CONCORD, N.C. – A weekend slated for NASCAR playoff drama within the Charlotte Motor Speedway walls got started with an announcement made just outside them.
Early Thursday afternoon, Rick Hendrick and Speedway Motorsports president and CEO Marcus Smith gathered a small of media and invited guests just across the street from turn one to announce one heck of a twisting, turning joint venture.
The Ten Tenths Motor Club, a 100-acre complex designed to attract automotive enthusiasts and manufacturers from around the world, was unveiled on Thursday, complete with ridealongs from Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon. At the heart of the facility is a 1.7-mile, 19-turn road course designed by F1 veteran and two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Alexander Wurz. The track also features two alternate configurations: one a 0.567-mile inner loop and also a 1.1-mile short course that can be run separately and simultaneously.
And the entire facility has lights, allowing for night-time operation.
Construction on the circuit is nearly complete with a grand opening scheduled for April 4-5, 2025, in conjunction with the Smith Heritage Invitational.
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“The opportunity to partner with Marcus and his brothers on a passion project like this is incredibly rewarding. I’ve had a special relationship with the Smith family for more than four decades," said Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and the chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group. "Not only do we share a love for automobiles and racing, we are aligned in our core values, our commitment to the local community and our overall vision for Ten Tenths. The collaboration thus far has been tremendous, and I can’t wait to see what our teams accomplish together as this exciting idea becomes reality.”
As Hendrick alluded to, the complex promises to be much more than just a race track.
Also included will be the Ten Tenths Clubhouse, a 20,000-square-foot special event facility modeled after Turn 11 at Sonoma Raceway. The building will feature three large individual hospitality rooms, which can be combined into one larger hospitality space for showcase events. Hospitality rooms will also open to outdoor patios to expand capacity for up to 1,500 people. Ten Tenths Clubhouse will include conference rooms with video presentation capabilities and a catering kitchen.
A members' garage will also be available, complete with gated access, climate-controlled storage, luxury lounge areas for meetings or relaxation, a cigar lounge, a bourbon bar, and a putting course. Members will have easy access from the garage to the circuit, as well as designated event days throughout the year to drive the courses.
“Our vision for Ten Tenths is to create an experiential destination that can be enjoyed by everyone from professional race car drivers to high-performance driving enthusiasts and car collectors,” Smith said. “As the name Ten Tenths implies, we are going all out to create a place to celebrate the automobile unlike any other place in the world. Our new project will become a centerpiece of community amongst individual automotive enthusiasts, commercial partners and manufacturers.”
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Finally, a concierge vehicle service will be offered to members, offering unparalleled maintenance and reconditioning provided by Hendrick Automotive Group. Premium vehicle support, including white-glove pickup and delivery, will be available locally from21 dealerships and five collision centers.
“In addition to a premier track design and driving experience, Ten Tenths will have unparalleled resources and infrastructure to support every customer and organization we touch,” Hendrick said. “Just 20 minutes from Charlotte’s center city, it’s accessible by major thoroughfares and two nearby airports while being situated amongst a variety of lodging, shopping and entertainment options. Through our local network of service and collision centers, the facility will offer concierge vehicle maintenance and repair for nearly every exotic or high-performance car on the market. It’s a combination of amenities that cannot be matched in North America.
As for the track itself, flexibility was certainly part of the idea for Wurz. The course features 112 feet of elevation change between turns six and 14 with an average track width of 42 feet, complete with generous runoff areas. Drivers can run the track in either direction.
“The track itself in its beautiful landscape has a lot of ups and downs and enjoys a natural flow,” Wurz said. “Every corner of the circuit has a different character. Altogether, it plays a symphony of drivers’ music. It wants to be driven very fast."