SMI is creating 100 high-end ticket packages that cost $10,000 and give buyers premium access to 13 NASCAR race weekends at all eight of the company’s speedways. The package, which is being called the “Chairman’s Club,” gives buyers suite seats, VIP garage tours, pit access, access to drivers’ meetings and victory lane, camping space, front row parking and personal concierge service. SMI President & COO Marcus Smith called it a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list opportunity. He added, “This is going to be a fantasy race fan club.” Smith announced the package at a SMI press event during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour in Charlotte. SMI is making '13 the year of the fan and introduced a series of fan initiatives across its tracks. Bristol Motor Speedway will give away 10 Ford Mustangs at its Food City 500 in March; Texas Motor Speedway will begin offering fans free tickets to another event if its race is rained out and they cannot attend the make-up race on subsequent days; Charlotte Motor Speedway is giving fans who have attended races for 50 years special lanyards and credentials; and Atlanta Motor Speedway is offering longtime ticket buyers behind-the-scenes tours of its facility over race weekend. The company also is going to begin an “undercover general manager” program this year. Track presidents from each of the eight tracks will attend a race weekend as a fan at one of their sister tracks. They will photograph and write about their experience online and share what they see with their colleagues in an effort to improve the fan experience.
