NASCAR will rev your engines

The first race in the “Strictly Stock Series,” the precursor to what is today the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, was held at the old Charlotte Speedway, a 3/4-mile dirt oval, in 1949.

The track was built just off Little Rock Road south of Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Races were held there through 1956. The current 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord opened in 1960.

Over the past half-century, the Charlotte area has become a mecca for NASCAR fans from all over the country, and with good reason. Check out our list of the 10 best places in the area to get your NASCAR fix:

NASCAR Hall of Fame: The hall, in uptown Charlotte, consists of more than 40,000 square feet of exhibits, including Glory Road, which features 18 cars and highlights 46 past and current tracks; the Hall of Honor, a 360-degree wall where honorees are enshrined; and other interactive exhibits. 704-654-4400; www.nascarhall.com.

Charlotte Motor Speedway: Hundreds of thousands of race fans come to CMS in Concord for the track’s three major NASCAR events each year – the Sprint All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600, on successive weekends each May, and October’s 500-mile race.

The track also offers tours, and fans can get their own taste of NASCAR racing via the Richard Petty Driving Experience. 704-455-3200; www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Hendrick Motorsports: It’s one of two NASCAR organizations with more than 200 wins in the Cup series (Petty Enterprises is the other). The museum in Concord houses Hendrick Motorsports’ most famous stock cars, sports car exhibits and championship trophy displays. 704-455-3200; www.hendrickmotorsports.com.

Roush Fenway Racing: Located on the NASCAR racing organization’s complex near the Concord airport, the museum offers trophies and cars highlighting team owner Jack Roush’s involvement from drag racing to Trans Am to NASCAR. 704-720-4350; www.roushfenway.com.

Rockingham Speedway: Once home to two Cup series races a year, the iconic track – located 70 miles southeast of Charlotte – now hosts an annual NASCAR Truck Series race, other racing series and a driving school. 910-205-8800; www.rockinghamspeedway.com.

Darlington Raceway: NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway, located in South Carolina, still hosts one Cup series race each season on Mother’s Day weekend. Also on the property is the Stock Car Museum, home of the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

The track is about 90 miles south-southeast of Charlotte. 843-395-8920; www.darlingtonraceway.com.

Memory Lane Museum: If you are fascinated by the history of cars and racing, this museum in Mooresville has something for you. View the history of the automobile from the buggy through present day, and of stock car racing from the early moonshine era to super speedways. 704-662-3673; www.memorylaneautomuseum.com.

Richard Childress Racing: Team owner Richard Childress won six Cup series championships with the legendary Dale Earnhardt.

All facets of the duo’s journey together in NASCAR are covered in RCR’s on-site museum, located 65 miles northeast of Charlotte in Welcome, N.C. 336-731-3389; www.rcrracing.com.

Michael Waltrip Racing: The headquarters for the Michael Waltrip Racing in Cornelius organization offers visitors a tour (for a charge) that covers all facets of car fabrication and assembly, including Q&As with tour guides and video presentations. 704-655-9550; www.michaelwaltrip.com.

Site of original Charlotte Speedway: The first event at Charlotte Speedway was a 150-mile race in 1949. Other events were 100, 113 or 150 miles long. A historical marker is now located near the area.