Photo courtesy Charlotte Motor Speedway

Five races over 10 days at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and you’ve never been? Well, let May 20-29 be your breakthrough, whether you go for the screaming-fast trucks, dirt-track racing or the ultimate NASCAR event, the Coca-Cola 600.

Traffic near the track can be, well, jammed. Here are tips for spending as little time in your own car or truck as possible.

Advice from the experts

Charlotte Motor Speedway’s website offers several resources for helping fans enjoy their time at the track by cutting the trip to and from. First, Speedway officials urge race fans to arrive at the track early. That means finding out when the race starts and plan your trip to arrive a couple hours before that.

There’s always plenty to see and do at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so use the extra time to tailgate, visit displays, shop on souvenir row and enjoy pre-race activities.

Get up-to-the-minute traffic reports by listening to WSOC-FM 103.7 on your way to and from the track.

I-85 to Exit 49 (Bruton Smith Boulevard) is usually the most congested road on event days. Good alternatives are Hwy 29 from both the North and the South and Hwy 49 to Morehead Road.

Download these handy maps

The Speedway staff have prepared six maps to help you reach your destination. Maps include:

• General speedway layout
• Speedway Parking
• Traffic – Inbound (including streets around the parking lots)
• Traffic – Outbound (best ways to get away)
• Dragway and Dirt Track maps.

Find them all at http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/parking/

Lots of FAFQs (Frequently Asked Fan Questions)

Even veterans who haven’t been to a race for a while will appreciate this quick revew of common questions, like: Where’s the best place to park? Can I bring a cooler? Where’s the lost and found?

Read it all here: for lots of other “Frequently Asked Fan Questions,” go to http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/fans/

Enjoy the ride!