Fun NASCAR racing weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Terrill Covey
| Portsmouth Herald

LOUDON – When fans come to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for NASCAR race weekend this week, their tickets will offer them so much more than just a seat in the stands.

David McGrath, general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway, said the track is committed to providing visitors with plenty of entertainment and opportunities from Wednesday through the end of the weekend.

“The first people start arriving on Saturday, June 15, starting around 8 a.m. — there are usually about 300 campers — and while some of them drop off campers and come back later in the week, the vast majority stay the whole week,” McGrath said. “They might just stay at the campground or do a few things in the area, but we have a program 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 south entrance of the racetrack, and Wednesday evening the racetrack hosts the extremely popular Bingo Night.

“You wouldn't think bingo would be such a big draw, but people love it,” McGrath said. “Hundreds of fans come to The Groove in the infield and fill the place.”

MORE: USA TODAY 301 full schedule and event list

On Thursday, fans and families are invited to watch the film “Guardians of the Galaxy” on the big screen at the race track, which McGrath said underscores the focus on family-oriented events that extends throughout the weekend.

“It's like a drive-in movie theater, but without the car,” he said. “And on Thursday nights we also have the April Cushman Band at The Groove.”

From this point on, the weekend only gets busier. During race week, the Race Museum is open Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm, and Sunday from 8am to 2pm.

“The New England Racing Museum is an impressive 9,000 square feet,” McGrath said. “It's a true celebration of racing and the region's racing history.”

Charity events as cornerstones of the race weekend

The track will also host the “Laps for Charity” event on Thursday evening, where fans can ride in the lead car or do laps around the track in their own cars to raise money for Speedway Children's Charities.

These fundraisers will continue throughout the weekend and McGrath said they are an important part of the race weekend for Speedway Motorsports Inc. as well as the children supported by these charities.

“Every track owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. hosts fundraising events throughout the year,” McGrath said. “Our Cup race weekends are our biggest fundraising weekends. Then in December, we pool all of the money together and donate it to charities that help children.”

Saturday is a busy day for these fundraisers, with a morning track walk from 8 to 9 a.m. and a cornhole tournament from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., fans can participate in the Wicked Good Live Auction on the Magic Mile Stage, with donations also going to Speedway Children's Charities.

The options will be further expanded on Friday

Friday is the first day the cars will hit the track, but fans will gather early in the day to watch the parade of haulers, starting with the Xfinity Series haulers at 9:30 a.m., followed by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Haulers at 10:30 a.m., and finally the NASCAR Cup Series haulers parade at 12:30 p.m.

The Fan Zone also opens at noon and McGrath compared this area to a carnival with something for everyone to discover.

“The Fan Zone has all kinds of family activities, like rides, a Kid Zone for kids where they can experience NASCAR-related activities like coloring books, Legos and other things. There's something for all ages in the Fan Zone.”

Many of the sport's corporate sponsors will also be present with booths and events along the middle distance, where McGrath said fans will have the opportunity to talk to sponsors and meet some of the riders, among other things.

Things will heat up on the track Friday night when the Xfinity and Whelen Modified series qualify directly following the Sig Sauer Academy Dirt Duels on the flat dirt track adjacent to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

McGrath said three different classes will compete on the flat track starting at 4:30 p.m. Then the Xfiniity and Whelen Modified Tour cars will compete in qualifying battles on the big track. The evening will be capped off with a concert by Aerosmith tribute band Draw The Line and a fireworks display at 9 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday round off the weekend appropriately

While the focus is on the racing on the track on Saturday and Sunday, there are numerous other ways to keep fans entertained between the races.

Saturday morning begins with “The Morning Show” on the Magic Mile Stage, a live talk show featuring NASCAR Cup Series drivers Daniel Hemric and William Byron, along with Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill and Corey Heim and Whelen Modified Tour drivers Justin Bonsignore (who makes 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 are working hard to provide access for fans. We work for the fans, and nothing makes their experience better than being able to see the drivers, trucks and cars up close.”

Driver appearances will also take place the week before race day. A list can be found at https://www.nhms.com/events/nascar-cup-series/appearances/

The highlight of Saturday's festivities will be a performance by AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds on the Magic Mile Stage from 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. following the conclusion of the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Series races.

Sunday brings fans closer to the sport

The Fan Zone will reopen at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, with Trackside Live on the Magic Mile Stage beginning at 11:00 a.m. There, Speedway Motorsports President Marcus Smith, NASCAR Cup Series drivers Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain and Martin Truex, and McGrath himself will appear on stage for interviews, moderated by personalities Kenny Wallace and John Roberts.

Track pass access begins at 12:15 p.m. for fans who plan to be on the front stretch before the race to watch driver introductions. Racing for the USA Today 301 then starts at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

“Tickets for this weekend are a great deal when you think about all of the opportunities and everything that comes with a ticket,” McGrath said. “We're trying to really make the whole weekend something that people can enjoy with friends or family, and we hope it's something they'll never forget and keep coming back for.”

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csibon

Fun NASCAR racing weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Charity events as cornerstones of the race weekend

The options will be further expanded on Friday

Saturday and Sunday round off the weekend appropriately

Sunday brings fans closer to the sport

Anna Harden

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Charity events as cornerstones of the race weekend

The options will be further expanded on Friday

Saturday and Sunday round off the weekend appropriately

Sunday brings fans closer to the sport

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