NASCAR Roots & Historic Routes: A Weekend in Cabarrus County

There’s a hum to Cabarrus County — part horsepower, part heritage. Explore a landscape where racing legends, historic spaces and local flavor all share the same road.

1 Charlotte Motor Speedway

1 Charlotte Motor Speedway

ConcordSee on map

Start your trip with a high-octane, behind-the-scenes look at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the Dirt Track and zMAX Dragway. Year-round tours range from U-Drive experiences to infield explorations — but if you time your visit right, special race week tours can get you up close with famous race teams and show you what the speedway looks like as it prepares for a NASCAR race weekend. Afterward, make a pit stop at Morrison Motor Car Museum, where dozens of classic, antique and muscle cars are on display.

Website(704) 455-3200Directions

2 RFK Racing

2 RFK Racing

ConcordSee on map

About 90% of NASCAR race shops are in Cabarrus County — and you can visit many of them. See crews at work, learn the history behind historic moments, pick up gear featuring your favorite driver and peruse the team stores. RFK Racing in Concord even has a 100-seat theater for fans to relive incredible races and milestones. Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, JR Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing all also call the Cabarrus area home.

Website(704) 720-4600Directions

3 Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza

3 Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza

KannapolisSee on map

Fun fact: Dale Earnhardt hails from Kannapolis, and his life and career are celebrated at the 1-acre Dale Earnhardt Tribute Plaza downtown. Anchored by a 9-foot statue of the legend, the plaza sports gardens, walkways, symbolic details (you’ll find azaleas, day lilies and benches in sets of three, Earnhardt’s car number) and personalized bricks.

Website(704) 920-4343Directions

4 Gibson Mill

4 Gibson Mill

ConcordSee on map

In its former life, Gibson Mill opened in 1899 as Plant No. 6 for the Cannon Mills Company. Today, it’s a community gathering hub with a dining hall, antique shop and craft breweries. For dinner, grab burgers, tacos, pizza, noodles or barbecue — all options are Cabarrus homegrown — and park up inside or on the dog-friendly outdoor patio. Parking onsite is free.

Website(704) 699-2177Directions

5 Curb Motorsports Museum

5 Curb Motorsports Museum

KannapolisSee on map

Discover the intersection of motorsports and music at the Curb Motorsports Museum. Owner Mike Curb is a lifelong motorsports enthusiast, and he’s also the owner and founder of one of the leading country music record labels in the country. The museum showcases NASCAR, Indy and modified race cars, as well as musical items such as LeeAnn Rimes’ very first car, a 1995 black Dodge Viper. Stroll through the auto racing memorabilia and spot gold record awards, autographed posters from country and pop superstars, and tons of photos of recording artists. Need more music? Curb shares the building with the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.

Website(704) 938-6121Directions

6 Davis Theatre

6 Davis Theatre

ConcordSee on map

Time for dinner and a show inside a historic theater downtown. If Concord is your town of choice, grab a larger-than-life slice at Benny DaCorsa’s Pizza (“dacorsa” means “racing” in Italian) and catch a Broadway show at the Davis Theatre in the Historic Courthouse. If Kannapolis is on the agenda, West Loop Local is a great option for handcrafted cocktails, salads, sandwiches or charcuterie before a live performance at the historic Swanee Theatre. Prefer film? Check out the Gem Theatre, one of the oldest single screen movie theaters still in operation.

Website(704) 920-2787Directions

7 Eastern Cabarrus Historic Society Museum

7 Eastern Cabarrus Historic Society Museum

Mount PleasantSee on map

A new day calls for more Cabarrus County history. Savor brunch at 73 & Main or Cafe Lentz (both located inside historic buildings) in Mount Pleasant before exploring the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum. Get a glimpse of what life was like in the 18th- to mid-20th century in Cabarrus County at this free museum, which is open seasonally and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Website(704) 436-6612Directions

8 Reed Gold Mine

8 Reed Gold Mine

MidlandSee on map

Stroll the rest of the Mount Pleasant Historic District before venturing to the site of America's first gold discovery at Reed Gold Mine. Learn about how 12-year-old Conrad Reed unearthed a 17-pound gold nugget in Little Meadow Creek back in 1799, then try your own hand at panning for gold. Underground tunnels, viewing exhibits and walking trails are also available at this state historic site.

Website(704) 721-4653Directions

9 Rocky River Vineyards

9 Rocky River Vineyards

MidlandSee on map

Is there anything better than ending the evening with a sunset and glass of wine around the fire? Part of Cabarrus County’s craft beverage trail, Rocky River Vineyards offers various styles of wine alongside wine slushes and wine cocktails (both alcoholic and non), plus seasonal beverages such as mulled wine.

Website(704) 781-5035Directions

This trip idea was produced in partnership with, and all photos are courtesy of, Explore Cabarrus.