What’s Happening?

Last week our resident YouTuber John Rizzo unveiled his “Every NASCAR Track Ranked WORST to BEST” video, and it sparked a wide array of responses from fans, each offering their unique perspective on the rankings. Here’s what you had to say about our track rankings.

The Tracks You Liked

There’s a strong consensus among fans that certain tracks stand out for their ability to consistently deliver thrilling racing experiences. Homestead Miami and Bristol are among the most popular, with many fans advocating for Homestead’s return as the season finale and celebrating Bristol’s unique atmosphere.

These tracks are benchmarks for exciting racing and are deeply associated with NASCAR’s competitive history.

Homestead Miami: Fans expressed a strong desire to see Homestead return as the season finale, citing its consistent ability to deliver exciting races.

• “Homestead Miami is consistently proving itself why it should be the seasonal finale again.” — @DV1287
• “Homestead needs that finale race back.” — @csxtrainfan319

Bristol: Bristol’s status as a beloved track came through in glowing comments about its atmosphere and excitement.

• “Bristol is simply magnificent. There is honestly no track that is more illustrious and prestigious than Bristol. The sounds and sights that it grants is simply something that only dreams are made out of.” — @RAGINGKNUCKLES

Personal Experience

Many of you told us that attending races in person often provides a richer experience than watching on TV, noting the intensified excitement and track nuances. Dover and Kansas received particular praise from fans who attend regularly, indicating that fans seem to value tracks where the in-person experience truly stands out.

Kansas: Fans were pleased to see Kansas gaining recognition, with some sharing memorable experiences.

• “Happy to see Kansas finally getting recognition I’ve loved being able to attend the Kansas races for years and seeing the closest finish in person was Incredible.” — @jaxonfui6302

Dover: One viewer highlighted how seeing Dover in person enhances the experience compared to watching on TV.

• “Dover is a great track. Going there in person is better than watching it on TV.” — @ethantaube2512

It’s the Car, Not the Track

Fans frequently discussed how different car setups and series affect racing quality, with several advocating for consistency between Xfinity and Cup Series packages. Tracks like Phoenix, for example, are seen as more exciting in Xfinity than in Cup, largely due to the car packages and race formats. The consensus suggests a belief that improved packages (or even making them the same!) could enhance the racing experience across series.

Xfinity Series Racing: Some fans noted that certain tracks offer better experiences with Xfinity Series races compared to the Cup Series.

• “The Xfinity finales at Phoenix have all been so incredible that you’d never guess it was so mid in Cup.” — @SortaNonymous

Car Packages: A few comments emphasized the need for more consistency between car setups in different series.

• “So what I’m hearing is Xfinity and Cup need the same cars.” — @spartan5713

The Tracks That Do Better in Other Series

Some of you told us which types of cars work best at certain tracks, like New Hampshire, where fans expect competitive multi-car racing with Whelen Modifieds. The Chicago Street Course, however, divided opinions—some praised recent Xfinity races there, while others criticized the format as unsuited for NASCAR.

New Hampshire with Whelen Modified: New Hampshire was highlighted as an ideal track for Whelen Modified races, where fans expect to see three-wide racing.

• “New Hampshire is 10x better with Whelen Modified, three wide racing is expected with those cars.” — @lmao-ev6nz

Chicago Street Course: Opinions on the Chicago Street Course were mixed, with some recalling excellent recent races and others criticizing the racing format.

• “If you didn’t watch Chicago Xfinity this year, go back and watch the first ten laps, it’s the best racing we’ve seen all year.” — @spaggetijeff1229
• “Street course to me is the bottom of the bottom.” — @charlieboyd4431

The Nostalgia

Many of you were nostalgic for tracks in their former configurations, showing that recent changes have sometimes diminished the racing experience. Phoenix and Richmond, in particular, are tracks where fans suggested that reconfigurations or updates could bring back the excitement they remember. We certainly heard a common theme of wanting to preserve or return to the classic aspects of tracks that first drew them to NASCAR.

Richmond Raceway: Reflecting on the track’s past, one fan suggested improvements to bring Richmond back to its former glory.

• “Richmond Raceway used to be such an epic track. I say repave it, maybe add 6° of banking.” — @redknightsr69

Phoenix Before Reconfiguration: Some fans miss the old configuration of Phoenix Raceway, indicating a preference for the previous track layout.

• “I really liked Phoenix before the reconfiguration.” — @SomethingUnprofessional69

What do you think about our track rankings? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.