It was a big weekend for NASCAR at Darlington Raceway, with all three series back in action for the first time since the pandemic unfolded. NASCAR hosted three events in five days at Darlington and will soon move to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 this Memorial Day Weekend. We recently had the privilege of interviewing Charlotte Motor Speedway General Manager Greg Walter as he gears up for NASCAR’s return to Charlotte. We thank Greg for his time and hope our readers enjoy this Q&A.
How long have you been involved in NASCAR?
This is my 21st year in motorsports.
What jobs have you held in Auto Racing?
Joined Speedway Motorsports in 1999 as vice president of sales for Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Promoted to the national corporate sales team in 2014.
Assumed the role of executive vice president, overseeing day-to-day operations of Charlotte Motor Speedway, in 2016.
Added the title of General Manager, Charlotte Motor Speedway, in 2018
What is your favorite memory in NASCAR and at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
That’s a tough one. Every race weekend is special, seeing the collective efforts of our team’s planning and execution pay off for thousands of race fans from around the world. If I had to pick one, I think the inaugural Bank of America ROVAL 400 in 2018 probably tops the list. There were so many unknowns heading into that race and so much work that went on behind the scenes to make it spectacular. To be able to take the vision our CEO Marcus Smith had to create something completely different for the sport, and to put so much effort into bringing that vision to life, to have it pay off with a photo finish for the ages was really special.
What has been the biggest change for you and Charlotte Motor Speedway due to the Coronavirus pandemic?
The biggest change was obviously having the reschedule the NASCAR All-Star Race and run the Coca-Cola 600 without fans. As much as we share the fans’ disappointment that they can’t join us on Memorial Day, we felt it was important to play a significant role in returning the country to some sense of normal and getting cars back on track. We’ve hosted this event on Memorial Day weekend almost every year of our 60-year history, and we’re honored to get the chance to do that again this year, despite the circumstances.
How has E-racing changed the landscape of the sport for you and NASCAR fans?
What NASCAR managed to do with iRacing in such a short period of time was truly impressive. It provided an outlet for more than a million race fans to stay engaged in racing on a weekly basis when the sports world was otherwise at a standstill, and likely introduced many new fans to the sport in a way few could have dreamed of just a few short months ago.
What message do you want to give race fans during this time?
I think the most important thing is for them to know we’re all in this together. We want to get back to racing as we know it as soon as is reasonably possible with the health and safety of the fans, drivers, teams and officials in mind. In the meantime, we’re working hard to bring racing back on track to give fans live sports to look forward to as we continue to navigate through this pandemic.
What are you most looking forward to after the Coronavirus shutdown ends?
We’re in the business of helping people make memories, and that’s what I’m most looking forward to getting back to when restrictions ease and life returns to whatever we will call the new normal. The saying goes ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’ I think so much good will come from going through these challenging times, but mostly I think we’ll have a reminder moving forward not to take things for granted like tailgating with friends, enjoying a beautiful weekend at the track and celebrating all that life has to offer.
I personally can’t wait to return to Charlotte Motor Speedway once racing has resumed. Can you share a little about the fan experience and why fans should consider attending a racing event at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
The fan experience at Charlotte is unlike any other facility for two very distinct reasons. First, there’s no other track you can visit where you can completely immerse yourself in the sport. If you come to Charlotte for the weekend, you can visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame to brush up on all the history that our great sport was built on, then visit any number of premier race shops where future chapters are being written, all before coming to the track for a world class event. The second reason Charlotte should be on every NASCAR fan’s bucket list is that we’ve got whatever kind of racing piques your interest. Of the three Cup Series events we host each year, you can watch a no-holds-barred All-Star Race where the winner takes home $1 million and there are no points for second place. If history and tradition are what you’re after, we’ve got the ultimate test of man and machine in the iconic Coca-Cola 600 – NASCAR’s longest and toughest test. And for something completely different, each fall we host the Bank of America ROVAL 400, an innovative, white-knuckled affair that’s equal parts strategy and ability with a little luck thrown in. If you’re a NASCAR fan, we’ve got you covered.
Thank you again to Charlotte Motor Speedway General Manager Greg Walter for taking time to answer some questions for our readers.
For more information about purchasing tickets, or to learn more about Charlotte Motor Speedway, visit the track website at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.
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