The program runs throughout the year Monday – Friday between the hours of 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

You can email [email protected] for reservations.

STEAM visits require a minimum of 30 students and we can accommodate up to 200 students per day. Groups under the minimum may look at our Special Event Days, Homeschool Days or email us at [email protected] for further information.

We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 10 students at no charge. Due to limited space availability, we discourage additional chaperones. It is $10 for each additional adult wishing to attend.

Our curriculum is suited for 4th grade through high school. The STEAM program meets Common Core Standards.

Lower grades may be accommodated upon request.

All on-track activities require a signed minor waiver. Download Waiver.

The STEAM program lasts approximately 3-3.5 hours.

This includes STEAM activities, lunch and track experience.

This is a sample itinerary only.

SCHEDULE:

• 9:30am - Students arrive
• 9:30am–11:00am - STEAM activities
• 11:00am–12:00pm - Lunch
• 12:00pm–1:00pm - NASCAR track experience
• 1:00pm - Departure

Yes! Our program aligns with NC & SC common core standards. Copies of our program curriculum standards are available upon request.

Please park at at zMAX Dragway, 6570 Bruton Smith Blvd. Concord, NC. Ample parking is provided for cars and busses. There is no charge for parking!

No, STEAM is held indoors. If your school is staying for lunch, we do have an outside pavilion equipped with picnic tables. If weather does not permit, we will make arrangements for lunch indoors

Yes! All students, with a signed waiver, will participate in either the van ride or a track walk. All adults attending will be able to participate as well.

zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway Bruton Smith Boulevard Concord, North Carolina 28027

$21/student. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 10 students at no charge. Due to limited space availability, we discourage additional chaperones. It is $10 for each additional adult wishing to attend.

Have lunch with us! A covered outdoor pavilion, equipped with picnic tables, is available for groups who choose to bring lunch or choose our pizza lunch option provided by our partners at Hungry Howie's Pizza!

School groups may choose from either Option A, B, or C

Option A – Pick 3
Students will rotate through 3 interactive STEAM stations (90 minutes)

 

1. Grip & Slip - Test different racing surfaces to determine how to create the most friction and gain the most traction while racing down a slope, using gravity!

2. Speed & Acceleration - Force vs. Gravity; test your racing skills down 4 different racetrack bankings without wrecking or going too slow!

3. Energy Moves - Learn all about the basics of energy moving while competing to cross the finish line first in our very own mini drag cars on our 2 or 4-lane dragstrip!

4. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Did you know the NASCAR logo revolves around Sound Energy?! Sound plays a big part in all types of racing - learn with your ears; not just your eyes!

5. Crank up the Heat! - After forming a hypothesis, students will experiment with how heat transfers and what effect it has in racing from the tires to the drivers.

6. Safety [S.A.F.E.R. Barrier] - Keep your driver safe! Test your safety skills by building a mini-car with recycled materials, all while keeping your water bubble driver safe when racing down Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 24° of banking!

7. Thrills & Spills - Clean up that mess! Big spills happen on the track all the time; how can we clean up different types of spills quickly and safely to get the race cars back on the track as soon as possible, using sand, dirt, soil, and other materials?

8. Hydration Station - In racing, staying hydrated with the correct balance of electrolytes is key to fueling the perfect amount of energy needed to win the race! Measure and experiment with your hydration knowledge to make the perfect mixture for your racer!

9. Chutes & Ladders - Students will learn about air resistance by using different materials to measure time and distance.

 

Option B – Pick 1

Students will work in teams to design, build and race their cars in a race showdown! (90 minutes)

 

1.       Gravity Car (best for grades 2-5) - Students design and build a gravity-powered car that can accelerate by itself, down a ramp/hill using only a force.

2.       Propeller Car (best for large groups; grades 5-7) - Students will build a battery-powered car frame, with a propeller.

3.       Pulley Car (best for groups with <90 students="" grades="" 6-12="" -="" students="" will="" build="" a="" battery-powered="" car="" frame="" with="" a="" pulley="" p="">

4.       Slingshot Car (best for grades K-8) - Students will build a car powered by Elastic Energy

5.       Drag Car (best for grades 9-12)  Students will build a battery-powered dragster.

 

Option C –

This is a career session and best suited for upper middle and high school students. (90 minutes) *This session cannot be paired with other options*

Students will be placed in one of several categories that match a career that can be found at and around the track. Each category will be tasked with a STEAM challenge. Upon completion of their challenge, students will participate in a final focus session highlighting their accomplishments.

Please indicate the option you choose when you reserve your date.

To register your group for a visit, email a STEAM coordinator at [email protected].

Invoices will be issued at time of registration and payment is due at time of visit. Pre payments may be arranged by contacting your STEAM coordinator. We accept cash, check or charge. Checks should be made payable to Charlotte Motor Speedway. We operate on a 10-to-1 student/teacher ratio. Additional teachers/chaperones are $10 each. School groups are responsible for collecting additional monies. Ten days prior to visit, groups will be responsible to pay a minimum of 90% of the last recorded student count.

Cancellation notice of 2 weeks is required to receive a full refund. Cancellations made within 2 weeks of scheduled visit will be responsible for 20% of balance due. There are no fees for rescheduling as long as visit is rescheduled within one week of cancellation date and visit is completed within 12 months of originally scheduled date.

• The Daily STEAM program runs M-F year round and is open for school groups of 30 or more.
• It lasts approximately 3.5 hours, beginning at 9:30 and ending at 1:00. We can be flexible with start & end times based on the school’s needs.
• We can accommodate up to 200 students per day.
• We operate on a 1:10 teacher/student ratio. Any additional adults beyond that are $10 each. The program is $21/student.
• Students will have 90 minutes of STEAM activities, break for lunch and take a ride in our tour vans on the NASCAR track.
• Groups may bring a bag lunch or choose from our pizza lunch option for an additional charge.
• Schools may choose from Option A, B or C. Refer to “What activities will students participate in” in the FAQ for a list of choices.