Photos by Chris Green, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Sebring International Raceway 113 Midway Dr Sebring, FL 33870
Year Opened: 1950
Twice ‘Round the Sebring Clock
The historic Sebring 12 Hour sportscar race began in 1950 and has grown into one of the world’s most revered motorsports events during its long history. Now in 2021, the Creventic 24 Hour series has brought their annual American 24 hour race to the facility. The Sebring 24 Hours features a race twice as long as the annual IMSA event, featuring many of the same cars on track.
Food & Beverage 4
There is no shortage of food vendors around the track at Sebring. From the main paddock and the ever popular Track Shack (get the Beast…it is probably the best item you can eat at the track and is only known on the secret menu at Sebring) to the various drink and snack stops around the track, you never have to go too far to get something to quench your thirst or ease the pain of hunger. The cost of everything is also what one may consider to be moderately fair, as food and snack items range from just a few dollars to $12-$14 for bigger items at the Snack Shack.
Atmosphere 5
Nothing compares to Sebring – words are barely able to even describe it either. This is one giant party for everyone who attends. Some wild stories can be told of the goings on at Green Park (the infield area on the north side of the track), and perhaps it may be best to keep the young ones away from that part of the course at night.
This event is unlike the 12 Hours, however, as it is much more laid back. Featuring support races and fan laps on track, this race feels more like a celebration of motorsports than the high intensity of the IMSA event. This also features a more family-friendly environment.
Neighborhood 3
There isn’t exactly anything around Sebring International Raceway, as it is quite literally located in the middle of nowhere. Sebring itself is a town located in the middle of Florida, at least an hour and a half away from the nearest major city or population center. Thus, while the town of Sebring itself may have some shopping and dining as well as a few hotels, you are likely better off camping at the track and staying there the whole weekend.
Fans 4
The fans at Sebring are insane! Not only are they very sport knowledgeable, but they know how to decorate their campsites. Some have gone as far as erecting massive scaffolding at their camping sites to get a better view of the action, while others prefer a ground-level chair next to a campfire. There are even make-shift bars that pop up around the facility that are fully operational and open to anyone who wants to come visit. The majority of these fans have been coming to the race for years, introduced by their parents to the event, and are now passing it on to their kids.
Unlike the Sebring 12 Hours, the Creventic 24 Hours is much more family friendly. The paddock is open to all fans and there are less drunk fans roaming the grounds. Families can worry less about bringing their kids to this race, that features twice the amount of endurance racing as the more expensive event in March.
Access 3
The roads in and out of Sebring aren’t exactly major highways, with the biggest road being US-27 running towards Miami to the south and Orlando to the north. There is plenty of parking at the track, however, and trams help take you from parking lots farther away from the main grandstands and paddock to points of interest around the track. You never feel like you are too far from anywhere either, as there are several perfectly placed crossover bridges around the track to get you to points of interest throughout the weekend. Any fan can also come down to the paddock and get up close to the stars and cars of the Creventic series who are in attendance.
Return on Investment 4
There really is nothing like Sebring – a weekend ticket gets you into all the action Wednesday through Saturday and you can come and go as you please. While ticket prices can soar over $100 a person for the 12 Hours, tickets for the new Creventic event are much less expensive, meaning you can easily bring a family of four to this event for the same price for one person at IMSA.
Extras 5
Taking in the race at Sebring has its perks for fans, with various autograph sessions being held throughout the race weekend. In addition, fans also have the opportunity to get into the paddock area of the track free of charge, giving you an up-close view of the teams as they prepare for one of the biggest races of the year.
Before the main event on track, all the teams bring their cars out to the front stretch for a fan walk before the race starts, and fans can come see the cars and drivers up close before they head out onto the track. Then after each race, the victory celebration is held in the new victory lane complex at the track, giving fans access to an area of the track that was previously farther away on pit road.
Final Thoughts
Thinking about visiting a sports facility of great historic value with incredibly exciting action for you to see during the entire event? Look no further than the Sebring 24 Hours. This race has it all, and you get twice the amount of racing as you would for the annual IMSA race in March. It is hard to put into words what a weekend at Sebring feels like, but as the sun sets each day and the roar of engines fills the air, you can understand why this track has become one of the biggest draws in all of sports, let alone racing.
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