It’s time to recharge those batteries and get away. There’s something about the racing world that holds a unique fascination. While NASCAR might have its origins in the Prohibition era with moonshiners outrunning the law, today it is more about technology. Now that some of the best speedways in the country give you a chance to take your turn behind the wheel, there’s no excuse not to get your high-speed fix.

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida, is a great place to satisfy your need for speed. Its racing history dates back to the early 1900s, when some of the racing legends began revving their engines and hitting the sand down the picturesque white beaches.

Crowd at Daytona International Speedway. Photo courtesy Daytona International Speedway

Today, you can enjoy racing at Daytona International Speedway, home of the world-famous Daytona 500. Even when there’s not a NASCAR race in town, there’s plenty to keep you busy, starting with a VIP tour. On this, you’ll experience the dizzying 31-degree banks of the track, snap a photo in Gatorade Victory Lane, and finish it off with a visit to the refurbished Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

For an exclusive, behind-the-wheel encounter, book the Richard Petty Driving experience. Options include a drive-along or go for the Experience of a Lifetime, offering three eight-lap driving segments with a chance to take the wheel and get on the track, complete with feedback from a pit road instructor and on-track driving instruction. There are Richard Petty Driving Experiences at several racetracks nationwide, including those listed below.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Perhaps the most famous of the racing greats, the Indianapolis 500 takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or The Brickyard, every May in front of 300,000 roaring spectators, making it the world’s largest single-day sporting event. The speedway—dubbed The Racing Capital of the World—is so large that you could fit Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Wimbledon campus, Rose Bowl Stadium, Yankee Stadium, and the Kentucky Derby racetrack inside it!

Indianapolis 500. Photo courtesy Visit Indiana

How memorable would it be to find yourself in Indy, where, for more than a century, crowds have heard the famous words, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines?” Even if you aren’t in Indy for a race, take the Indy Racing Experience driving program and learn what it’s like to drive a Verizon IndyCar Series vehicle as a passenger, feeling the G-force as you whip around the track. Also available are narrated 60- and 90-minute speedway tours, complete with photos at the Victory Podium and a visit to Gasoline Alley.

As an added bonus, be sure to visit the Dallara IndyCar Factory, where you can see how IndyCars are made, sit behind the wheel of an IndyCar in a racing simulator, or take to the streets in one of the street-legal two-seaters.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway is located 45 minutes north of the city in Concord, North Carolina, or Speed City USA. Built in 1960, the speedway hosts NASCAR races every May and October. Throughout the summer, the 140,000-seat facility presents the Summer Shootout series featuring Legend Car, Bandolero, and Thunder Roadster racing.

Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo courtesy Visit zMAXDragway in Charlotte, NC. Photo courtesy Visit Cabarrus County

The oval isn’t the only thing at Charlotte, though. The zMAX Dragway is the world’s only four-lane, all-concrete drag strip, while The Dirt Track – made of clay – is used for off-roading events, including the Monster Truck series.

zMAXDragway in Charlotte, NC. Photo courtesy Visit Cabarrus County

There are a variety of tours at Charlotte Motor Speedway. During race week, opt for the Laps and Taps Tour, which features laps around the speedway and behind-the-scenes tours of local breweries.

The speedway and surrounding Cabarrus County is home to some of the top NASCAR race shops, including the famous Hendrick Motorsports, which includes drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. Visits to the shops are a must-do while in Cabarrus County.

Kansas Speedway

The Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, is a 1.5-mile track with 17- to 20-degree turns. There is also a new six-turn road course that twists through the infield, which hosts Grand-Am road racing teams.

Kansas Speedway. Photo courtesy Kansas Speedway

Reserving a VIP suite with panoramic views of the entire track allows you to see the races in luxury. Each suite includes guided prerace garage and pit tours, preferred parking, and closed-circuit television coverage of the race.