Top Ten NASCAR Tracks

Below is a compilation of a list of the top ten tracks in NASCAR with brief commentary.

1. Darlington Raceway- Not only is it the original Super Speedway of stock car racing, but Darlington Raceway defines what the sport of NASCAR once was and where it originated. At one time, the Southern 500 was the most esteemed race on the Winston Cup tour. As time progressed and the sport’s popularity cultivated, NASCAR made room on the schedule for other facilities located outside of the Southeast. In 2004, NASCAR realigned it’s schedule, which meant that Darlington would no longer host the traditional Labor Day event, a tradition that had been long-standing since 1950. In 2005, Darlington was stripped of one of its two dates on the Nextel Cup schedule. The track’s lone race was The Dodge Charger 500 and was held on Mother’s Day weekend. Despite losing one of it’s date, the track nicknamed ‘The Lady In Black’ and ‘the track to tough to tame’ was a sellout and considered one of the most exciting races of the 2005 season. In fact, some of the best finishes have taken place at this old venue. Remember in 2003, Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch banging on each other all the way to the checkered flag?

1.366 mile egg-shaped oval
successful drives – David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, Bill Elliott, and Jeff Gordon

2. Bristol Motor Speedway- Most fans would regard Bristol as the #1 track in NASCAR as it is referred to as Thunder Valley. It’s considered the fastest half-mile track in the world. The track’s 36 degrees banking in the turns are the steepest of any track on the Nextel Cup schedule. The fall night race at Bristol is the most coveted ticket on the tour. If you intend on heading to east Tennessee in late August, plan on purchasing a ticket from a scalper.

0.533 mile short track
successful drivers- Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, and Rusty Wallace