If you’re a NASCAR fan, you love visiting different tracks to witness some of the best motorsport racing in the world. On the other hand, you don’t have to actually be a NASCAR fan to enjoy a race. From the roaring sound of V8 engines to the BYOB policy, NASCAR races offer arguably the best atmosphere of any professional sport, which includes wild parties. Whether you’re camping in an RV or just a tent, any NASCAR track is going to offer some outstanding partying but there are certain races that are wilder than others. Here are the top 5 best NASCAR party tracks to visit.
Darlington
Michigan
Bristol
Daytona
Talladega
5. Darlington Raceway
Darlington, South Carolina
Darlington Raceway is one of the oldest tracks still used in the Cup Series. Stuck in the middle of nowhere South Carolina, this historic 1.366 mile venue holds 47,000 roaring fans that sells out for its single race in a season every year for Labor Day weekend. This helps encourage its party atmosphere since almost everyone in attendance will have that Monday off work or school.
Unlike most NASCAR tracks that are in the middle of a giant plot of land, Darlington is in the middle of a town. This small southern town is converted to party central for the state of South Carolina all weekend with RVs, merchandise tents and college parties throughout. Although there are a few other NASCAR tracks that offer bigger parties, Darlington gives you the feel of the authentic NASCAR atmosphere, which of course includes partying.
4. Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Michigan
If you were told that Brooklyn offers some of the best partying in NASCAR, you might not believe it. Unless of course, you were told its not in New York but in the middle of a small farm town in Michigan. Past the endless rows of corn fields sits a 2-mile track that hosts two Cup Series NASCAR races every year. Although it might not offer quite the endless sea of partying that you’ll find in a track this size like Talladega, it won’t be hard to find the parties at MIS if thats what you’re looking for.
From wild tailgates to foam parties and live concerts, Michigan offers all the drunken debauchery you would expect to find at a race in the midwest. Combined that with the crazy Canadians that come down to take party in a NASCAR race and you have the makings for one wilds weekend. If you want to enjoy a fun race, MIS is a good options but if you want to attend one of the best NASCAR party tracks, its even better.
3. Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol is more like a gladiator arena than an actual NASCAR race. Nevertheless, this legendary 160,000-capacity venue on the Tennessee-Virginia state line brings the excitement of short track racing to the Appalachian Mountains. There’s a reason this half-mile track is called the Last Great Colosseum.
As you would imagine based on my description, Bristol lives up to its hype with some of the craziest partying. Since it resembles a college football stadium more than a NASCAR track, Bristol offers some of the best NASCAR tailgating because everyone is packed together. This means its just a short walk (or stumble) to the next party spot.
2. Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
The Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing kicks off the NASCAR season each year in Daytona and its as wild as it sounds. Home to one of the most prestigious races, this NASCAR track offers something others just can’t match; location, location, location. Tailgating and partying can be expected at any NASCAR track but it’s hard to beat a vacation to the Florida beach when the rest of the country is iced over.
This 2.5-mile track is so massive, it offers its own 29-acre man-made lake in the infield with its own bar. Regardless of where you’re camping, every neighborhood on the track boasts its own set of nightly parties. Whether you’re showing up in a giant RV, pulling a decked-out camper or just sleeping in a tend, Daytona is on every NASCAR bucket list for a reason.
1. Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega is not only the party capital of NASCAR but possibly the party capital of the entire sporting world. The best comparison to attending a race at Talladega is like Bourbon Street in New Orleans mixed with South Padre Island for spring break. In all honesty however, Talladega Superspeedway becomes its very own party town during a race.
If the party traditions of mud wrestling, the parade of John Deere tractors and the Miss Mud Queen Pageant weren’t enough to convince you, the weekend party kicks off with drivers tossing beads from floats down the Blvd in the infield like Mardi Gras. This is followed up with events like body pong, BBQ sauce wrestling, Jell-O crawl and concerts. Even outside of the track infield, camp grounds like GEICO West Park B are notorious for all-night parties and makeshift shot bars (that all proceeds go to support the locals schools, of course). Even if you aren’t a NASCAR fan, attending Talladega should be on anyones party bucket list. In case you’re interested though, there also happens to be a pretty awesome NASCAR race on Sunday as well.
