Pep rally in uptown Charlotte kicks off Bank of America ROVAL 400 week

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The sounds of the Johnson C. Smith Pep Band filled the lunchtime air at the Gateway Village Plaza in uptown Charlotte on Tuesday.

“We’re here to make some noise downtown about the great race coming. We have a world-class event. For those that don’t know, the ROVAL is an event that draws people from all 50 states and at least 15 countries as far away as Australia and Tanzania,” Greg Walter, with Charlotte Motor Speedway, said. “If you’ve never seen a NASCAR race this is the one to see. It’s the only road course in the world where you can see the whole thing from your seat.”

The plaza was set up to host a pep rally ahead of Sunday’s Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. Along with the band, there were race car simulators, cornhole games and lots of food.

NASCAR Champion Joey Logano and former NASCAR star Michael Waltrip were on hand to interact with fans and talk with Doug Rice of the Performance Racing Network about the upcoming race and the fun of being able to attend an event like the pep rally.

“In Charlotte, we all live pretty close by. It’s good to come to things like here today and see a lot of fans and talk about the race that’s coming up and to be excited about it and tell them what to look for in Charlotte this weekend,” Logano said.

As the cutoff race for the playoffs, the Bank of America ROVAL™ is known for its unpredictability, making it a must-watch event for fans, and a challenge for the drivers who have to navigate the high-speed oval and tight, technical road course.

Adult tickets for Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina start at just $25. Kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. Tickets to the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400 start at just $49 for adults.

Kids 12 and under get in for just $10 with an adult. For tickets, visit the speedway’s website.

Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved.