The Fast Track High Performance Driving School in Harrisburg, North Carolina, was acquired by former NASCAR driver Andy Hillenburg in 2008 after he retired from professional racing. The school offers three-lap race car rides in a NASCAR-style stock car with a driving instructor; two- and four-hour Thunder courses, where students get to drive a stock car for 10 to 24 laps at various racetracks in the Harrisburg area; and intensive one- or three-day basic oval courses that teach the basics of stock car driving and allow students to drive 30 to 100 laps around an oval track. Race car rides cost $60 at Rockingham Speedway and $90 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Thunder courses range from $275 to $700, and the oval courses run from $900 to $3,200 depending on the course options. Prices are as of July 2010.
Fast Track High Performance Driving School
5540 Morehead Road
Harrisburg, NC 28075
704-455-1700
fasttrackracing.com
Danny McKeever's Fast Lane Racing School in Valencia, California, combines classroom training with large amounts of instruction while driving around the track. The school offers half-, one-, two- and three-day high-performance and road racing courses. Graduates of the one- and two-day programs are eligible for advanced lapping courses with all-day track time and personalized instruction to hone their new driving skills on real race and road tracks. Fast-lane courses include use of Toyota Celicas prepared for racing. Drivers may also opt to use their own high-performance vehicle to see just how fast it goes and how well it handles. Courses range from $495 for half day to $2,595 for three-day courses. Prices are as of July 2010.
Fast Lane Racing School
Defensive Driving Academy
25060 Ave. Stanford #235
Valencia, CA 91355
661-257-8980
raceschool.com
The Buck Baker Racing School in Charlotte, North Carolina, was founded by NASCAR driver Buck Baker in 1980. Sprint Cup champions Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart both received professional driving training from Buck Baker Racing School. The school offers ride and drive programs for beginner drivers in three-, five-, 10-, 15- and 20-lap options with instructor-riding and solo-driving options at the half-day level. Drivers may also opt for a one-, two- or three-day course with up to 165 solo laps with other students driving around a professional track. Full-day courses include classroom and track instruction. The cost of the courses ranges from $99 for a three-lap ride-along to $2,725 for a three-day course. Prices are as of July 2010.
Buck Baker Racing School
1613 Runnymede Lane
Charlotte, NC 28211
800-529-2825
buckbaker.com