Some of the toughest race cars around are being driven by kids as young as 13 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Why it matters: The Speedway's Summer Shootout series is where many future NASCAR drivers sharpen their skills.

• It's also one of Charlotte's more affordable family outings, with $13 tickets for adults and free admission for kids 12 and under.

What's happening: Dozens of drivers compete on the Speedway's frontstretch quarter-mile oval in Legend Cars and Bandoleros, racing in divisions ranging from beginners to seasoned competitors.

Context: Legend Cars debuted at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1992 as an affordable way to get more people into racing, according to U.S. Legends Cars International.

• The tiny cars resemble scaled down American automobiles from the 1930s and '40s, but don't let their size fool you — their short wheelbase, high power-to-weight ratio and other design quirks make them one of the hardest to drive.

What they're saying: More than one driver and parent told Axios the same thing: If you can drive a Legend Car, you can drive just about anything.

Meet the kids behind the wheel

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Construction on SouthPark's Symphony Park is expected to begin this fall and will require a yearlong closure.

Why it matters: The popular park will undergo a major overhaul. Once completed, it will go from hosting roughly 80 events annually to around 250, Adam Rhew, SouthPark Community Partners president and CEO tells Axios.

• Events will range from sunrise yoga with perhaps a dozen people to events with thousands of attendees.

The latest: Permits for the project were filed in June. After a few speed bumps — including the need for additional soil testing — pushed the start of construction to the fall, they're now "ready to really hit the gas," Rhew says.

The big picture: Symphony Park's overhaul is part of the broader vision to make SouthPark a "park once" neighborhood. That goal also includes The Loop, a roughly 3-mile urban trail through SouthPark.

• Symphony Park's upgrades will include a 500-foot section of the trail. Outside of park renovations, the city of Charlotte is working on a roughly $3.625 million 0.2-mile section of the Loop near Cameron Valley Parkway and Carnegie Boulevard.
• The goal is to begin to piece together mile-long sections of the trail rather than a few hundred feet here and there, Rhew says.

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🏒 The Charlotte Checkers' home opener at Bojangles Coliseum will be Oct. 16 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack. (Checkers)

🟢 Sloomoo Institute, an immersive slime experience, opened this week at The Metropolitan. (Instagram)

🥄 National Caviar Day is July 18, and two Charlotte sushi spots are celebrating, the restaurants tell Axios.

• Sharigato: Add a bump of caviar for $10, or pair it with Champagne for $20.
• Uchi: Serving a caviar-topped ice cream July 13-31.

🦪 Fin & Fino is bringing back its popular "Hand Over Your Shellphone" Mondays through Aug. 31. Hand over your cellphone during dinner, and you'll get a free dozen oysters. (Instagram)

This week's hot homes make the most of outdoor living, with everything from backyard bars to a spacious screened-in porch you can enjoy year-round.

1314 Levy Way is listed for $1,179,000

Zoom in: 4 beds, 3.5 baths and 2,835 square feet

• Notable features: open layout, quartz countertops, KitchenAid appliances, walk-in closet, rooftop deck, patio and pool.

More hot homes

"Hi, this is Mayor Rob Harrington." That's what travelers now hear at Charlotte Douglas International Airport — the voice of the city's new mayor.

Why it matters: Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles' voice greeted folks at CLT for years.

Catch up quick: Harrington was recently sworn in as the city's 60th mayor. He'll serve an 18-month period ahead of the next election. Lyles' said she resigned to spend more time with her family.

Flashback: Hornets legend Kemba Walker's greeting played at the airport when Charlotte hosted the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

What we're watching: Charlotte will host the MLS All-Star Game later this month. Three Charlotte FC players have been named to the All-Star roster. It is unclear if a Charlotte FC player will briefly be the voice of the airport.

My thought bubble: Tim Ream would be a good candidate for CLT's greeting during MLS All-Star week.

Who do you want to hear as the voice at the airport?

Hear Harrington's full message