Top NASCAR Racetracks to Watch a Race
By
Richard Janvrin
Contributor Updated: 21 February 2024
Richard Janvrin Contributor
Richard has been writing about sports since he was a teenager. Still, his first professional role came in 2015, covering all things NFL and fantasy football-related. From there, in December 2018, he started in the sports betting industry, covering sportsbook reviews before arriving to where he is today.
Top NASCAR Racetracks
Regardless of what NASCAR track you show up to watch a race, there’s bound to be excitement. Sure, there may be some lull periods, but those final few laps are exhilarating.
That said, there are some tracks that, over the years, have become the top tracks to watch a race you must visit, especially if you’re betting on NASCAR online. Below, we’ll review our top 15 tracks and answer, “What is the best track to see a NASCAR race?”Below, discover something new about 15 of the best NASCAR race tracks throughout the United States, and perhaps consider taking a trip over on race day to see it all for yourself.
Daytona International Speedway
Was there a question about the best NASCAR track to watch a race? Of course, it’s Daytona. They call it the “World Center of Racing” for a reason. Dayonta hosts the Dayonta 500, the most famous NASCAR race, making it one of the best NASCAR tracks to visit. It’s slightly shorter and narrower than Talladega. It is located in an excellent area, providing plenty of things for attendees to do before and after the race. Undoubtedly, the Daytona 500 is the best NASCAR race to go to and one of the best tracks.
Bristol Motor Speedway
If you’re afraid of heights, you may not like Bristol, as the grandstands here are more than half a mile up. The best time to watch a race at Bristol is when the lights are on in the early evening. Known as the “World’s Fastest Half Mile,” you get an excellent vantage point watching and feeling these cars boom around the track.
Talladega Superspeedway
Regarding the biggest NASCAR stadium, that award goes to Talladega. This 2.66-mile high-banked tri-oval is a massive place to watch a race. The banking is steeper than Dayonta, but it’s also longer and wider. There have been several massive wrecks here, including a 25-car pile-up 2012 involving Tony Stewart. Here’s what he said after that race. “I screwed up,” Stewart said. “It was my fault for blocking while trying to stay where I was at. It was a mistake on my part, but it cost a lot of people a bad day because of it.”
Darlington Raceway
The host of NASCAR’s Throwback Weekend and previously hosting the Southern 500, Darlington can sometimes be overlooked. This egg-shaped track neighbors a minnow pong just beyond turn four. The pond owner refused to sell it, so fans who come to the race walk almost through the woods to get there. What’s so intriguing about this track is how drivers play the various turns. On turns one and two, drivers are mere inches from the wall, whereas on turns three and four, they need to utilize their breaks to make a clean turn. With this, racers who can win at Darlington are looked at fondly.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The Northeast proudly welcomes NASCAR fans whenever they come to New Hampshire. This one-mile flat racing surface makes it quite difficult for racers to pass one another, making those final laps much more exciting. One small mistake and that could spell the end. However, in 2007, more than six drivers led 30 or more laps. In the final lap, it was between Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin, who was just in his second season. Hamlin hung on by less than a car length to get his first win that season.
Sonoma Raceway
Sonoma has a lot of history, known as Sears Point, to many fans of the sport. Once considered one of the best sources, Sonoma now has “The Chute.” This was on a two-year hiatus before returning on June 9-11, 2022. This has been used in every NASCAR race since 1998, except for 2019 and 2021. To some, this race has become all about managing fuel, but the 12-turn, 1.99-mile road course still brings plenty of excitement. There’s also a vineyard tour available after you attend the race.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
This 1.5-mile tri-oval is in the heart of Vegas. Of course, with this being in Vegas, there’s plenty to do before and after the race. Here, you can also partake in the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Here, you can purchase a Neon Garage pass and meet your favorite drivers, attend autograph sessions, watch Q&A panels, and be up close and personal with those you root for every weekend. With this pass, you can also view Pit Road during the race.
