CONCORD, N.C. — People evacuating from Hurricane Ian will be able to camp out at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
On Tuesday, Charlotte Motor Speedway officials announced that they would be opening the Rock City Campground at the facility starting on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in response to an influx of evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Ian.
Anyone who arrives at the campground will be asked to check in at the Camping World Racing Resort office at 6600 Bruton Smith Blvd in Concord. Those who arrive after-hours at the facility can check in the following morning.
Officials say that those who camp at the speedway will have access to bathroom facilities.
Similarly, Talladega Superspeedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway have announced that they are opening their camping facilities for storm evacuees. Talladega's announcement comes during the week that they are preparing for the YellaWood 500, the next race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
According to WCNC meteorologists, Hurricane Ian is now a major hurricane with winds sustained around 125 mph. By Wednesday morning, the hurricane will be moving through the Gulf of Mexico with winds around 140 mph. The latest track as Tuesday night could take it close to Tampa Bay Wednesday into Thursday. Hurricane warnings and watches are posted across the west coast of Florida, with tropical storm warnings and watch east and southeast.