At one point or another, every NASCAR fan dreams of packing up the car or RV and heading off on a tour of the best tracks in the sport. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity or if you can only pick one track to go to and want to know where to find the ultimate racing experience, here are the five best tracks to travel to in NASCAR to see a race:
1. Bristol Motor Speedway
There is no other track in NASCAR that brings together the history, excitement and pure spectacle of the sport the way that Bristol Motor Speedway does. The high-banked half-mile oval is home to some of the most intense action in NASCAR, and the racing is only part of the allure; with towering grandstands completely surrounding the track, Bristol looks like a modern version of the Coliseum, and the only thing that can compete with the rumble of the engines is the roar of 160,000 fans.
Bringing together old-school short track action, the glitz and glamour of modern racing and some of the best fans in the sport, Bristol is a NASCAR Mecca, and every fan should make at least one pilgrimage there.
2. Richmond International Raceway
If you were to walk through the NASCAR garage and ask each driver to name their favorite track, chances are that Richmond International Raceway would wind up at the top of the list. The three-quarter mile oval strikes the perfect balance, combining the excitement of short track racing with the side-by-side action of a larger track.
Richmond may be a pure racer’s track, but there is plenty for the fans, too. There is not a bad seat in the house, and since both Richmond events are night races, the tailgating is great; race day fans show up at dawn, and the party-like atmosphere continues up until race time. It is almost impossible to travel to Richmond not to have fun.
3. Atlanta Motor Speedway
Where Richmond is all about great racing, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s claim to fame is great finishes. The mile and a half oval is home to some of the closest finishes in NASCAR history, and with almost 200 mile-per-hour speeds, Atlanta never lacks for excitement.
The mile and a half oval may be one of many intermediate tracks on the circuit, but it is on a class of its own, and as such demands a unique perspective; the best seats at any NASCAR race are usually high up in the stands with a great view of the track, but if you want a thrill in Atlanta, sit down low in the bleachers coming out of turn four – the force of 43 cars charging down off the banking onto the front stretch will take your breath away.
4. Dover International Speedway
Dover is not a place that instantly comes to mind when talking about the best tracks in NASCAR, but it should. The “Monster Mile” is like Bristol on steroids; the one mile concrete oval boasts an impressive 24 degrees of banking in the corners, and everything about it – the noise, the racing and the wrecks – have fans on the edge of their seats for 500 miles.
The best part about Dover is the lengths the track owners go to for the fans. From the 5 -story tall ‘Miles the Monster’ statue that greets fans outside of turn four to autograph sessions to the Monster Bridge where spectators watch the race sitting above (yes, above) the track, Dover offers an endless supply of cool things for fans to experience - so make sure you leave extra time in your travel plans so you can see everything. Plus, the tailgaters are some of the nicest you will meet.
5. Talladega Superspeedway
There has to be a restrictor-plate track on the list, and although Daytona is the obvious choice, Talladega gets the nod for one simple reason – the fans. Whether it is the crazy infield parties that last long into the next morning, or the roar of the crowd on race day, Talladega is an experience like no other.
Restrictor-plate racing is intense, unpredictable and fun – and so is the infield at Talladega on race weekend. It is definitely not for everyone, but if you want the ultimate party experience, the Talladega infield is the only place to go. And instead of going home after the part is over, you get to watch a great race.
There are no bad tracks in NASCAR; every one has something different to offer, from great racing to incredible fan amenities, but if you want the ultimate experience, including any of these tracks in your NASCAR travel plans will be a weekend you will never forget.
