By Robert Emslie
Auto racing is an international sport, much like Football. Unlike that latter one however, which we Americans call soccer, auto racing tends to take on a regional flair. Series’ like Formula One do tend to cross borders without much translation, but there are others that are generally particular to one nation, like the U.S.A.’s NASCAR.
Having a home-grown racing series naturally means having tracks to support it, and we in the U.S. are lucky have a number of venerated regional venues. Some of those have gained international fame both as a track and as host to what’s typically considered an American race event. The question for today is: which of those tracks should be rightfully considered “America’s Race Track?”
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Jeff Glucker
Indy. Next question.
This weekend, it would be Indianapolis Raceway Park.
U.S. Nationals time!!!
It’s either Indy or Daytona.
Indy is obvious answer – so I’ll be the contrarian.
Pomona. Birthplace of “legal” drag racing and the NHRA. Home to the Winternationals. Ronnie and the Daytonas even gave the place a mention in the lyrics to “Little GTO”
http://www.nhra.com/2008/images/news/november/pomona80.jpg
(correct answer is still Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
We all know that Americans need things to be simple so they can understand what’s happening, so the obvious answer will be a boring oval like Indy or Daytona (yawn, I’m already passing out from all the excitement). I’m saying Road America or Sebring
Outsider view: Dario Franchitti makes a convincing case for Road America in the most recent edition of Evo. It’s got a bit of everything, fast corners, slow corners, elevation changes, but it also seems to host rounds all the major circuit disciplines in the US at the moment.
And, more importantly, it has America in its name.
Indy is the correct answer but Road America is the right answer.
Now I see this thread…
This year it was Le Mans.
http://roa.h-cdn.co/assets/15/24/1280×640/landscape-1434115309-ford-le-mans-17.jpg
Toyota wuz robbed!
Woodward Avenue, circa late 50’s through early 70’s.
Indy. Like it’s even a question.
But, for the sake of discussion, how about Road America? I mean, it even says America.
Road America because it says ‘Merica. I was going to say Circuit of the Americas, but it pluralized Americas so it’s the Hemisphere’s Track.
America’s track is Indy. Murica’s track is Daytona.
The straight or the oval, can’t decide.
This may sound a bit cheeky, but both produce great solutions (I just learned from Cammed&Tubbed that Top Fuel dragsters basically diesel off the overheated spark plugs), great racing, and gorgeous types.
To throw in a foreign view, the second track I could draw from the top of my head is Lagoon-a-race Way Miata Secca. That’s heavily influenced by video games, of course. I don’t know what reputation it has among you folks, but to me it’s the US track for “regular” racing.
Watkins Glen.
I mean, it’s Daytona, and that sucks, but I honestly think Road America, Road Atlanta, and ***clears throat*** “Mazda Raceway” Laguna Seca could all plead a pretty good case as to why they should be considered.
The Bonneville Salt Flats
It’s either daytona or Indianapolis. But i have fondness for both Sebring and Lime Rock. Would like to see NASCAR try lime rock one year instead of watkins glen