USA TODAY 10Best
These 10 motorsports races in North America will satisfy your need for speed
Best Motorsports Race (2023)
From Formula One and NASCAR to IndyCar and IMSA sports car racing, motorsports offer high-octane thrills in spades, as drivers push themselves and their vehicles to the limits. High speeds, tight corners and cars just inches apart trying to overtake the competition combine to create a nail-biting experience where high-speed crashes aren’t uncommon. Here are the 10 best motorsports races in North America, according to readers.
- Rolex 24 at Daytona - Daytona, Florida
- WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca - IMSA - Monterey, California
- Daytona 500 - Daytona, Florida
- Motul Petit Le Mans - Atlanta, Georgia
- Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - Long Beach, California
- Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals - Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - Colorado Springs, Colorado
- NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals - Knoxville, Iowa
- United States Grand Prix - Austin, Texas
- Indianapolis 500 - Indianapolis, Indiana
No. 10:
Held at the World Center of Racing – Daytona International Speedway – the Rolex 24 at Daytona brings together drivers from a variety of motorsports to compete for the checkered flag. Working in teams, the drivers race from sunrise to sunset and beyond for a full 24 hours in the kickoff to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. In addition to watching the race, fans can visit the garage to see work on the cars, collect autographs from their favorite drivers and enjoy live entertainment all weekend long.
Photo courtesy of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
No. 9:
IMSA racing is often at its best at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where drivers must face the Corkscrew, a blind crest, turn and drop-off late in the lap, as well as the double-apex Andretti Hairpin at Turn 2.
Photo courtesy of Daytona International Speedway
No. 8:
Most sanctioning bodies save their biggest race for the end of the season or the midway point. NASCAR, however, hosts "The Great American Race" to kick off the NASCAR season in style in mid-February. The Daytona 500 is preceded by preliminary events all collected under the banner of Speedweeks, so there is always something worth watching.
Photo courtesy of Jason Platz
No. 7:
This race at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta offers plenty of action for racing enthusiasts, including night racing, high-tech cars that reach speeds of 200 miles per hour on the back stretch, and a track with plenty of spectacular viewing opportunities.
Photo courtesy of Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
No. 6:
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is the longest running major street race in North America. Held right next to the harbor, Long Beach is one of the first races in the IndyCar season, but its prestige and winner’s purse is exceeded only by the Indy 500 held in the month of May.
Photo courtesy of Chad Warner Photo
No. 5:
Bringing together drivers from a variety of motorsports, the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals is a sight to behold. "Since 1987, open wheel fans have flocked to Tulsa Expo Raceway’s quarter-mile clay oval for the Super Bowl of Midgets in January," says expert Lee Spencer. "The event has grown to a 7-day spectacular with more than 350 racers battling for the coveted Golden Driller."
Photo courtesy of Larry Chen Photo: Jason Zindrosky
No. 4:
The second-oldest motor racing event in North America, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a time trial race that begins at mile 7 on the Pikes Peak Highway and ends at the summit after a 12.42-mile course that climbs almost 5,000 vertical feet.
Photo courtesy of Trent Gower
No. 3:
Nicknamed the "Granddaddy of Them All," the Knoxville Nationals is considered a premier title in sprint car racing (with the highest paying purse), held on the second Saturday in August at the Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.
Photo courtesy of Circuit of The Americas
No. 2:
When Formula One racing returned to the United States in 2012, it came to Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The United States Grand Prix takes place on this 5.5-kilometer circuit, comprising 20 turns along the anti-clockwise track. Track designers took advantage of the natural topography of the Texas Hill Country, with some of the most dramatic elevation changes in F1.
Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway
No. 1:
Billed as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the Indy 500 has been a cornerstone of American sports for over 100 years and is one of the biggest races in the world, bringing in around 300,000 spectators on race day. Speeds topping over 220 miles per hour make it a thrilling and suspenseful event.
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The Experts
Lee Spencer
An award-winning motorsports journalist with more... Read More
An award-winning motorsports journalist with more than 25 years experience covering NASCAR racing, Lee Spencer has distinguished herself in a variety of roles including lead NASCAR writer for FoxSports.com, the first female beat writer for Sporting News and senior NASCAR writer and editor for Motorsport.com. Currently, Spencer is a regular contributor to RacinBoys.com and also serves as a guest host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Lee Spencer
An award-winning motorsports journalist with more than 25 years experience covering NASCAR racing, Lee Spencer has distinguished herself in a variety of roles including lead NASCAR writer for FoxSports.com, the first female beat writer for Sporting News and senior NASCAR writer and editor for Motorsport.com. Currently, Spencer is a regular contributor to RacinBoys.com and also serves as a guest host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Mike Guy
Mike Guy was named editor-in-chief of Road... Read More
Mike Guy was named editor-in-chief of Road & Track in January 2020. He was the founder and former editor-in-chief of The Drive. Prior to starting The Drive, Guy was the digital director of Maxim and an articles editor at Details. Earlier in his career, Guy was an editor and feature writer for Rolling Stone. He has written for publications including Playboy, GQ, and Vanity Fair, and his articles on motorsports were included in the Best American Sports Writing anthology.
Mike Guy
Mike Guy was named editor-in-chief of Road & Track in January 2020. He was the founder and former editor-in-chief of The Drive. Prior to starting The Drive, Guy was the digital director of Maxim and an articles editor at Details. Earlier in his career, Guy was an editor and feature writer for Rolling Stone. He has written for publications including Playboy, GQ, and Vanity Fair, and his articles on motorsports were included in the Best American Sports Writing anthology.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards... Read More
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
Catherine Smith
Catherine Smith, Readers' Choice Awards Production Manager and Social Media Director for USA TODAY 10Best, has a special interest in unique culinary experiences and off-the-beaten-path adventures. Catherine is the founder of Her Bags Were Packed where she focuses on helping women release emotional baggage through solo travel and self-discovery.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
