NASCAR brings 150 cars and free food to Birmingham City Walk today

Approximately 150 vehicles are taking over Birmingham’s City Walk today as NASCAR hosts the fourth annual Block Party and Car Show. The event is free and open to the public, running from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30.

Attendees can expect to see celebrity and influencer cars alongside out-of-state entries. The gathering also includes show cars, racing simulators, food trucks, and local vendors such as Alicia’s Coffee. A dedicated kids zone is part of the layout, designed for families to explore during the day.

Brandon Thompson, NASCAR’s Vice President of Growth, Engagement, and Inclusion, framed the event as a key part of the organization’s ongoing work with local communities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Thompson pointed to last year’s turnout to gauge this year’s potential.

“We had about 1,500 people come out last year, a ton of food trucks, so it was a great opportunity,” Thompson said. “It’s really just a great time to bring out the kids, celebrate the classic weekend, and come out and see what NASCAR’s all about.”

The block party is tied to the Magic City Classic weekend. This annual academic competition brings together students from Alabama A&M and Alabama State universities. Thompson noted that the event allows NASCAR to build relationships in the Birmingham market while supporting these two specific schools.

Thompson emphasized the regional connection between the area and the nearby Talladega Superspeedway, where NASCAR recently held a race weekend. He described the visit as a chance to reinforce ties with the community.

“We know how much Birmingham means to Talladega as well,” Thompson said. “It’s a great time for us to come back with one of the city’s largest events, to be able to come and support both HBCUs here and support a lot of the things that we have going on just from an HBCU initiative across the board.”