From Rockets to Race Cars in Charlotte

“Hold on to your hats race fans, NASA is coming to NASCAR. From better brakes and safer tires to heat-resistant paint and cleaner emissions, NASA's contributions to the racing world will be featured in the traveling exhibit,” NASA stated in April, when an unlike tour kicked off.

The "From Rockets to Race Cars" announced last month by NASCAR and NASA has packed its bags and is getting ready to set up camp at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina this weekend.

The event will witness a quarter-scale NASA Benefits Race Car, as well as a Wheel Exhibit (NASCAR tire, Shuttle tire, Lunar Rover tire, Lunar Tweel and a Spring Tire. In addition, fans will get the chance to take part in NASA Spin the Wheel and NASA Plinko competitions, at the end of which they can walk away with prizes.

The NASA involvement with NASCAR is not new, as the aerospace agency has provided technology for both man and machine taking part in the racing series.

As said, the event kicked off on April 30, when the traveling exhibit was present at the Richmond International Raceway. The Charlotte Motor Speedway stop is the third of a three stop tour which will come to a conclusion at the Kentucky Speedway on June 12.

Now, exciting as the NASA name looks next to the NASCAR one, we are sure the event could have been a bit more... exquisite. After all, we'd expect from the geniuses which put man on the Moon a bit more than a Spin the Wheel competition...