vintage rides, including those by Dale Earnhardt and Bill Elliott. 704-662-3673; www.memorylaneautomuseum.com; 769 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC; adult/child $10/6; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm race week
Richard Petty Driving Experience
Reservations are required in advance to get behind the wheel at this ultimate speed-freak fantasy. Available at numerous tracks including Lowe’s and Daytona. 800-237-3889; www.richardpetty.com; Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC;
Sam Bass Gallery
3500 sq ft of NASCAR-themed artwork, limited edition framed prints and fine-art posters from the sport’s first sanctioned artist. 704-455-6915; www.sambass.com; 6105 Performance Dr, Concord, NC; 10am-5pm Tue-Fri;
Talladega Superspeedway
You can tour NASCAR’s largest, fastest track in a combo tour with the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. 877-462-3342; www.talladegasuperspeedway.com; 3366 Speedway Blvd, Talladega, AL; adult/child $5/4; 9am-4pm;
EAT & DRINK
Bailey’s
A great race weekend hangout, with pool tables, a huge flat-screen TV and loads of loaded race fans. 423-929-1370; 2102 N Roan St, Johnson City, TN; mains $8-18; 11am-1:30pm & 5pm-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sun
Cruisin’ Café
Dine in a stock car, on specialty burgers inspired from various NASCAR tracks around the country at this race-fan favorite. 386-253-5522; 2 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL; mains $7-18; 11am-late;
Montana Saloon
Just off I-20 near Talladega Superspeedway, this charismatic saloon serves manly American food and gets crazy on race days. 205-763-1225; 75023 Hwy 17, Lincoln, AL; mains $8-18; 11am-1:30pm & 5pm-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sun
Quaker Steak & Lube
Motor sport–themed hotspot for outrageously hot chicken wings and all the alcohol you’ll need to drown the burn. 704-979-5823; 7731 Gateway Ln NW, Concord, NC; mains $8-19; 11am-1am Sun-Thu, to 2am Fri-Sat;
Racing’s North Turn
Rowdy Ponce Inlet bar-and-grill on the very spot that NASCAR began. The oceanfront deck swells in February. 386-322-3258; 4511 S Atlantic Ave, Ponce Inlet, FL; mains $7-21; 11am-11pm
Ridgewood Barbecue
A Tennessee barbecue institution, featuring slow-smoked pork over hickory from a small smokehouse north of the restaurant. 423-538-7543; 900 Elizabethtown Hwy, Bluff City, TN; mains $3-17; 11am-7:30pm Mon-Thu, to 2:30pm & 4:30-8:30pm Fri & Sat;
Whiskey River
Dale Earnhardt,