From F1 and NASCAR to IndyCar and endurance 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.
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Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
Sebring, Fla.
Sebring International Raceway was originally an Air Force training base during World War II, but in the post-war years the base was bought from the US government and transformed into the cathedral of American endurance racing that it is today. Sebring hosts a twelve hour event in March that serves as one of the benchmark races to determine who has what it takes to win the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Photo courtesy of Brian Cleary/Getty Images
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Billed as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, the Indy 500 has been a cornerstone of American sports for over 100 years and serves as one of the biggest races in the world, raking in nearly 300,000 spectators on race day. Average lap speeds of over 220 miles per hour also make this race the fastest circle-track event on our list.
Photo courtesy of IndyCar Series
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Daytona 500
Daytona, Fla.
Most sanctioning bodies save their biggest race for the end of the season or the mid way point. NASCAR however hosts The Great American Race to kick off the NASCAR season in style in mid February. The 500 miles long Daytona 500 is preceded by nearly two weeks of preliminary events all collected under the banner of Speedweeks, so there is always something worth watching.
Photo courtesy of Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
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Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Long Beach, Calif.
Originally a mainstay of the F1 tour, the Long Beach Grand Prix is now hosted by IndyCar and still remains a race that defines American street circuit racing. Held right next to the harbor, Long Beach is one of the first handful of 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 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
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Rolex 24 at Daytona
Daytona, Fla.
Daytona hosts two of the biggest events in motorsports and they occur scarcely a month apart. The worldwide motorsports season unofficially kicks off in mid January, when the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship heads down to the winter haven of Daytona Beach for a grueling day long test of man and machine.
Photo courtesy of AP Photo/John Raoux
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Motul Petit Le Mans
Atlanta
This October 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 backstretch and a track with plenty of spectacular viewing opportunities.
Photo courtesy of Motul Petit Le Mans
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Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville, Iowa
Nicknamed "the Granddaddy of Them All," the Knoxville Nationals is considered the premiere 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 Knoxville Raceway
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Go Bowling at The Glen
Watkins Glen, N.Y.
This triple header racing weekend has become one of the top-ranked events on the NASCAR calendar, as Watkins Glen International hosts a 90-lap, 220.86-mile stock car race. Between races, fans can take a hot lap in a Toyota Pace Car, watch pit crews set up their stalls and enjoy a weekend of camping at this scenic road course.
Photo courtesy of Robert Laberge/Getty Images
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Bojangles' Southern 500
Darlington, S.C.
The Bojangles' Southern 500, scheduled each Labor Day Weekend, is known as one of NASCAR's oldest superspeedway races and a crown jewel on the annual calendar. This Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race takes drivers around the Darlington Raceway track 367 times – a total of 501 miles.
Photo courtesy of Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
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IMSA WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Salinas, Calif.
IMSA racing is often at its best at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, where drivers must face the Corkscrew, a blind drop turn late in the lap, as well as the single apex Andretti Hairpin at Turn 2.
Photo courtesy of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
The top 10 winners in the category Best Motorsports Race are as follows:
- Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring - Sebring, Fla.
- Indy 500 - Indianapolis
- Daytona 500 - Daytona, Fla.
- Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach - Long Beach, Calif.
- Rolex 24 at Daytona - Daytona, Fla.
- Motul Petit Le Mans - Atlanta
- Knoxville Nationals - Knoxville, Iowa
- Go Bowling at The Glen - Watkins Glen, N.Y.
- Bojangles' Southern 500 - Darlington, S.C.
- IMSA WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca - Salinas, Calif.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning races!
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The Experts
Michelle R. Martinelli
Michelle Martinelli is a writer at USA TODAY's... Read More
Michelle Martinelli is a writer at USA TODAY's FTW, covering NASCAR and other sports. She once ran a 10k just because the finish line was home plate at Comerica Park. Follow Michelle on Twitter.
Michelle R. Martinelli
Michelle Martinelli is a writer at USA TODAY's FTW, covering NASCAR and other sports. She once ran a 10k just because the finish line was home plate at Comerica Park. Follow Michelle on Twitter.
James Raia
A journalist since 1976, James Raia writes a... Read More
A journalist since 1976, James Raia writes a syndicated weekly columnist in Sacramento, Calif., for Bay Area News Group. He also produces a weekly automotive podcast and newsletter, both free and available via signups on TheWeeklyDriver.com. The independent website has been online since 2004. Contact him via email: james@jamesraia.com.
James Raia
A journalist since 1976, James Raia writes a syndicated weekly columnist in Sacramento, Calif., for Bay Area News Group. He also produces a weekly automotive podcast and newsletter, both free and available via signups on TheWeeklyDriver.com. The independent website has been online since 2004. Contact him via email: james@jamesraia.com.
Bridget Schuil
Bridget Schuil is a writer and entrepreneur. After... Read More
Bridget Schuil is a writer and entrepreneur. After training in biology and working as an ecological and ergonomic consultant to a boutique investment firm, they founded Motorsport Sisterhood, a feminist organization to address concerns in motorsport, and fledgling start-up, Pace Car Press. Their dream is to finish their theology degree and found an interdenominational church to serve the racing community. They can be found on Instagram @brijschuil and @pacecarpress.
Bridget Schuil
Bridget Schuil is a writer and entrepreneur. After training in biology and working as an ecological and ergonomic consultant to a boutique investment firm, they founded Motorsport Sisterhood, a feminist organization to address concerns in motorsport, and fledgling start-up, Pace Car Press. Their dream is to finish their theology degree and found an interdenominational church to serve the racing community. They can be found on Instagram @brijschuil and @pacecarpress.