One of the most decorated athletes in the history of X Games is throwing his support behind Charlotte Motor Speedway as the legendary facility bids to land ESPN's extreme action sports contest beginning in 2014.

The stars of the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series and the NDRA Crate Late Model Series will battle it out in the heart of NASCAR country in two action-packed feature races at the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown Friday. Below are some newsworthy items leading into Friday's event at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

With the 10 Greatest Days in Racing upon us, The Dirt Track at Charlotte is getting ready for its first event of the season, the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown on Friday, May 24. A familiar face is making a comeback to the event with a new owner and a new team. Kasey Kahne Racing's (KKR) No. 9 Great Clips sprint car will be piloted by Daryn Pittman for the first time at the lightning-fast, four-tenths-mile clay oval.

It's difficult to overstate just how big the 10 Greatest Days in Racing are at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with fans from around the globe tuning in to watch NASCAR's best battle for up to $2 million at the Sprint All-Star Race and endure the season's toughest test of man and machine at the Coca-Cola 600.

In just a couple of weeks, NASCAR's best will take to the high banks of Charlotte Motor Speedway for the most intense back-to-back race weekends of the season. Adding to the excitement in 2013, fans will be treated to a bevy of additional entertainment, from death-defying pre-race stunts to grassroots racing on the frontstretch quarter-mile and a firefighting skills competition.

ESPN, the leading action sports content provider and creator of the X Games, has chosen four North American cities – Austin, Texas; Chicago; Detroit; and Charlotte, N.C. – as final candidates to host a summer version of the X Games for a period of three years beginning in 2014.

At Speedway Motorsports, Inc., (NYSE:TRK)  going green doesn’t just mean the drop of the flag, it is a companywide commitment to reducing material use, recycling materials, tires and oil, improving air and water quality and decreasing energy and water consumption.  In fact, SMI’s Green Globe program, launched in 2011, is  delivering a dramatic improvement in the company’s environmental track-print.

Put on your blue suede shoes and tune up your singing voice, there is about to be a whole lot of Elvis at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Fans will have a chance to pay homage to The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at the Food Lion AutoFair, April 4-7, by participating in an official preliminary round of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

In the 1950s, the world couldn’t help falling in love with Elvis Presley and now fans can view one of The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s personal vehicles, a 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II, at the April 4-7 Food Lion AutoFair at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

As it has for more than five decades, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: TRK) will again expand its Fans First platform in 2013. New initiatives will include a four-tiered program reaching across a variety of fan bases, including long-time fans, first-time fans, families and those fans interested in the most exclusive race experience in motorsports.

After the spectacular success of the 2012 PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals in November, fans are rushing quicker than a sprint car on the lightning-fast, four-tenths-mile clay oval to renew their seats, in anticipation of next year’s sellout.

Next week, more than 220 motorsports journalists will gather for the most prestigious preseason media event in sports, the 31^st annual NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. Running Jan. 21-24, the tour offers credentialed journalists four full days of unrivaled access to announcements from NASCAR’s biggest teams.

Albemarle, N.C. resident, Angela Crisco was named 2012 Ticket Office Salesperson of the Year during a banquet on Dec. 12 that recognized sales representatives for their accomplishments in the Charlotte Motor Speedway ticket office.

When Melanie and Ed Taylor visited Speedway Christmas on Christmas Eve last year, they had no idea of the impact it would have on their lives or how big a role they would play in this year's Christmas extravaganza.

One of Santa’s helpers is bringing some special gluten-free treats, including delicious gluten-free corn dogs and funnel cakes, to Speedway Christmas. Big John’s BBQ and Catering has two locations, one at the Coca-Cola Ice Rink and one in the Christmas Village at Speedway Christmas, which offer gluten-free menus.

This Friday, race fans from around the country will visit Charlotte Motor Speedway for the unique opportunity to drive their personal vehicles on the high banks of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway for the 20^th annual Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out, the biggest day-after-Thanksgiving shopping event in racing.

