May is traditionally the biggest month of the year for auto racing fans in the United States. While much of the action will center around Indianapolis and Charlotte, a couple of tracks in Alabama and South Carolina will be in the spotlight early in the month.
The May NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule starts with the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The 187-lap race starts at noon on May 6th. The race weekend in Alabama also includes the Aaaron’s 312 Nationwide Series race on May 5th at 3pm. The defending champion of the Aaron’s 499 is Jimmie Johnson. The NASCAR guys return to Talladega for the Good Sam Club 500 on October 7th.
May’s second stop in the Sprint Cup series is at Darlington Raceway for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at 6:30 pm on May 12th. Last year’s winner – when the race was called the Showtime Southern 500 – was Regan Smith. Darlington is in the northeast part of South Carolina, about 10 miles from I-95.
The stock cars spend the last two weeks of the month at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Two special events are scheduled for May 19th, the Sprint Showdown and the Sprint All-Star Race. On May 27th it’s time for the Coca-Cola 600, when Kevin Harvick will be looking to make it two years in a row. The Nationwide Series also stops in Charlotte on May 26th for the History 300.
For open-wheel racing fans, May is always the biggest month of the year as the stars of Indy Car racing prep for the Indianapolis 500. This years race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana starts at noon on May 27th. Sadly, 2011 winner Dan Wheldon won’t be around to defend his title after his fatal accident in Las Vegas at the end of last year’s season.
