Campgrounds at Charlotte Motor Speedway expected to reach capacity with hurricane escapees and NASCAR fans

CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Roval 400: It’s a unique road course race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with playoff implications that are set to attract thousands of race fans from all 50 states. Sprinkled into those numbers are still a handful of campers from Western North Carolina and now Florida.

“Race week is always busy, but this week has been especially busy,” said Jonathan Coleman, Senior Director of Communications at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The speedway has become an intersection of race fans and hurricane escapees.

The campgrounds are expected to reach full capacity.

PREVIOUS: Charlotte Motor Speedway welcoming Tropical Storm Debby evacuees

“We’re actually working with our sister track down in Atlanta Motor Speedway,” Coleman said. “They’ve already opened their campgrounds for those that are fleeing Milton and coming north from Florida.”

Most of those we spoke to said they hadn’t had showers, were exhausted and didn’t want to go on TV, understandably so.

A couple who lives on Riverside Drive in Charlotte told us they lost everything and were forced to buy an R.V. so they had a place to live.

Some campers with Florida license plates told us they vacationed in Asheville for the summer and have a house in Florida. Both hurricanes have led them here until it’s safe to return home. They told us to pray for them and their family.

“You just don’t think of that kind of thing happening here,” said Jeff Trimble who arrived in town for the Roval 400.

Others have just started rolling in for race day. Their excitement has been met with the sobering reality that not all are on vacation.

“Maybe we could have stayed home and stayed out of the way, but hopefully we’re here to help,” Trimble said. “A, we’ve contributed some funds, and I assume there are going to be some hats, buckets. We’ll find some places to help out.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.