The biggest day-after-Thanksgiving tradition in racing, the 20^th annual Souvenir and Race Ticket Blow-Out, is returning Nov. 23 to provide fans with one-of-a-kind deals. Closing out Charlotte Motor Speedway’s week-long Thanksgiving celebration, which includes the Speedway Christmas kickoff on Monday and a viewing of the Capitol Christmas tree on Thanksgiving Day, the event gives consumers a unique way to enjoy the most popular shopping day of the year.

For the fourth consecutive year, grandstand tickets for the PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts are sold out, but Charlotte Motor Speedway officials have announced that a few hundred standing-room-only tickets are now on sale for the 2012 season finale at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Daryn Pittman, David Gravel, Darrell Lanigan and Josh Richards each scored fastest times at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Thursday for Kellogg’s Qualifying Night,  kicking off the sixth annual PEAK World of Outlaws World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

Fans have been flocking to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for five years for the PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts and this year they’ll get a better fan experience than ever before at the Nov. 1-3 event.

In just two weeks, fans from around the globe will pack the stands for “The Greatest Show on Dirt,” the PEAK Motor Oil World of Outlaws World Finals presented by NAPA Auto Parts, Nov. 1-3, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Tomorrow, the stars of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will clash with up-and-coming NASCAR stars at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Wednesday night for the Circle K Late Model Showdown. The following are several key story lines leading into one of the biggest late model races of the year.

Rising NASCAR stars Austin and Ty Dillon, of Lewisville, N.C., will trade their regular NASCAR rides for a pair of late models as they compete in the World of Outlaws Circle K Late Model Showdown on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Fans can now purchase single-day tickets for The Greatest Show on Dirt, the Nov. 1-3 World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Tickets are $20 for adults on Thursday and $39 on Friday and Saturday and $10 for kids 13 and under on Thursday and $15 on Friday and Saturday. Fans still have the option to purchase three-day tickets for $69 for adults and $24 for kids 13 and under.

Summer coming to an end means two things for kids in the Charlotte area, the start of the school year and the return of the Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash presented by Polar Pop at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. And for area Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, it means the return of the annual Monster Truck Scout Camporee on Saturday, Aug. 11.

Friday night, all the action was at The Dirt Track at Charlotte as the World of Outlaws sprint cars took to the track for the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown. Kasey Kahne Racing’s Joey Saldana took the win in a eventful 30-lap shootout.

Mooresville, N.C. has long been known as Race City USA for NASCAR race teams and suppliers, but when it comes to World of Outlaws Sprint Car teams, most are based in Indiana. One team, however, is based in the heart of NASCAR country, just miles down the road from The Dirt Track at Charlotte, which will host the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown on May 25.

It was a wild night of off-road racing at The Dirt Track at Charlotte as Ricky Johnson and Andrew Caddell each pulled off back-to-back wins while Bryce Menzies and Steve Krieman each got their first wins of the season in Traxxas TORC Series action.

The region’s dirt racing fans will experience a different kind of event this Friday and Saturday at The Dirt Track at Charlotte when the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL hits the track for two days of action-packed off-road truck racing.

The stars of the premier Baja-style, off-road truck racing series, the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL, are back for the second consecutive year at The Dirt Track at Charlotte for two nights of racing action, April 20-21.

Two-time defending World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Jason Meyers will be stepping away from racing following a 14-race “Allstar Appreciation Tour” during the 2012 season. Meyers, who turned 33 on Jan. 30, made the announcement this past week that he will be making the move in order to spend more time with his wife and two young daughters.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is solidifying its nickname as “The Greatest Place To See The Race” in 2012 with 112 full-throttle days and nights of entertainment for the whole family. Featuring a mix of brand new events and traditional fan favorites, this year promises to be the biggest yet. 

It was an action packed night at The Dirt Track at Charlotte as Donny Schatz, Jonathan Davenport and Tim McCreadie each claimed A-Feature wins Friday at the fifth annual Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own.

Often imitated, never duplicated, the “The Greatest Show on Dirt” returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte tomorrow through Saturday in front of a huge crowd for the fifth annual Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own.

Many would say, and few would argue, that North Carolina is stock car country, with the city of Charlotte serving as the unofficial capital of the NASCAR industry. But since 2007, the Tar Heel State has also been home to something a little different. That’s the year The Dirt Track at Charlotte introduced the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals.

