The 4th Annual American Speed Festival, featuring vintage and modern race cars, returns to M1 Concourse in Pontiac from Oct. 3-6 with “The King,” Richard Petty, as the 2024 Master of Motorsports honoree.
The event offers participants an opportunity to experience race cars — from historic Indy cars and stock cars to modern-day supercars — in motion from every era as they lap the 1.5-mile M1 Concourse Speed Ring.
As the 2024 Master of Motorsports, Petty will be honored throughout the weekend and at the Oct. 5 Checkered Flag Ball and Bootleggers Bash charity event that will raise funds for M1 Mobility, which provides Pontiac residents’ with access to community programs and services.
Petty, known in NASCAR circles as “The King,” is the most decorated stock car driver with 200 career victories.
In addition to racing royalty, the American Speed Festival will recognize 30 years of Ferrari racing with a display of the 2012 Ferrari Challenge, a high-end factory-built race car that previously raced in Formula 1.
Other notable vehicles at the event will include:
- The 1952 Fabulous Hudson Hornet, an AAA stock car, widely known as “Doc” from the movie “Cars.”
- The 1993 Mellow Yellow 500 No. 42 NASCAR stock car driven by Kyle Petty from 1991-94.
The festival begins on Thursday, Oct. 3, with the Drive and Dine Tour. Participants will cruise in their personal vehicles to visit a rarely seen private car and motorcycle collection. Upon returning to M1, they will experience a live cooking display by the head chef from Fork ‘n Pint, a cigar rolling demo, and a craft beer presentation. Those who register for Dine and Drive also will have access to the M1 Club Motor Grille Dinner Reception that evening.
From 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, the American Speed Festival at M1 Concourse will be open to the public and feature NASCAR Hall of Fame presentations, big block race cars, student-designed Formula SAE cars, a family fun zone with radio-controlled cars, and slot car replica of the M1 track. A biergarten and global food stalls to sample foods from around the world also will be available.
Friday evening offers an option to attend a Garage Reveal at 6 p.m. of one of the largest private collections housed at M1 with several iconic vehicles. The docent-led tour will peek behind the curtain to see rare vehicles, architectural designs, and sights not viewable on the streets. A special dinner and craft cocktails will be provided before the garages open.
Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, the festival continues with many of the same family friendly activities offered on Friday. On Sunday, the festival’s Speed and Style event will feature all cars that personify performance. Thrill rides will be available for guests to take laps with a professional driver. An awards presentation will conclude the festival.
General admission includes on-site access, parking, shuttles, premium food trucks, the arena biergarten, access to all show and display cars, racetrack experiences, Insiders’ Garage Speakers Symposium, R/C off-road racetrack, the awards show, music, and entertainment.
Exclusive access to elevated views, catered food and drinks, and plush seating is optional with an upgrade to Club M1 VIP tickets. Two- and three-day packages are available for savings. Special discounts are offered for active duty, retired military, and seniors ages 62 and older. Kids aged six and younger are free.
Visit here for more information and to purchase tickets for all of the American Speed Festival Events.
