Ranked by guest capacity, these tracks offer motorsports at their best
In state-of-the-art venues packed with cheering fans, auto racing events cram in tons of excitement amid the sound of roaring engines. The air smells of burnt rubber as cars reaching speeds over 200 mph create a thrilling atmosphere like no other. With NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and IndyCar Series taking place, the entire weekend is loaded with racing action. Many speedways have camping on or around them for fans who want to take in the fun all weekend long.
Here are the top 10 auto racing venues in the U.S. by capacity.
1. INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Indianapolis, IN.
Capacity: 400,000
This speedway is the largest and oldest-running racetrack of its kind, with the first auto race taking place in 1909. Its 2.5-mile track is most notably known as home of the world’s most famous auto race, the Indy 500. The speedway also hosts the GMR Grand Prix and NASCAR races Verizon 200 and Pennzoil 150 on the 14-turn course. Formula 1 racing has also taken place at the speedway; it hosted the United States Grand Prix from 2000 to 2007 and motorcycle racing from 2008 to 2015.
2. DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY — Daytona Beach, FL.
Capacity: 168,000
DIS is home of the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s biggest event, and the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which is 24 hours of sports car racing. In addition to NASCAR events, the speedway hosts motocross events like the Daytona Supercross. The speedway has undergone renovations to transform the “World Center of Racing” into a state-of-the-art motorsports facility featuring luxury suites, three concourse levels, more restrooms and three times as many concessions stands, earning it Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal in 2016.
3. CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Concord, NC.
Capacity:167,000
Located in Cabarrus County, this speedway hosts the Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America Roval 400 as well as drag racing events that have earned Charlotte Motor Speedway praise as the finest drag racing facility in the world. In addition to auto racing, the speedway hosts holiday light shows, swap meets and car shows, with events occupying it more than 300 days out of the year. The speedway has also been used in filming TV commercials, music videos and movies including “Days of Thunder,” “Speedway,” “Stroker Ace” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.”
4. BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Bristol, TN.
Capacity: 160,000
A little different from the other speedways, this track is a half-mile oval with a stadium design that makes for an excellent concert venue, and its resemblance to The Colosseum in Rome gives meaning to the speedway nickname “The Last Great Colosseum.” The speedway is known for its iconic NASCAR event that lights up the stadium for the American Night Race. The complex also accommodates drag racing and has the world’s largest outdoor video display in Colossus TV, a four-sided video screen allowing fans to watch the action from wherever they are.
5. TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Fort Worth, TX.
Capacity:154,000
The 1.5-mile track hosts NASCAR Cup, NASCAR Truck and IndyCar Series, including the Texas 250 and NASCAR All-Star Race. The All-Star Race is an exhibition race that awards a monetary prize to the winner and a driver’s pit crew. There is also an infield road course with four course variations, a Lil’ Texas Motor Speedway that is a half-mile long and a 0.4-mile TMS dirt track. Texas Motor Speedway is also proud to offer the Big Hoss TV, which is the largest HD television in the world, for proving the best quality of high-definition entertainment to fans.
6. TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY — Lincoln, AL.
Capacity: 143,000
At 2.66 miles, Talladega is the longest NASCAR oval and has established a reputation as the most competitive track. The speedway hosts the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series. Race fans who dream of driving themselves can even attend the NASCAR Racing Experience to drive a NASCAR race car around the track themselves.
7. LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Las Vegas, NV.
Capacity:142,000
This speedway sees a lot of action hosting NASCAR, IndyCar and drag racing, but it also hosts a lot more than that. Over 1,400 events a year take place at the complex, sometimes three to five in a single day. The Neon Garage, a state-of-the-art infield fan zone, features concession stands, a sports bar with big-screen TV’s showing live track action and Las Vegas-style entertainment.
8. DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY — Dover, DE.
Capacity: 140,000
The one-mile oval is nicknamed the “Monster Mile” and hosts the Drydene 400 NASCAR Cup Series race. The Monster Mile features luxury suite options and opportunities to walk the front stretch of the track. The speedway has options to make it an all-day experience with an all-you-can-eat buffet, drinks, free access to live entertainment and driver appearances.
9. MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY — Brooklyn, MI.
Capacity: 137,000
This speedway is a two-mile track that brings excitement to fans. You are likely to see its mascot, Brooks, walking around interacting with fans or playing in the campgrounds. There are Pit Road Suites that accommodate 15-60 people with incredible views of the track and the Ally Champions Club located atop the center grandstand, which provides guests panoramic views of the action. MIS hosts the FireKeepers Casino 400, Henry Ford Health System 200 and NASCAR Xfinity Series 250. It also is home to the Michigan High School Athletic Association cross country state finals for the Lower Peninsula.
10. ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY — Hampton, GA.
Capacity: 125,000
This speedway has undergone expansions over the years allowing it to host various racing events and series such as the Xfinity Series, Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Drag Racing, Legends and Bandolero Racing. Car shows, concerts and business conventions also take place at the speedway, which has multiple grandstands that boast great views. Exciting short-track racing nights called Thursday Thunder and a drag racing series called Friday Night Drags also take place here.
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