Mario Andretti Racing Experience
Tom Mclain
Had a fantastic time! Definitely go for the package with the most seat time or laps, It's over before you know it. Staff was great. It's harder than you think to stay off the chip and keep your speed up. This is the event to do if you are looking into getting the office together to have some fun.
Travis Nobles
Most Exciting Experience of My Life!!! 172 MPH - me driving the IndyCar!!! So... I am 100% an adrenaline junky. I've gone sky diving several times, jumped off the Stratosphere Tower, white water rafting, driven a trophy truck (rally), monster truck, helicopters with no doors, climbed 150' cliffs, repelling, jet skis, water skiing, wake boarding, snow board all black diamonds, skiing, snowmobiles, skateboarding, BMX, downhill bikes, roller blading, jumped off of ~40' bridges and cliffs into water, etc. I also have a ~10,000 watt electric bike that can do 70mph. This is not me trying to brag, just saying that I seek out experiences that pump me full of adrenaline! And I can say that, without a doubt, THIS racing experience was the most exciting/fun thing I've ever done!!! It's now 3 days later and I'm just still on a high from this experience. I mean I've been thinking about it so much that literally (seriously, not joking), I DREAMED ABOUT IT! I've been non-stop smiling for 3 days straight just thinking about it. I did the driving practice where they let you DRIVE an IndyCar for ~5 minutes. I had actually done the ride-along first in a different location a couple weeks back so I had a good idea of what these cars can do and the line to follow. Because of that, I really pushed this car to it's limits and because I was making good lines, the spotter bumped my RPM's up a notch and by driving JUST under the limiter (where it chokes out), I was able to hit 172MPH!!! My brother, 2 sisters and sisters boyfriend did the ride along experience in the 2-seater IndyCar and they also had the times of their lives! A couple of them got the videos and it's awesome to see how much they're smiling the entire time :) We're all going to go back - some for another ride-along and others to drive. Bottom line: everyone I was there with had a blast and I had one of the most exciting experience of my life. I am absolutely doing this again... but next time, I'm going "all out" and getting the Checkered Flag experience - not the top-tier experience but it's up there.
hokie fans
Great day for me, my son and my father in law. To this day my father in law always brings up the fun we had that day. Something about a life long Nascar fan getting the opportunity to speed around an actual Nascar track. Truly a memory of a lifetime....
Rick Ginebaugh
I did my experience at Daytona. Let me tell you, getting out on those big banked corners in a fast car was a dream come true for me. I did four, 8 lap sessions, getting a little bit faster every time. My spotter was great and got me on a little bit better racing line, which helped me maximize my speed on the last set of laps. I truly enjoyed the entire experience which ran like clockwork. If you are on the fence, just do it! You won't regret it!
Dave Fike
On Friday, November 17th, 2017, I was able to complete a process I started back in 2013. I heard an advertisement on the "John Boy and Billy" Show for a chance to drive a race car, a lifelong ambition. I jumped on it and purchased a race package for 5 minutes of track time. This was the first thing I was going to do after I retired later that year. However, I was talked into extending that retirement date until 2014 which was still within the time limits of the package. But shortly after retiring, I as diagnosed with cancer. I called the folks at Mario Andretti Racing Experience, explained the situation, and they stated that it was not an issue and extended the period for using the package until I was able. So, three surgeries and 7 months of chemo down, and I started to get my strength back and decided it was time. I went to Atlanta and was rained out. I then scheduled it for Daytona and a hurricane stopped that attempt. But on the 17th of November, I got in the car and then had to get out because of a mechanical issue. So I got into another car, strapped in, lit it off and was gone! Once I hit fourth gear, I never let up. I have done a lot of exciting things in my life. I have served in the military for 24 years, then as a Federal Officer for 18 more. More hours in an aircraft than I care to remember, more time in heat than I care to recall and more sacrifice than I care to share. But once that engine started and I hit that first turn at Daytona with that steep banking, nothing could replace that feeling. And the faster I went, the bigger that smile on my face grew. It was the thrill of a lifetime. Simply amazing! For the folks at Mario Andretti Racing and Richard Petty Driving Experience, my hat is off to you. You were so kind and so supportive through all the delays and so willing to assist me. And the pros at the track were unbelievable! Our crew chief, Rusty, and the entire staff were wonderful. And they were professionals! I actually felt like they were there just for me, my team! I just want to thank you for one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have been a NASCAR fan since I was very young, riding with my Grandfather and Father as they used an old tanker from the local fire department to soak the dirt track in my home town on Saturday morning for the races Saturday night....in the early 1960's. King Richard, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Bobby and Donny Allison, Junior Johnson and Benny Parsons and the rest were the group I followed so close and actually met a few at the old Thunderbird Motel and Restaurant in Florence, South Carolina, just down the road from Darlington. And tonight, as I write this, I can honestly say, I was part of it all. Thank you!
