When a great opportunity presents itself, you can’t hesitate, you’ve got to jump on it. So when a chance to do some laps with our Corvette at the famed Atlanta Motor Speedway presented itself, we didn’t think twice.
The Atlanta Motor Speedway (AMS) is one of NASCAR’s oldest and most popular tracks on the circuit. The 1.54-mile quad-oval race track is in Hampton, Georgia, about 20 miles south of Atlanta.
It became the seventh superspeedway to host a NASCAR Cup race when it finally made its racing debut on July 31, 1960.
In 1997 the start/finish line was moved from the west to the east side of the track, and two doglegs were added to the front stretch to form a 1.54-mile quad-oval, which replaced the original oval.
The project made this superspeedway one of the fastest on the NASCAR circuit.
The Lines Formed Early
The Friday night weather couldn’t have been better as the Corvettes of the Corvettes Cruisers of Atlanta (CCA) club rolled onto the AMS grounds. With only a three-hour event window from 6 pm to 9 pm, we knew there would be a huge turnout. When we arrived at 5:45 pm, the line to get in was already growing long.
What could have been a nightmare given the virus concerns, and the number of people was handled very efficiently by the crew working the event. To ensure limited contact during the experience, everyone had to purchase the ticket online before arriving at the facility.
Participants entered the main tunnel off Speedway Boulevard to have their tickets scanned from their cellphone before entering the track area. The speedway asked those attending to remain in their vehicles while at the facility to ensure proper social distancing.
Experiencing the Corner Banking
Everyone was quick to say, there is a tremendous difference between watching professional NASCAR drivers handle the 24-degree banking and driving it yourself.
For Da’Miale J. from CCA, this was more than just another experience in her beautifully detailed C7 Corvette Stingray.
After the event, Da’Miale told us, “Before yesterday, I had never driven on a track and never dreamed of driving on a track banked at 24 degrees. Yesterday, I accomplished both!”
“It was an awesome, scary, exciting, and exhilarating experience to get on the AMS track. Marking my bucket list.”
What a great experience to drive my Corvette at Atlanta Motor Speedway along with members of CCA”
Quote by Gary B.
One-Of-A-Kind Thrill
“Racing fans love the opportunity to take laps on the same asphalt they’ve seen their racing heroes duel on. Driving the track is an experience anyone can enjoy,” said Atlanta Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “The sensation of climbing the 24-degree banked turns is a one-of-a-kind thrill.”
Everyone who attended this limited three-hour event at the Atlanta Motor Speedway would agree, this was a thrill and a bargin. The admission price for three laps behind the pace car was only $15.00, which was an incredible value. There was also a 25.00 dollar option which gave you the three laps and a souvenir bundle.
Without question the Atlanta Motor Speedway’s “Drive the Track” event on Friday, June 19, was a huge success. The long line of people waiting to get on the track and the wide grins they had after the track experience told the whole story.
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