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Unlike most sports, NASCAR has an odd venue-ownership arrangement. While most stadiums in other sports are owned either by the team or the city, NASCAR’s tracks are owned, with few exceptions, by two main entities.
Darlington Raceway is one of NASCAR’s Classic Tracks. It hosts the Southern 500 and NASCAR’s throwback weekend. In its time in NASCAR, the track became known for its egg shape, high banks, and straightaway sweep.
Daytona is NASCAR’s premier facility. Every race the track hosts has a memorable moment, factor, or story. The track hosts two races a year, the Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
Both fans and drivers love Homestead-Miami Speedway. The track’s aging surface and high line make for memorable moments and great racing. The track currently hosts one playoff race a season but will move to a spring date in 2025.
Iowa Speedway made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2024. The track replaced another NASCAR-owned facility, Auto Club Speedway, following Auto Club’s closure and potential downsizing. The track’s first race was a roaring success for NASCAR and Iowa, resulting in the track gaining a 2025 race date.
Kansas Speedway was built by NASCAR in the early 2000s and moved from one race date a year to two after years of great racing. The track gained a cult following amongst NASCAR fans following the introduction of the Next Gen car and its great Intermediate style racing in
Martinsville is one of NASCAR’s most memorable venues. The paperclip-shaped oval is known for its close-quarter racing and flaring tempers. The track’s two races a year are staples on the NASCAR schedule, with its fall date being the cutoff race for the NASCAR championship.
Michigan International Speedway is one of NASCAR’s few tracks that is over two miles long. The track used to host two races a year, but following its switch to one race a year, the track has become a favorite of fans.
Phoenix Raceway is NASCAR’s most westward short track. Phoenix is known for its odd grandstand configuration and packed houses. The track has traditionally hosted two races a year. However, its fall date has moved to the Championship race in 2020.
Richmond Raceway is a track that many fans and drivers have fond memories of. It is known for making tempers flare and fenders bend. Unfortunately, the track is losing one of two race dates in 2025 to make way for NASCAR’s race in Mexico City.
Talladega Superspeedway, while not as prestigious as Daytona, might be NASCAR’s most well-known track. Its two races a year earn a mark on most fans’ calendars as a must-watch or must-attend race weekend.
Watkins Glen is one of NASCAR’s few remaining Road Courses from the 20th century. The winding course is famous for its long backstretch and bus-stop turn combo.
Atlanta Motor Speedway recently underwent dramatic changes when the typically 1.5-mile Intermediate track switched to a hybrid Intermediate/Superspeedway type of track. Its two races a year are must-see action with a style of racing that has only seen one place in NASCAR.
Bristol Motor Speedway is NASCAR’s premier Short Track. The fan-favorite track hosts two races a year. The once former Spring dirt race returned to the concrete this year, and the Bristol Night Race is still one of NASCAR’s most memorable nights.
Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only track in NASCAR to host a race on two different layouts. The Spring Coke 600 is NASCAR’s longest race, while the Fall Roval race is one of NASCAR’s most chaotic.
Dover Motor Speedway is one of SMI’s most recent additions to its lineup. The track used to host two races a year before giving one of its Dates to Nashville Superspeedway. However, this classic NASCAR venue still pulls in a great crowd.
Las Vegas Motor Speedway is NASCAR’s most westward oval. The track hosts two races a year, including a Playoff race.
Nashville Superspeedway is the second track acquired when SMI purchased Dover Motorsports in 2019. Despite its name, it is a 1.5-mile track that draws a large crowd.
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is NASCAR’s most northward track. The Magic Mile has a history of upset wins and is reacquiring a Playoff spot in 2025 when its race date moves to the Fall.
North Wilkesboro Speedway was once thought dead to NASCAR fans. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, SMI revived the track via a grassroots campaign. After its reopening, NASCAR moved its All-Star Race to the track.
Sonoma Raceway is NASCAR’s only track in California. The course has multiple layouts, of which NASCAR has used two in its history. The track has gone through many names in its history, including Sears Point International Raceway and Infineon Raceway.
Texas Motor Speedway brought NASCAR back to Texas in the late 1990s. It was one of five tracks to host the NASCAR All-Star race but now hosts only one race weekend a year in the Spring.
Circuit of the Americas is a recent addition to the NASCAR schedule. The first race at COTA was in 2021, and ever since, the track has become a favorite of fans. SMI currently hosts the race at COTA in conjunction with Circuit of the Americas, LLC.
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is NASCAR’s newest track. In 2025, the circuit will host the Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Mexico Series. This race will be the NASCAR Cup Series’ first international race in the 21st century.
Bowman Gray Stadium is returning to the NASCAR schedule in 2025 in an unexpected way. The classic racetrack/football field will host the 2025 NASCAR Clash, replacing the LA Coliseum.
World Wide Technology Raceway sits almost perfectly between Illinois and Missouri. The track, better known as Gateway, was a long-awaited bucket list item for NASCAR Cup Series fans before gaining its first race date in 2022.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway is perhaps the most iconic racetrack in the United States. When NASCAR debuted at IMS in the 1990s, it made headlines for what many thought to be an unlikely combination of track and car. NASCAR raced on the track’s road course from 2021 to 2023 before returning to the oval in 2024.
Pocono Raceway and NASCAR have a long history. The Tricky Triangle is NASCAR’s oddest “traditional” track. The venue’s history, alongside its scenery, makes it one of NASCAR’s most anticipated race weekends.
The Chicago Street Circuit debuted in 2023, making it NASCAR’s first street circuit. The city of Chicago owns the streets that make up the track while NASCAR prepares it for its race weekend.
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