Three Days, Two Night Races, One Big Saturday

Best time: Friday through Sunday

Friday, Sept. 18: Easing In

Focus: Downtown First, Then Friday Night Racing

Breakfast

Bristol Bagel & Bakery on State Street is a solid first stop, with New Jersey-style bagels and a quiet way to start the weekend before the track wakes up.

Morning

Spend the morning on the Tennessee side of State Street, the historic line that splits the two Bristols. The block is full of small, independently owned shops that reward a slow walk rather than a quick pass-through.

Lunch

Bistro on 6th leans farm-to-table with a Southern accent. The crispy chili brussels sprouts alone are worth ordering.

Afternoon & Night

Head to the Speedway after lunch. The Fan Zone opens at noon, and live professional wrestling runs in the Guest Welcome Village from 12:45 to 5:30, free with Fan Zone access and no separate ticket. WWE and NWA Hall of Famer Ricky Morton headlines, Bristol native Axton Ray is on the card, and fans can get photos with the wrestlers inside the Village. Cup Series practice and qualifying follow in the late afternoon, then the Food City 300 goes green at 7:30 p.m., the third of nine Chase races in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Pro Tip: The Food City Fan Zone stage hosts a concert after Friday's checkered flag, a good way to stretch the evening before Saturday's main event.

Saturday, Sept. 19: History First, Then the Big Race

Focus: A Quiet Morning Before the Night Race

Morning

Ease into Saturday at the Holston Heritage Museum in Bluff City, which keeps Saturday hours from 10 to 2 and charges nothing to get in. It is a quiet look at the county's river-valley pioneers before the speedway takes over the rest of your day.

Brunch

Drake's Bristol at The Pinnacle runs a lively weekend brunch through 4 p.m. Expect breakfast mashups and a full bar if that fits the mood.

Afternoon

Steele Creek Park is worth an hour or two, with more than 2,200 acres of lakefront trail and open space. A good way to find some quiet before the crowds build for race night. If you would rather catch wrestling a second time, make it an early brunch and head straight to the Fan Zone instead, where the ring is busy from 12:45 to 3:30.

Evening

Get to the track early for the pre-race concert and Driver Introductions, then settle in for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at 7:30 p.m., race three of ten in the Cup Series Chase. Stay in your seat after the checkered flag, because Saturday night closes with fireworks over the speedway.

Sunday, Sept. 20: Winding Down

Focus: No Race Today

Morning

Blountville sits right between Bristol and Kingsport, which makes it an easy first stop on the way out. Sullivan County's seat of government has a walkable historic district anchored by the Old Deery Inn, a stagecoach-era tavern next to the courthouse that once put up Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk.

Mid-Morning

Carry on to Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium in Kingsport, an easy way to slow the pace back down. Hike to the fire tower, or just wander toward the wolf habitat if that is more your speed.

Brunch

Two Dads Cafe in downtown Kingsport opens at 8 on Sunday mornings and does a proper Southern breakfast. The biscuits and gravy have earned a loyal following.

Before You Go

Cap the trip with a ride on the Kingsport Carousel, tucked inside Pal's Roundhouse and still a dollar a ride. It runs Wednesday through Sunday but does not open until early afternoon, so time your departure accordingly.