The NASCAR Driver Experience

What It’s Like to be a NASCAR Driver… Behind the Wheel!

There is nothing like the NASCAR driver experience…driving a projectile at 180+ mph…The stimulation of emotions is an adrenaline rush like no other!... trying to control a race car that is on the brink of going out of control!

You feel the resistence of the throttle under your shoe…You are alone…You begin noticing the rapid thumping of your heartbeat inside your ears as the earphones are plugged into the radio.

You will be guided by two voices…your crewchief and your spotter (who will see your every move above the track)…They are your other pairs of eyes and ears!

Then you start your motor…you follow the pace car to the green flag…you rev the motor up to 180mph…there is no speedometer!...you don’t need one.

You are sitting on top of the exhaust as you feel the vibrations throughout your entire body…the race is on!

Strategy demands that, as a NASCAR driver, you get and stay near the front of the pack…Exposure is what it’s all about!

About every 50 laps or so, your 16 man pit crew puts on a remarkable dance that changes your tires, fills your tank, and wipes your windshield in 14 seconds or less…

You chug some water…You tighten your harness straps around you as you are losing weight at a rate of 3 lbs/hr…then you explode back onto the race track.

All of your senses are heightened as your experience has given you a “piano tuner’s” sense for the motor, gears, breaks, and transmission!...When something changes you know!

You can hear and feel the airflow changes on and around your car as your position changes throughout the race with the cars around you…You get a sense of when to find a pocket of air to dive into…

This is when your car can behave unexpectedly…Your nose or tail could swerve or become “loose” or “get sideways”… If you don’t control it there will be trouble!

When cars bump and some crash…you look for a way out!...No time to think!...You just need a small opening through all the smoke!...

During the last 15 to 20 laps your crew chief and spotter are guiding you…You may be gambling with gas mileage…You may have problems with your breaks…If you are going for the win it’s a go-for-broke attitude…You are "on kill”!...anything can happen from here!...

The Richard Petty Driving Experience

Join the Richard Petty Driving Experience for a one-of-a-kind excursion. You can choose from one of the following options:

Ride-Along NASCAR Driver Experience:

You will put on a racing suit and helmet and prepare for some serious speed. Admission to the track is free, so bring your whole family. They will also take a digital photograph of you that can be purchased so you will remember this thrilling experience.

Ride-Along Tour:

This tour consists of three high-speed laps with a professional instructor behind the wheel. The tour will also feature a facility overview of the largest sporting venue on the West Coast, time in the Richard Petty Driving Experience Race Shop, and a stop at the gift store. Transportation to and from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is included with the Ride-Along Tour only.

Bullring Rookie and Karting Experience and High-Performance Karting:

Experience short-track action in the driving excursions around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's "Bullring." This 3/8 mile, nine-degree banked track is the home track of 2004 NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch.

You're in the driver's seat for 12 laps around the "Bullring" in a NASCAR driver-style stock car. You wil go through two elements of safety and instruction training(in car) and on track instruction.

After driving, you will receive a graduation packet that includes a time sheet with a breakdown of each lap driven. You will get behind the wheel of competitive racing karts on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Karting Track. Participants will race in a Practice and Qualifying session, a heat race and then the top racers will transfer to a feature race.

For more information about the Richard Petty NASCAR driver experience click here. (opens new window)

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