Track Day: 5 Best Race Tracks In The USA

Racing is the ultimate sport for all those adrenaline-junkies feeling the need for speed. There’s something simply exhilarating connected to powerful racing cars and the sound of their mighty engines, and it is so captivating it makes your heart jump just by being in the audience. Solely in spring 2017, a stunning 6.37 million of people attended some auto racing track event in the USA.

There are various types of racing tracks all across the USA and they are well visited both for the competition hype, as well as the surrounding environment and the social moment of the specific events. Here is our choice of the top five.

Circuit of the Americas

Located just outside downtown Austin, Texas, the Circuit of the Americas has a well-deserved reputation for being a premium destination of exciting spectacles for various global racing competitions. The 3.41-mile race track was the place where renowned racing names battled for victory, but due to its multifunctionality – it also hosted action sports competitions and music events as well. However, the Circuit of Americas is probably best known for being the home to the one and only country-based Formula 1 race, the United States Grand Prix, which is one of the most popular sports championships watched by millions of people worldwide.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Indianapolis is known as “the racing capital of the world” and it seems like a proper title. The IMS officially opened back in June 1909, when it hosted a balloon race, followed by moto races and auto races two months later. Today, it hosts the famous NASCAR Cup Series, the Red Bull Air Race, various motorcycle championships, Formula 1, and many other events. In addition, IMS has a rich and intriguing history. In fall 1909, the Speedway was upgraded with 3.2 million paving bricks. Less than three decades later, an entire track was paved with asphalt – all except one middle portion. NASCAR champion, Dale Jarrett, started a tradition of kneeling and kissing the bricks, to honor the history and show the respect for IMS.

Lime Rock Park

Lime Rock Park was officially opened in 1957 and today, it is known as the longest-operating racing circuit in the USA that has the very same tracks as they have had from day one. The track is located in the woodlands of Litchfield County, Connecticut, with just 1.5 mile in length. Almost every significant racing names (e.g. Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, etc.) once drew up and down the Lime Rock Park track. In 2008, the track went through full renovation and the safety conditions were bettered.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

The paved track known as the Raceway Laguna Seca spreads across 2.2 miles, located just twenty minutes drive away from a beautiful beach. This race track hosts both amateur and professional competitions, while Superbike World Championship and the Formula 1 racing events remain the most popular ones. The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) is responsible for the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as we know it today. Originally, it belonged to the Fort Ord military base but in 1974, it was turned over to the County of Monterey. Today, the name reflects its primary sponsor, Mazda.

Utah Motorsports Campus

Utah Motorsports Campus really gets ahead when it comes to a variety of audience-oriented offers. In addition to the live action on the racing track, visitors can enjoy off-road activities, such as the kart center or racing simulators. In addition, UMC has open track days where drivers who are beginners can experience street racing on the tracks, after taking classes with skilled instructors provided by Ford. With a beautiful sight of the Rocky Mountains, UMC is even more mesmerizing.

This was our top five choice for the very best race tracks in the USA. Have you ever visited any of them?