How the exclusive Speedway Club puts posh atmosphere on fast track

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A burst of gasps and “ohhs!” slice through the formality of The Speedway Club’s dining room, bringing a pause to the usual ambient noise of clinking glassware and forks tapping plates.

A caution flag is waving as several cars wreck coming out of a turn, drawing the attention of diners. Charlotte Motor Speedway’s members-only restaurant has one of the best views of the track, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the front stretch. Tables covered in white tablecloths are tiered in the dining room. In one corner, businessmen in suits are seated at their regular table. Across the room, a family of racing enthusiasts watches closely as tow trucks and safety vehicles pull up alongside the wreck.

Interested but unfazed by this distraction is the club’s general manager, George Kail, who is slowly moving through the dining room wearing a blue suit, his eyes scanning every detail. He stops at tables to chat with guests; with his white hair and an unintimidating personality, Kail is everyone’s friend. And he is a key part of what makes the membership club successful.

The Speedway Club opened in 1987 at the behest of Charlotte Motor Speedway founder and executive chairman Bruton Smith, who envisioned a private club overlooking the track. It would have a country club feel but a focus on motorsports. In its opening year, the club sold transferable charter memberships for $5,000. It was the first of its kind, and today, there are about 3,000 members. Kail knows at least three-quarters of those members personally.

Read the full story and check out photos of the club here.

Cox Media Group