Stock car racing is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Once thought to be a sport enjoyed primarily by Southern white males, other demographics are quickly becoming racing fans. Most people are familiar with the speedway in Talladega, but there are a number of NASCAR speedways worthy of note.
Talladega, AL
No NASCAR speedway list would be complete without this historic stock car racing track. The Talladega Superspeedway has a 40-year history on the NASCAR circuit. The track is 2.66 miles long and tri-oval shaped. The fact that it is the biggest superspeedway is spectacular when looking at the location and history. Basically, the race track was constructed on an open field, next to abandoned airport runways. When people think of NASCAR, they think of Talladega.
Long Pond Pocono Raceway, PA
Established in 1968, the Long Pond Raceway is 2.5 miles and seats more than 76,000 fans. It held its first Cup series in 1974. The best thing about this NASCAR speedway is that it is one of most fan-friendly venues for stock car racing. Tailgaters get a unique experience, as they are able to get close to the pits and get their favorite racers autographs. People can even camp out at the site although they have to make sure they bring supplies for the weekend. There are no nearby stores.
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
Next to Talladega, Daytona is synonymous with NASCAR stockcar racing. It is one of oldest speedways, completed in 1959. The track is 2.5 miles long and seats 168,000 fans. Many die-hard racing fans feel that they haven’t seen stockcar racing until they’ve seen Daytona. Aside from racing, they have interactive motorsports attractions, an IMAX theater, and a Sam Bass exhibit.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN
This NASCAR speedway track is 2.5 miles long and seats more than 250,000 fans around its oval track. This track was completed in 1909 and started as an automobile proving ground. That year this venue hosted a hot-air balloon race and three-day racing event. This spot is easy for fans, located a few minutes away from the airport. This year, they will be celebrating their 100th year anniversary, a good reason for fans to journey to this historic location.
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN
Located in the mountains of Tennessee, this NASCAR speedway is a scenic journey to a stockcar race track. Completed in 1961, this track is smaller in comparison to many other tracks, only .533 miles and able to seat 160,000 fans. Fans are encouraged to wear shoes befitting the steep walk they will have to take to the track. Fans can take advantage of some nearby private lodging facilities.
As we can see, besides famous tracks like Talladega and Daytona, there are other NASCAR speedways that stockcar racing fans will enjoy visiting. Many of them have historical relevance to the growth of this sport. Fans can get a glimpse of the past and a look at growth that this sport has experienced in recent years.
