Latest news with #LastGreatColosseum
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Best NASCAR Cup Series Venue
Atlanta Motor Speedway | Hampton, GA Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images With newly increased turn angles and a narrower track, Atlanta Motor Speedway now provides the superspeedway draft-style race NASCAR fans have come to love. There's also plenty of excitement in the Fan Zone before drivers take the quad-oval, including concerts, autograph signings and even occasional sea lion shows. Want to get closer to the action? Take advantage of the track's impressive on-site camping facilities. Bristol Motor Speedway | Bristol, TN Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Get ready to feel the noise at Bristol Motor Speedway! Cars constantly zoom by due to the track's small size, and the tall arena-style seating enhances the sound of fans' cheers while giving them a bird's-eye view of the action. And the action is in no short supply—Bristol is known for its intense close racing and exciting crashes. This high-banked short track has earned its nickname as the Last Great Colosseum. Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, NC Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Charlotte Motor Speedway's traditional quad-oval layout allows drivers to reach speeds in the 180s, making it one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. Once a year, the track is reconfigured into "The Roval," which adds nearly a mile and 13 new turns to the course. Families love the infield camping options and Turn 4 Sun Deck: a pavilion with food, games and a Ferris wheel. Darlington Raceway | Darlington, SC Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Called "The Track Too Tough to Tame" and "The Lady in Black," Darlington Raceway challenges even the most seasoned drivers. The asymmetrical layout creates two distinctive sets of turn radiuses, and the racing line puts drivers directly next to the track's outside walls, setting the stage for exhilarating tests of speed and endurance. The venue is also home to the Darlington Raceway Hall of Winners museum. Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, FL Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Each season, drivers gather at Daytona for the first race where they can earn points. The 2.5-mile tri-oval course is one of just three officially recognized superspeedways on the circuit. It features some of the sport's highest banked turns, meaning higher speeds and better views for spectators. Fans appreciate the grandstands' wide seats and the concession stands spread throughout the three concourse levels. Dover Motor Speedway | Dover, DE Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images At exactly 1 mile long, Dover's Monster Mile combines the best elements of short and intermediate tracks. The course's 24-degree banked turns and concrete surface make for a true test of driver handling and vehicle performance. In addition to heart-pounding races, fans love the venue's 46-foot-tall monster statue (cleverly named "Miles") and its location within Bally's Dover Casino Resort. Homestead-Miami Speedway | Homestead, FL Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Homestead-Miami Speedway brings the South Beach vibes with its pastel colors and palm-tree-lined backstretch. But the racing at this track is no day at the beach—its progressive banking creates higher angles closer to the outside wall, leading to photo-finish showdowns. Before the green flag drops, fans with pre-race pit passes can visit pit row to learn more about the crews supporting their favorite drivers. Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indianapolis, IN Photo courtesy of inhauscreative/iStock by Getty Images Photo courtesy of inhauscreative/iStock by Getty Images The Brickyard isn't just a favorite among NASCAR fans; racing enthusiasts from around the world flock to this historic venue for Indy car, IMSA, SVRA and other races year-round. And with more than 250,000 permanent seats, it has the highest capacity of any venue on the circuit. When fans aren't watching the action on the perfectly symmetrical oval track, they can visit the on-site museum. Kansas Speedway | Kansas City, KS Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Surrounded by popular shopping and entertainment venues (including a casino), Kansas Speedway feels more like a destination than a racetrack. Fans can cheer their favorite drivers from the grandstands around the 1.5-mile tri-oval or from the Highline District: a paved fan zone with yard games, live music and exclusive drink offerings. Infield RV camping and outside campsites are also available. Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, NV Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Race day festivities kick off long before lap one at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fans with a pre-race track pass can walk on the actual racing surface and enjoy a concert on the infield stage. Even more excitement awaits in the Neon Garage, which grants spectators access to live entertainment, driver Q&A sessions, Victory Lane celebrations and a unique view of the race from pit road. Martinsville Speedway | Ridgeway, VA Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Martinsville has been a part of the NASCAR Cup Series since the beginning, hosting a race every year since 1949. While its history may be long, it's the shortest track on the circuit and relatively flat, leading to thrilling showdowns in tight quarters. Extensive perimeter seating provides fans with sweeping views of the entire paperclip-shaped course and a great place to enjoy a famous Martinsville Hot Dog. Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, MI Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images As the fastest track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, it's no wonder why Michigan International Speedway is popular among race fans. The long straightaways allow drivers to reach speeds over 190 miles per hour, and the stadium seating makes it easy for spectators to keep their eyes on the action. Free parking and extensive camping options round out the fan experience for an unforgettable race weekend. Talladega Superspeedway | Talladega, AL Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images With the longest track length and the highest-banked turns, Talladega puts the "super" in superspeedway. This enormous tri-oval features a wide raceway, setting the stage for dramatic passes and photo finishes. Fans rave about the tailgating and community found in the extensive infield and outside campsites. Premium experiences are also available, including pre-race driver meet-ups and Victory Lane admission. Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, TX Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Between racing pigs, '90s country music cover bands, lucha libre matches and free-roaming dancing robots, there's truly something for everyone to enjoy at Texas Motor Speedway. And that's just the action in the Fan Zone! On the track, spectators can expect thrilling showdowns around high-banked turns, all visible on Big Hoss: the world's largest LED TV. RV camping and tailgating inside the quad-oval is also popular. Watkins Glen International Raceway | Watkins Glen, NY Photo courtesy of Getty Images Photo courtesy of Getty Images Known simply as the Glen, this scenic road track offers a unique experience for drivers and fans alike. Eleven thrilling turns spread across 2.5 miles of asphalt take the drama of race day to the next level. Fans especially love the infield camping. RV and tent campsites are available all around the track, including pit road and the track's notorious Boot turns.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Insights: Ryan Blaney earns needed bounce-back at Bristol
The first quarter of the season has been a rollercoaster for Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 crew. He went from leading the driver standings after the first two races to a string of three consecutive DNFs (two engine issues, one crash) from Phoenix to Homestead. But after a fifth-place performance at Bristol, which marks Blaney's second consecutive race with a fifth-place finish, it signals that the 2023 Cup Series champion may be starting to find a rhythm. In Sunday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Blaney and Kyle Larson were the only two drivers to net top-10 ratings in all five NASCAR Insights statistical categories — passing, defense, speed, restarts and pit crew. While he didn't finish runner-up to race-winner Larson, the performance overall merits one that Blaney deserved after having a stretch of misfortune that also included a handful of pit-road woes at Darlington that cost him a chance to win. Advertisement RELATED: Cup Series standings | NASCAR Insights analysis explained It was a different story, though, at the 'Last Great Colosseum' as Blaney's complete race craft was rewarded. The No. 12 Team Penske driver was consistently fast, rated as having the fourth-quickest car. Blaney made that speed count by executing clean passes, especially after his crew chief, Jonathan Hassler, made a gamble to stay late on older tires in the final stage, leading Blaney to charge up from ninth during his final stint. His defensive driving was equally sharp, rated eighth overall, helping him fend off pressure during long green-flag runs. 'It was a good risk to take,' Blaney told FOX Sports after the race. 'I thought Jonathan did a good job of taking a chance. We weren't going to win, I was already running fifth and at the end of the day we got back to where we were running, which is good. I took a chance trying to get a yellow and trapping a bunch of guys lap down, but really good effort.' The No. 12 crew also rebounded as they rated eighth-best in pit-crew performance, which marks a significant improvement from their season average of 25th. The combination of speed, different tire strategy and a clean day from the crew gave Blaney a race where he wasn't playing catch-up but rather showing what his team is capable of when they are firing on all cylinders. Advertisement 'Honestly, a really good weekend by the 12 boys,' Blaney added. 'I thought we got better and better from practice, which was good. I didn't think we were very good yesterday in race trim, so they did a great job of getting us to where we need to be and getting better all day. Like you said, blue-collar day.' Blaney's season average rating in passing and speed rank first and second, which is another indication that the Bristol result aligns with the pace Blaney has shown throughout the season but hasn't been able to convert. While the Cup Series takes this weekend off, he will look to keep the momentum going Sunday, April 27 at Talladega (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, Sirius XM NASCAR Radio), a track where he has three wins, eight top 10s and 290 laps led. Other notables from Sunday: — Ross Chastain charged up from 35th to seventh despite having a passing rating of 13 and a speed rating of 11. Advertisement — The two Spire Motorsport cars of Carson Hocevar and Justin Haley each had speed ratings in the top six. — Chase Briscoe had the best passing rating in the race but had a defense rating of 15th and was 13th-best on restarts.
