When Michael Waltrip announced plans for his own NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team in early 2006, he simultaneously announced the creation of an interactive museum and activity center that would be part of the organization. The plans became reality when Raceworld USA opened for business on May 16.
To call the facility a museum would be an inaccurate description as the facility offers much more than a glimpse of racing history. While there are displays reflecting the past glories of the trio of Michael Waltrip Racing drivers, there are also interactive activities that afford visitors a more complete racing experience.
"Waltrip Raceworld is a very unique facility which is unparalleled in NASCAR," said Dale Jarrett, driver of the #44 UPS Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. "From the owner's, driver's and crew chief's perspective, I think it is the perfect facility for developing and perfecting on-track performance. In addition to that, it provides fans the opportunity to experience something they have never seen before - an up close look at our race cars as they are being built and prepared to race."
Local and motorsports media members were treated to a special tour of the facility prior to the All Star race weekend in Charlotte a few weeks ago. Entering the lobby, individuals walk into an open area where colorful displays with video line the walls, reflecting information on each of the drivers and sponsors associated with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR). The Dale Jarrett display features Jarrett's primary sponsor colors and a collection of photos from Jarrett's early childhood, to his days as a high school athlete, to winning the NASCAR championship in 1999. A video includes footage from Jarrett's first win in the Daytona 500 in 1993 to his current job as the driver of the #44 UPS Toyota.
The second level of Raceworld USA features displays that include the evolution of NASCAR's safety standards to information and maps of each track on which the Nextel Cup and Busch Series currently competes. Fans have the opportunity to sit in an actual race seat complete with the HANS device and all its attachments. Another interactive feature is a photo room that features a green screen and allows individuals to select their backdrop including a victory lane option as well as a variety of at-track options.
One of the most unique features of the facility is the unprecedented access to the actual work areas of the organization. Fans have access to a viewing area which overlooks various departments of the racing organization as well as the main floor area where individual team members are setting up the cars for upcoming races and scheduled test sessions. Some of the specific departments to which fans have access include the engineering department, the machine shop, and the transmission area.
In addition to the work areas, fans have the opportunity to view one of the scheduled pit crew practices in a special viewing area that has been set up for such activity. The pit crew practice schedules are on display at the information desk on a daily basis. After taking in the pit crew practice, fans also have the opportunity to tour a driver motorcoach featuring the relaxing atmosphere that drivers experience at the track each weekend.
While the facility has been open less than a month, there are plans to expand the facility to create the ultimate motorsports experience for Raceworld USA patrons. Plans are already in place for individuals or groups to rent out the facility for special events such as birthday parties, cocktail receptions, or business activities.