Fans from 47 states as well as Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom will descend on The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Nov. 3-5, for the fifth annual Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Tom’s Snacks, Coca-Cola and Nature’s Own.

It's Bank of America 500 Week at Charlotte Motor Speedway and there is so much more than just the on-track activity to get fans excited. Below is a listing of some of the fan activities scheduled each day during Bank of America 500 Week. For a complete list, visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267).

In preparation for Bank of America 500 Week, Charlotte Motor Speedway officials are making sure race fans and area residents are fully equipped to handle race day traffic by providing safe and efficient travel routes and information.

All dirt roads will lead to Charlotte as the World of Outlaws Late Model and Sprint Car Series are set to take over The Dirt Track as part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Fall Season of Speed.

Monster truck fans are looking forward to the annual summertime family tradition of the Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash and Circle K Pre-Race Pit Party. This year fans will get to experience new elements including ride-alongs in a 16-seat monster truck and a motocross exhibition in addition to family favorites like the Circle K Pre-Race Pit Party when the monster trucks return to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday.

In what has become a summertime tradition, the Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash is back, along with family-favorite activities including the Monster Truck Scout Camporee and the Circle K Pre-Race Pit Party at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday, Aug. 13.

Johnny Greaves  and Ricky Johnson made a whole mess of new TORC Series fans in the heart of NASCAR country.

The Traxxas TORC Series, presented by AMSOIL, off-road championship short course racing will make its southern debut, July 22-23, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Just one year after a serious car wreck delayed his rookie season, World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driver, Cody Darrah, is eyeing his first win at the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown, Friday, May 27, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The temperature is heating up, and so is the action on the track as the World of Outlaws Sprint Cup Series gears up for its return to the Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 27 for the Circle K Outlaw Showdown. Twenty-time champion Steve Kinser started the season off strong by winning the first two nights at the DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park and has gone on to put his Tony Stewart Racing car into victory lane a total of four times. 

Charlotte Motor Speedway is gearing up for a spectacular year of entertainment as the track's 2011 schedule features more than 100 days and nights of excitement. 

Jason Meyers, Josh Richards and Matt Sheppard were crowned series champions following the fourth-consecutive Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks, while Meyers, Jimmy Owens and Tim McCreadie took home A-Feature wins in front of a sellout crowd at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Friday’s portion of the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks scheduled for The Dirt Track at Charlotte has been postponed until Saturday due to inclement weather.

The pit area at The Dirt Track at Charlotte was filled with 184 race cars Thursday night as the fourth-consecutive Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks kicked off three nights of racing.

The most anticipated dirt track racing event of the season begins Thursday when fans from 48 states and at least five countries converge on The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals Presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom's Snacks.

The Dirt Track at Charlotte officials announced today a change in the schedule for this weekend’s Lowes Foods World of Outlaws World Finals presented by Bimbo Bakeries and Tom’s Snacks. Gate openings and hot laps have moved up one hour ahead of their originally scheduled times on Friday and Saturday. Thursday, gates will open at the originally scheduled time, but hot laps will be moved up one hour.

Stewart Friesen is the talk of the DIRTcar Big-Block Modified world. A personable 27-year-old Canadian with a hard-charging style and an emotional bent, Friesen has won more Modified features than any other driver in the Northeast this season. He's been especially spectacular during the month of October, winning the prestigious SEF Small Engine Fuels 200 Presented by Ferris/Snapper/Simplicity Big-Block Modified Championship at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse and nearly capturing the unsanctioned 49th annual Eastern States 200 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, N.Y.

Speedway officials announced today that Lowes Foods has signed on as the title sponsor of the World of Outlaws World Finals Nov. 4-6, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.The World Finals brings together dirt racing’s three premier divisions, the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds, for three nights of on-track action that crowns their respective champions.

“Rocket Man,” Josh Richards has taken over the World of Outlaws Late Model Series points lead with a victory in the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown Wednesday night, at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. In National Dirt Racing Association (NDRA) Crate Late Model action, Danny Brewer took home the win.

