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Maybe it’s our moonshining history or Burt Reynolds in a black Trans-Am or the countless dirt tracks humming loud through a Saturday night that make car racing in the south so rich and mythic. It’s probably all of that and more. Watching people go fast under lights is as much in our blood in Memphis as football on a Saturday afternoon. We relish the speed, yes, and the danger, too, but it ultimately always comes back to the community, those fellow race fans and car lovers in the infield or the stands, camped out, sunburned, and toasting the checkered flag.  And in Memphis, we turn to a few places to celebrate our need for speed: Memphis International Raceway, Edge Motor Museum, and Presley Motors. 

A Car Lovers' Guide to Memphis

Memphis International Raceway

To the uninitiated, car racing is about European formula one (think the Indy 500) and NASCAR. Truth is that racing takes many forms. This is what makes the Memphis International Raceway (MIR) the premier racing destination in the Mid-South. It has three complete tracks including a road course, drag strip, and three-quarter-mile paved tri-oval. 

 

MIR hosts Test-N-Tune sessions for all street legal vehicles on their drag strip. In years past, they've also put on a Midnight Madness event with Traction Optional Drift, Street Warz, and a Sunday Funday with Drifting. But of course, the real racing will start with International Hot Rod Association’s Summit Bracket Racing Series.

 

Shifting to their national level events, look out for the rechedule date of the 34th Annual Super Chevy Show, as well as Professional Drag Racing Association (PDRA) events, IHRA Summit World Finals, Ford and Mopar Showdown, and the Great American Bracket Race to all return. April 9-11, 2021, MIR will host "The Largest Chevrolet Enthusiasts Show in the Mid-South." 

 

All events are subject to change, so be sure to check out their  calendar for updates.
 

Edge Motor Museum

Edge Motor Museum | Craig Thompson

Home to "American Speed," Edge Motor Museum is an absolute must for any car lover. As American society and culture changed so too did the American sports car. Track the evolution of these iconic vehicles. Throughout the museum you'll explore the historical and cultural significance of more than a dozen of the most iconic cars ever made. Learn the history of the American sports car from post-war United States to the 1970s. 

Presley Motors

Presley Motors | Alex Shansky
Did you know Elvis Presley was also a car lover?  The King of Memphis himself owned a collection classic automobiles that you can now see on display at Presley Motors, an automobile museum at Elvis Presley's Memphis. Explore Elvis' iconic automobile collection to see some of his favorites like the pink Cadillac, Rolls Royce sedans, Dino Ferrari and more.