The Sprint Cup series is the most famous racing series; one, because many of the leading drivers from the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racers (NASCAR) and two, is because it's televised on Fox, TNT, and ESPN.
While many enthusiasts pride themselves on knowledge of cars and drivers, avid fans should also take note of the kind of racing tracks involved. Below are the most common tracks used in the Sprint Cup:
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| Image source: travelchannel.com |
Short tracks
As the name suggests, short tracks encompass the shortest distance, never going over a mile in length. Short tracks are popular because of close races and (occasionally) car wrecks. Some of the popular short tracks include Bristol Motor Speedway, a 0.533-mile with 24 to 30-degree turns, and Martinsville Speedway (the shortest at 0.526-mile), which is shaped like a paper clip.
Intermediate tracks
Intermediate tracks are over a mile in length but do not exceed 2 miles. Some of the tracks in this category are ovals, but most are tri or quad-oval, which allows for a better vantage point of the races. An example of an intermediate track is the Darlington Speedway, notable for its unique egg-shaped layout.
Super speedways
Once a track goes over 2 miles, it is considered as a super speedway. Michigan International Speedway measures exactly 2 miles and is oval shaped. Other racetracks in this category have more distinctive shapes such as the Pocono Raceway, a 2,5-mile triangular track.
Road courses
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What differentiates road courses from the others on this list is that it comprises of both left and right-hand turns. This is opposed to a regular oval track, which only has left-hand turns. Two road courses are employed during the Sprint Cup, and these are the Sonoma Raceway (California) and Watkins Glen International (New York).
Hey there! I am Steve B. Liefschultz, avid NASCAR fan. Subscribe to my blog for all things racing.
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