The world's best late model drivers will be in the spotlight to begin Bank of America 500 Week as "The Greatest Show on Dirt" returns to The Dirt Track at Charlotte for the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown Oct. 13.

Sleek, black, custom and fast; Tommy Pike's powerful custom Cobra replica is complete and ready to roll. Fans will now get the chance to own this unique vehicle and help raise money for Speedway Children's Charities.

Jonathan Davenport took home his second win at The Dirt Track at Charlotte with a victory in Sunday’s postponed FASTRAK Late Model Series race.

Monster truck fans can enjoy great family fun and affordable entertainment when the 11th annual Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash and Circle K Pre-Race Pit Party return to The Dirt Track at Charlotte on Saturday.

Race vehicles representing every major series that will compete this fall at Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte will parade east on West Third Street, then north to College Street to roll-out the speedway’s Fall Season of Speed.

The FASTRAK Late Model Series will add extra excitement to an already action-packed evening when they race the FASTRAK Triple Crown, a 30-lap, $2,000-to-win feature in conjunction with the Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash Aug. 14., at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Friday’s Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown race scheduled for The Dirt Track at Charlotte has been postponed until tomorrow. The pit gate will open at 3 p.m. tomorrow for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race. Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. and hot laps will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Circle K, one of the most widely recognized convenience store brands in America, and NOS Energy Drink have signed as title sponsors for the Circle K NOS Energy Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Charlotte on May 28.

After a successful end to the 2009 season with a standing-room-only crowd for the World of Outlaws World Finals, The Dirt Track at Charlotte opens the 2010 season with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown on May 28. This year's exciting schedule features six nights of racing highlighted by World of Outlaws sprint cars and late models.

After two incident-filled features, Jason Meyers and Scott Bloomquist, each found Victory Lane in the first night of racing action for the World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday.

Josh Richards took home the trophy for his eighth victory of the 2009 season in the World of Outlaws Late Model Showdown presented by Hungry-Man. Richards started from the second position and cruised to a full straightaway lead by the time the race reached the halfway mark.

Race car drivers and fans from all over the world will converge at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway this week for the World of Outlaws Topless Showdown presented by Hungry-Man on Wednesday, and the World of Outlaws World Finals, Thursday through Saturday. The World Finals event brings together the World of Outlaws sprint cars and late models for three nights of on-track action to close out their seasons and crown their champions.

Wednesday's World of Outlaws Topless Showdown presented by Hungry Man race scheduled for The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway has been postponed to Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Austin Dillon, the 19-year-old grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, is one of four drivers with NASCAR ties scheduled to compete in the World of Outlaws Topless Showdown presented by Hungry-Man on Wednesday night, Oct. 14, at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway.

For the second year in-a-row, Equalizer took home both the free-style and head-to-head racing wins in the Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009. A Circle K Pre-Race Pit Party, crazy CRASHCars and Super Bob Airborne rounded out the evening's schedule.

Dirt will fly when Equalizer returns to defend his title at the 10th annual Circle K Back-to-School Monster Truck Bash at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Nearly 550,000 horsepower will surge through Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway as the legendary motorsports complex continues to celebrate 50 Years of Firsts with a Fall Season of Speed.

Area Scouts are invited to enjoy an evening of Monster Truck racing followed by a night of sleeping under the stars in Charlotte Motor Speedway's infield Saturday, Aug. 15, during the third annual Monster Truck Scout Camporee.

As defending race winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600, all eyes will be on Kasey Kahne and his Budweiser Dodge this weekend and next at Charlotte Motor Speedway. However, his Kasey Kahne Racing team will be focused on the four-tenths-mile dirt track across the street for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Showdown at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22.

Earl Pearson Jr. took control of the lead on Lap 9 and never let go as he stormed to Victory Lane in the Circle K Colossal 100 at The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway. The two-day event was condensed into a one-day show and run on Sunday due to inclement weather on Friday and Saturday.

Location:
The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date:
Friday, March 27, & Saturday, March 28
Series:
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
800-horsepower, Super Late Model Stock Cars

The 2007 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Champion Steve Francis will return to The Dirt Track @ Charlotte Motor Speedway searching for his second straight win in the Circle K Colossal 100 on March 27-28.