Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Barber Motorsports Park 6040 Barber Motorsports Pkwy Leeds, AL 35094
Year Opened: 2003
Capacity: 100,000
Supercar Stars Fell on Alabama
The “Augusta of Motorsports” has hosted numerous race series over the years – known mostly for its spring IndyCar date, this track nestled in the mountains of northern Alabama just east of Birmingham is one of the most attractive on any schedule.
While having hosted sportscar racing in the past, as well as numerous lower division amateur series, Barber Motorsports Park welcomed back the SRO America group with open arms in 2024. By all accounts this return has been a massive success, once again giving fans in Alabama a chance to see supercars race at Barber regularly.
Food & Beverage 3
While not having as many food trucks and concessions stand as IndyCar weekend, there are still several options for fans to pick from – soul food and good old-fashioned home cooking is what makes Barber Motorsports Park so brilliant when it comes to feeding the masses.
Even if you just want a burger or a hot dog, the price is very manageable (a big, juicy cheeseburger is $6.50), but if you want to enjoy the local culture’s cuisine, several of the vendors in the fan zone and around the facility provide you with some of the best-smoked barbecues in the world.
When visiting Alabama, barbecue must be one of the staples of your diet, plain and simple. Even the drivers are known to stop by to grab a bite of barbecue to eat here, which is a true testament to how good the food is. There are also food and drink vendors all over the track, so fans are never too far from their next meal.
Atmosphere 5
Barber Motorsports Park is by far the most beautiful and well-manicured race circuit in America. The track is a natural terrain road course, meaning the track follows the rolls and undulations of the mountains upon which the facility was built. Additionally, the foliage around the track is mesmerizing – the trees are tall, old, and majestic, and the wind blowing through them provides a true bonding with nature feeling. The roses, azaleas, and wildflowers blossom on the hills and fill the air with the scent of clean, fresh, floral greatness.
What does all that have to do with racing? It puts you in a state of relaxation while watching a race that makes it all even more enjoyable than it already was, not to mention one of the best motorsports museums in the world is located on the track’s premises. The restroom facilities are also top-level, and the main paddock is perfectly laid out for fans to navigate. Signage is plentiful around the facility to help you figure out where to watch from, and numerous viewing areas around the circuit offer handicap-accessible options as well.
Neighborhood 4
The area around the track has changed drastically of late; literally, next door is one of the coolest Bass Pro Shops there is (everyone has to drive along a half-mile-long nature preserve just to get to the store entrance). The racing circuit is also several miles away from Birmingham, and the only hotel next to the track is a Hampton Inn, but brand new in the last few years is a massive Buc-ees right outside the venue.
However, just across the highway is a giant outlet mall that includes a drive-in movie theater. In addition, down the highway just a few exits away lie several chain restaurants (Hooter’s, Five Guys, Olive Garden, and more), as well as more hotels.
Not far away is the Birmingham Airport, with a nearby Holiday Inn that has a free airport shuttle and room rates in the low $100s, even during race weekend. Lastly, for sightseers, Talladega National Forest is only an hour’s drive away, while The Vulcan remains a popular tourist spot that offers a panoramic view of Birmingham.
Fans 3
In the heart of Alabama, you may never expect to find a herd of hard-core sportscar racing fans. Nevertheless, Barber Motorsports Park is full of fans who are seriously knowledgeable and who are loud and rowdy in support of their favorite drivers. As with most SRO events, the crowds then may not reach the size of the larger events at each facility, but the attendance is no less impressive and is growing year by year. This is no doubt an event that has massive potential for fans in the future.
This is also one of the most family-friendly race parks there is, so fans can bring their whole families to the track; Southern hospitality at its best.
Access 5
Parking at Barber Motorsports Park is brilliant – there are numerous parking lots all over the property, and none of them are far from the track. Getting to the actual racing circuit is easy as well, as the main highway has an exit ramp that is less than a mile from the park’s entrance.
Getting around the actual course itself is also simple; while the track is large, it is easy to walk around. Seating is also easy, as the main grandstand on the backstretch allows views of all four straightaways and several corners. Or for a more picturesque view, there are several locations where you can pitch a giant foldable party tent, and bring some folding chairs and a cooler to watch the race from the hillside.
And as if the relaxing atmosphere couldn’t get any more relaxing, it still does – the track offers fans a free tram service that circles the course, allowing you to view the racing action from anywhere on site. To get to the track itself, there are now various billboards and signs all over the local highways telling you which exit to use, and what direction to turn to get there.
Another feature is a beautiful flat, easy-to-navigate handicapped accessible pathway, which travels through the forest to a lookout point where fans using wheelchairs can watch the race, while also being in the comfort of the trees. This pathway is conveniently located across the street from the handicapped parking area.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets to SRO weekend at Barber are incredibly affordable – Friday tickets are just $15, while Saturday or Sunday-only tickets run $35. A weekend pass for all three days is just $75, a price far below that of other comparable events in the area.
Parking is free, while car corral access is $70 for Saturday or $125 for all 3 days, which includes your daily ticket as well as premium parking, along with a post-race lap on the track in your car. Suite access tickets are $350, while trackside RV and camping ranges from $100 to $350 based on location.
Extras 5
Barber Motorsports Park is chock full of extras. First and biggest is the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum – billed as one of the largest motorsports museums in the country, it will show you some of racing history’s best machines from the past.
The museum is currently in the stages of expansion as well, to make it even bigger. And as if the museum itself wasn’t enough, during race weekends the museum staff opens the first floor to the fans, one of only three times a year this is done. Why is this so monumental? The first floor is the restoration floor – who can pass up a chance to see the beautiful vintage race cars and motorcycles being restored to their former glory?
Another bonus is the great fan zones around the track which have the best viewing location in the park, the hillside under the trees on the backstretch. Additionally, the staff here puts on a great fan activity area, where fans can meet SRO drivers and get autographs. And if you enjoy camping, you can stay on-site with a hillside spot right behind the paddock, which offers some brilliant views of the track from a few spots.
Perhaps the biggest extra, however, is the random sculptures scattered throughout Barber Motorsports Park – a giant metal spider in the infield, a zombie trying to swim out of a lake, metal sunflowers, tigers by the scoring tower, a Native American chief on the mountainside, giant ants carrying away a motorcycle, Greek Gods, and more pepper the park’s property, making for a neat hide-and-seek adventure.
Finally, the museum also features a walking path into the track’s interior, featuring two walk-over bridges that cross the track – they both have glass floors, and there is also a path through the woods and over a waterfall.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a great way to enjoy racing, Barber Motorsports Park is a wonderful track in which to view some of the best racing in America. Add to that a vintage museum that showcases the coolest machines in racing history, and you have a great location in which to watch sports. The SRO America weekend here will no doubt feature on their calendar for years to come, thanks to the great fan attendance, and looks to be a fantastic event in which fans can watch supercars in Alabama.
Comments