Top 10 NASCAR tracks named after fan vote

The NASCAR Cup Series schedule travels all over America. Fans have their favorites and there are many with legendary histories. However, a new top-10 list shows that those favorites aren’t necessarily what you think.

Tracks like Atlanta Motor Speedway have been altered and changed. Now Atlanta is a superspeedway race with completely different racing than it had even five years ago. Then there are tracks that have been largely untouched outside of a repave or two for years, and there are even brand-new circuits.

NASCAR fans are not always united in their opinions. There are fans who love drafting races, there are others who can’t get enough short tracks. Then there are those who love the road and street course races.

No surprise, the top-10 list from USA TODAY is a mixed bag of track types and styles.

10. Atlanta Motor Speedway
9. Talladega Superspeedway
8. Las Vegas Motor Speedway
7. New Hampshire Motor Speedway
6. Daytona International Speedway
5. Bristol Motor Speedway
4. Michigan International Speedway
3. Sonoma Raceway
2. Chicago Street Race
1. Pocono Raceway

All three drafting tracks, Atlanta, Talladega, and Daytona made the list. New Hampshire and Bristol are the only “short tracks” on the list. Sonoma and Chicago are the road and street course representatives. It’s surprising that Pocono tops the list, but no surprise that it’s on the list.

Pocono has undergone a lot of updates and the in-person experience has only gotten better. The race is usually pretty good there, too.

Darlington doesn’t make NASCAR top-10 track list

I am surprised that Darlington is not on the list. This weekend the NASCAR schedule heads back to The Lady in Black. Historically one of the most challenging ovals in stock car racing. The fans who voted on that top-10 list did not feel like it belonged.

We know that the racing is going to be good at Darlington. These Next Gen cars are great on the intermediate tracks. There isn’t as much room to move around as there is at Kansas. That shouldn’t be too much of an issue though.

We just saw the closest finish in Cup Series history last week at Kansas. Darlington used to hold that distinction for the Kurt Busch and Ricky Craven duel. Is there a chance we see another photo finish this season and could it come so soon?

It is a full weekend of NASCAR racing this weekend. Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and Cup Series action for fans. Make sure to tune in on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on FS1 to catch it all.