They say time flies when you’re on vacation, and here is your chance to speed right along with it during your visit to the Grand Strand — with the NASCAR Racing Experience at Myrtle Beach Speedway. And for those who prefer to keep NASCAR racing a spectator sport, the historic racetrack is gearing up for its 60th season of grassroots racing action.
Guests at the Caribbean Resort & Villas can merge into the fast lane at Myrtle Beach Speedway, where the NASCAR Racing Experience allows patrons to take a turn behind the wheel — or ride shotgun with a certified driver — in an official stock race car. Strap into the roaring race machine and hold on for the ride of a lifetime around the paved half-mile oval.
Drivers go through a short training session to learn about the cars and safety procedures, and then it's time to put the pedal to the metal for a test drive around the track. Perfect as a gift for NASCAR fans, friends and family members, the NASCAR Racing Experience offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience what their favorite drivers do during every race.
The NASCAR Practice program gives new drivers all the training they need, followed by five minutes of live practice time. The NASCAR Qualifier, designed for repeat patrons who already have their certification, offers three hours of time on the track. The NASCAR Ride-Along program puts participants in the passenger seat for a wild ride around the historic track.
In operation since 1958, Myrtle Beach Speedway was one of the founding racetracks on the NASCAR circuit. Moonshiners and mechanics used to make their way to Myrtle Beach every weekend to test their skills and hot rods against the best in the business. Four generations of Pettys (Lee, Richard, Kyle and Adam), three generations of Earnhardts (Ralph, Dale Sr. and Dale Jr.) and other NASCAR stars like Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart have raced at Myrtle Beach Speedway over the years.
Today's fans can still see the future stars of NASCAR in action every Saturday night at Myrtle Beach Speedway with the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. Drivers come from miles around to face the best in regional competition, and they put on a great show for the folks in the stands. See Late Model Stock, Super Truck, Charger, Mini-Stock, Modified and Vintage car divisions trade paint under the lights on a Saturday night and experience the sights, sounds and smells of live racing.
The 2017 season gets underway on March 10-12 with the NOPI Spring Break Nationals, followed by the season-opening weekly series with the Performance Motor Oil Plus 300 on Saturday, March 18. Six different divisions will be in action in the all-day event. Nicknamed “The Beast of the Beach” for its close-quarters racing, Myrtle Beach Speedway provides the type of old-school challenge and hard-nosed racing that helped NASCAR make the move from regional sport to international fame.
Myrtle Beach Speedway has also expanded its operations to include other forms of entertainment. Country-rapper Big Smo kicks off the 2017 concert season on Friday, March 10, with a long lineup of soon-to-be announced musical acts ready to play the racetrack again this year. Family-friendly events include the Horry County Fair, which features amusement rides, live music and more. Returning to the track for a second year for 10 days of fun, food, games and thrills, the fair is set for April 7-16. For more information, visit www.myrtlebeachspeedway.com.
Located on Highway 501 near Highway 31 and the Tanger Outlets, Myrtle Beach Speedway is the perfect venue for those with a need for speed. And for those who also enjoy life in the slow lane, Myrtle Beach’s Caribbean Resort & Villas is the ideal spot to kick back and relax on the oceanfront.
