News 14 Carolina's Shawn Flynn has more on why high gas prices aren't expected to affect turnout at the May races.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Race week is turning into race month at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. NASCAR fans began arriving at the track earlier this week and many will stay until Memorial Day.
Following this weekend’s Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington, the eyes of the racing world turn to the Charlotte area, which hosts the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 17 then the Coca-Cola 600 eight nights later. The campgrounds around the track are already starting to fill up.
"I've always wanted to take in a NASCAR race," said first-timer Robin Himple, of Oswego, N.Y.
Donald Douglas camps in the same spot every year with his dog, Cosmo, and like Himple, got a jumpstart on race week by arriving early. A couple of hundred thousand other fans are expected to join them in the coming days.
Thousands of campers will fill the sites around Lowe's Motor Speedway between now and Memorial Day.
Despite the economic downturn and gas prices going up faster than race cars go around a track, the campgrounds are expected to be full or nearly full for both races.
"It's difficult, but I suppose if you want to do something, you're going to do it," said Himple.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway executive vice president Lauri Wilks says fans come to the race with only so many dollars to spend, so as gas prices take up more of their budgets, there is less to spend on concessions and memorabilia.
One way NASCAR fans are saving is lodging.
"Rather than staying in a hotel, they come and camp in a tent they can and save money that way," said Wilks.
Track officials say there is still room at many of the campgrounds for all-star race week, however most areas are already booked for Coca-Cola 600 week.