rusty wallace racing experience

My wife got a Groupon to check this racing experience out. It was for 8 laps, but I ended up having to spend another $100 for a decent amount of time on the track. They'll tell you this when you get there. They do a really good job going over safety and amping you up for the experience. The top speed is throttled for safety reasons, but in reality you likely will not get to the top speed because of the "fast" track - the track is fast because it is short. What I will NOT recommend, the in-dash cam and take-home video (on USB stick). Way overpriced for a less than 480i (think 70s TV resolution), and the system ended up not working so they had to mail me the USB stick... Perhaps they now have a Go-Pro to improve the quality of video. Overall, a fun experience. Expect to spend at least $300 for a decent amount of time on the track and some souvenirs.

I did a 12-lap "Shootout" at the Iowa Speedway. The driver's class was about 90% safety, 10% driving tips--but of course, the driving tips were designed to promote safety, too. This was a good thing, it really helped the drivers feel comfortable not only about the upcoming drive, but about the quality, experience, and knowledge of the staff. For newbies (like me), I highly recommend the ride-along before driving solo. The professional drivers not only give you a high-speed thrill-ride, they provide lots of instruction during the ride. Hearing the tips in class is one thing. Seeing/feeling it in the car really made the tips hit home. Also for newbies--sign up for more than a handful of laps. It takes a few laps to get oriented. I spent at least 3 laps in daze, scared I was going to mess up the turns and slide into the wall! Each driver has his/her own spotter on the headset. My spotter was extremely helpful in talking through what was happening. His calm voice and encouragement helped me relax a bit and crank up the speed on the straightaways. It was an amazing rush to exit the corner and get on the throttle. Very impressed by the quality and professionalism of the staff. Safety was of utmost importance, but the staff also did everything they could to help the drivers feel comfortable so they could really push themselves when in the cars. Very impressed with the adrenaline rush of the driving experience. Looking forward to the next time!