CHARLOTTE (AP) — Trying to navigate Charlotte’s downtown is going to be a little tougher the next few days as 400,000 racing fans converge on North Carolina’s largest city.
Charlotte is closing a number of downtown streets to cars for the Speed Street event, which is under way and runs through Saturday.
There will be live entertainment, interactive displays and appearances by some of the biggest names in NASCAR.
Officials say motorists who work in the center city should allow extra commute time.
The city has declared Speed Street as an extraordinary event, a move that allows police to designate areas where people won’t be allowed to carry backpacks and other items.
That measure was adopted in advance of last summer’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte and has been used at other events.