NASCAR - North Carolina is home to NASCAR stock car racing. Carolinians will be upset with NASCAR for the next 20 years about NASCARs’ decision to stop racing at The Rock, Rockingham. Charlotte Motor Speedway is still going strong, despite the name change to Lowes Motor Speedway. Nearby, the Darlington race track continues to be a favorite. DAYTONA BEACH HOTEL MAPS

North Carolina especially loves the racers who are lifelong Carolinians. The Earnhart and Petty legacies continue. The only two racers ever to win the Winston Cup seven times are North Carolina natives King Richard, Richard Petty, and the Intimidator, the late great Dale Earnhart. The Winston Cup series has changed sponsors, so the famed cup series is now the Nextel Cup. The Busch Cup series also has some awesome talent vying for millions in prize money.

Lifelong residents of the Carolinas will tell you there are only two things you need to know to be a Carolinian. Stock car racing and dirt tracks. 

Motorcycling and Motorcycle Racing - North Carolina and South Carolina have some of the best resources for motorcyclists in the entire United States. South Carolina, with their relaxed motorcycle helmet laws makes millions every Myrtle Beach Bike Week, while attempts to hold similar bike week events in North Carolina pale in comparison. In fact, riders who go to South Carolina during bike week will ride up to the North Carolina border and turn around in order to avoid North Carolina helmet laws, which keeps the increased revenue in South Carolina. All Harley Drag Racing Association, AHDRA, is still happening at The Rock (Rockingham), and other motorcycle drag races are held at other drag strips. For more information about motorcycling and biker lifestyle, see BIKERS or Bikers USA.

Basketball - college football in North Carolina gets more media press than any other sport in North Carolina, and fans of college football are fanatics. The ACC and NCAA championships are huge favorites. The college teams from NCSU, Duke University, Wake Forest University, often make it into playoff championships, and when they do the crowds go nuts.

Baseball - North Carolina does not have a major league team, but has a fine baseball history. Babe Ruth got the name Babe when playing for a minor league team in Fayetteville. The Durham Bulls continue their long history in the minor leagues.

Hockey - The Carolina Hurricanes, in Raleigh, who made it all the way to the Stanley Cup championship series in 2002. NHL hockey and the Canes had disrupted seasons. At this point, all fans can hope is for hockey to come back strong in the Carolinas.