Phoenix International Raceway
Located in Avondale, Phoenix International Raceway is a one-mile D-shaped oval track. This is one of the shorter tracks on the list and hosts multiple races, including one in November. Of course, this was where Clint Bowyer went after Jeff Gordon to beat him up, so going to a race here late in the season means you could see some tempers fly.
Martinsville Speedway
OK, we’ve found a track shorter than Phoenix. Martinsville is a small, .526-mile track. Not only is it the shortest, but it’s the oldest, too. It dates back to 1948 and is one of the last remaining pillars of that “true” NASCAR feel. Of course, there’s the Grandfather clock trophy, which is always a sight to behold. With such a small track, you can expect much bumping throughout. To make it better, Victory Lane is right in front of fans to experience that mad dash to the finish.
Richmond International Raceway
Slightly bigger than Martinsville, we have Richmond. At .75 miles, this oval had its first race in 1988. It used to be the .542-mile Fairgrounds, but it was changed up. This track is just an hour from Washington, D.C., so there’s plenty to do near the track. It has that old-school feel still, too. Here, you can pay for a NASCAR Race Weekend package and experience the FanGrounds.
Per the Richmond Raceway Experiences section: “Watch as your favorite driver and team work on their cars in the NASCAR Cup Series Garages along the fan-viewing walkway. Satisfy your craving with food from one of our concession stands, and watch the day’s action from one of the neighborhoods. Enjoy the excitement of pre-race ceremonies and driver intros when they take place right inside the FanGrounds. Take in the race from the infield and then join the celebration in Victory Lane.”
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that Charlotte Motor Speedway was built with mob money? Well, this 1.5-mile quad-oval is viewed as the heart of NASCAR. Charlotte is also the site of the Coca-Cola 600 and All-Star Race. There’s also a Fast Pass Tour that you can sign up for. Here’s how the experience is explained: “ALL-NEW Fast Pass Tour puts you behind the wheel of your vehicle, taking in the sights and history of Charlotte Motor Speedway! This touchless tour keeps you and your family safe while having an unbelievable experience. Our tour guides will lead you through an hour-long tour using your vehicle’s radio. We will meet you in the Fan Zone by the Charlotte Motor Speedway marquee to start the tour. Tours operate rain or shine.”
Watkins Glen International
Located in Watkins Glen, New York, Watkins Glen International is located near Niagara Falls. There’s a lot of fighting that goes on in the track, such as Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya, Sterling Marlin calling Greg Bifflea a “bug-eyed dummy,” and more. You never know what you’ll get at Watkins Glen, and for some racing fans, those altercations drive viewership. Per the Watkins Glen website, you can pay additional for the following experiences:
- VIP Pass with Garage and Pit Access
- Hot Lap in Pace Car on Sunday morning
- Weekend Daily Infield Parking
- Ruoff Mortgage Victory Lane photo opportunity on Sunday morning
- Access Saturday to Xfinity Series driver introductions
- Access Sunday to NASCAR Cup Series driver introductions
Atlanta Motor Speedway
If you like speed, Atlanta is the spot for you. This Hampton, Georgia, track is a 1.54-mile quad-oval. One time, Goeff Bodine had a lap going nearly 98 miles per hour. That was in 1997, with 150 less horsepower. It also takes place on Labor Day weekend. You can purchase packages to drive a NASCAR race car on the course here.
Texas Motor Speedway
OK, here we go, another speedy track. At Texas, this 1.5-mile Fort Worth-based track gets contested around Turn 2. Since 2005, you can consistently expect speed and dramatic wins. This quad-oval track has a slight abnormality on the front straightaway. This place can hold up to 200,000 fans. You can also sign up for classes and drive a NASCAR race car. The session lasts for 5 to 48 minutes.
Kansas Speedway
Kansas became part of the circuit in 2001, and for Midwest fans, this was a welcome addition. It’s another 1.5-mile tri-oval track, but that’s a fairly popular and common track construction. Outside of the track is a casino, which allows for even more fun if you’re into that. You can pay for pre-race pass benefits, which include driver introductions, pre-race concerts, walking beside the pit road, signing at the finish line, and more.
