LOUDON – When fans arrive at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this week for the NASCAR race weekend, their tickets will give them much more than a seat in the stands.
David McGrath, general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, said the track works to provide plenty of entertainment and opportunities for attendees from Wednesday through the weekend.
“People start arriving around 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, usually around 300 campers, and although some drop off campers and return later in the week, the vast majority stay all week,” McGrath said . “They may just hang out at camp or do some things in the area, but we have programming for them Wednesday through Sunday, so they don’t even have to leave the site.”
Wednesday’s festivities begin with the opening of the New England Racing Museum near the track’s south entrance, and Wednesday night sees the track’s very popular Bingo Night.
“You wouldn’t think bingo would be a big draw, but people love it,” McGrath said. “Hundreds of fans come to The Groove in the infield and fill the place.”
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On Thursday, fans and families are invited to the track to watch the Guardians of the Galaxy movie on the big screen, which McGrath said underscores the focus on family-oriented events taking place throughout the weekend. of week.
“It’s like walking in, without a car,” he said. “And we also have April Cushman’s band at The Groove on Thursday night.”
From there, the weekend gets busier. On race week, the racing museum will be open from 10-4 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9-5 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8-2 on Sundays.
“The New England Racing Museum is 9,000 square feet of awesomeness,” McGrath said. “It’s truly a celebration of racing and the history of racing in the region.”
Charity events are cornerstone of race weekend
The track also hosts the Laps for Charity event on Thursday night, where fans can ride in the pace car or spin around the track in their own vehicles to raise money for Speedway Children’s Charities.
Those fundraising activities continue throughout the weekend and McGrath said they are an important component of the race weekend for Speedway Motorsports Inc., as well as the children the charities help support.
“Every race track that (Speedway Motorsports Inc.) owns hosts events throughout the year where we raise funds,” McGrath said. “Our Cup race weekends are our biggest fundraising weekends. Then in December we pooled all the money and donated it to charities that help children.”
Saturday is a busy day for these fundraising events, with a morning walk from 8 to 9 a.m. and a cornhole tournament from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:45 at the Magic Mile stage, fans can participate in the “Wicked Good Live Auction,” where funds also go to support Speedway Children’s Charities.
Options continue to expand on Friday
On Friday, the cars take to the track for the first time, but fans gather early in the day to watch the truck parades, starting with the Xfinity Series trucks at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Modified Transports of the NASCAR Whelen Tour at 10:30 a.m. and finally, the NASCAR Cup Series Hauler Parade begins at 12:30 p.m.
The Fan Zone also opens at noon, and McGrath compared that area to a carnival, where there is something for everyone.
“In the Fan Zone there are all kinds of family activities, like carnival attractions, a Kid Zone for children where they can learn about NASCAR activities like coloring books, Legos and other things. “There is something for all ages in the Fan Zone.”
Many of the sport’s corporate sponsors also have booths and events set up along the way, where McGrath said fans have the opportunity to interact with the sponsors and meet some of the drivers, among many other activities.
On Friday night, the action on the track heats up as the Xfinity and Whelen Modified series qualify immediately following the Sig Sauer Academy Dirt Duels on the flat dirt track adjacent to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
McGrath said there will be three different classes running on the flat track starting at 4:30 p.m. Then, the Xfinity and Whelen Modified Tour cars will be on the big track for their qualifying efforts. The night will culminate with a 9 pm concert by Aerosmith tribute band Draw The Line and fireworks.
Saturday and Sunday end the weekend in style
While on-track racing takes center stage on Saturday and Sunday, there are still plenty of options to keep fans busy between races.
Saturday morning begins with “The Morning Show” on the Magic Mile Stage, where a live talk show will take place with NASCAR Cup Series drivers Daniel Hemric and William Byron, as well as Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill and Corey Heim and Whelen Modified Tour drivers Justin Bonsignore. (who will make his Xfinity Series debut on Saturday), Doug Coby and Ron Silk.
“One of the cornerstones of our sport is access,” McGrath said. “(SMI President and CEO) Marcus Smith and all of the track’s general managers go above and beyond to make sure fans have access. We work for the fans and nothing improves their experience than being able to see the drivers, transporters and cars up close.”
Saturday’s festivities will culminate with AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds performing on the Magic Mile Stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m. after the conclusion of the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series races.
Sunday brings sports fans closer
The Fan Zone opens again at 10 a.m. Sunday, with Trackside Live on the Magic Mile Stage starting at 11. There, Speedway Motorsports President Marcus Smith, NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain and Martin Truex, and McGrath himself will be on stage for interviews, hosted by personalities Kenny Wallace and John Roberts.
Track Pass access begins at 12:15 for fans who plan to be on the front stretch of the track to watch driver introductions before the race, then racing for USA Today 301 will begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
“Tickets for this weekend are a great deal when you think about all of these opportunities and everything that comes with a ticket,” McGrath said. “We strive to make the entire weekend something people can enjoy with friends or family, and we hope it’s something they always remember and keep coming back to.
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