Combining vacation with a Nascar race - recommendations?
 

We would like to combine a vacation of exploring local history, food, sightseeing and relaxing with ...a Nascar race. (The season runs mid-February thru mid-November). We've enjoyed North/South Carolina & Virginia areas on previous vacations - where else would you recommend?

Phoenix. We went for a race and were mad about Arizona. One of your best vacations ever.

Loudon NH is less than an hour from the seacoast and it's fairly close to the big lake Winnipesaukee. Portsmouth NH on the seacoast offers historic Strawbery Banke plus some great restaurants. Very close to Loudon is Canterbury Shaker Village which offers fascinating tours. Although there is a seafood restaurant near the racetrack, we prefer going over to the coast for fried clams and lobster.

Check Long Beach Gran Prix, Laguna Seca near Monterey, and Sears Point near Sonoma for races. Great locations.

I've also been to Laguna Seca and Sears Point (different races, though). We had a lot of nearby by fun on both those trips.

Arizona, though, seems to hit all your interests. The history, especially the ancient dwellings, the art, etc. of the first peoples of Arizona, was great, as well as some older towns. Food was incredible; we sought out as much authentic food as we could get and it was a wonderful eating trip. As far as scenery, I haven't seen anyplace that was much more beautiful than the Apache Trail.

Can't say that the town of Phoenix blew me away but there was more than enough within a short distance to make us happy.

Plus we swam in the hotel pool at the Fall race.

I'm not a race person, but have been to a lot of races with family members.