10 great places for small-town NASCAR racing

June 1, 2012

NASCAR isn't just about enormous coliseums and mammoth crowds. Summer brings racing to more than 50 regional tracks ( hometracks.nascar.com), where the atmosphere is small-town and family friendly. "These are local tracks, local fans and local competitors," says Dick Berggren, a NASCAR pit reporter for Fox, and executive editor of Speedway Illustrated magazine. "It's a different experience." Some speedways also host NASCAR regional series, letting crowds see up-and-coming stars. He shares some favorite tracks with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Bowman Gray Stadium

Winston-Salem, N.C.

Known as the Madhouse, this tiny track can pack in more than 17,000 fans on a Saturday night. "Bumpers get laid on, people spin each other out. It's really cool," Berggren says. On Saturday, it hosts the regional NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. 336-723-1819; bowmangrayracing.com

Limaland Motorsports Park

Lima, Ohio

This quarter-mile oval track is owned and operated by University of Northwestern Ohio, which has a motorsports curriculum and team. Often students run the show at this so-called "University of Dirt." But fans come for the action. "Racing is a bit different on dirt," Berggren says. "You'll see skidding on every single lap, every single corner." 419-339-6249; limaland.com

Langley Speedway

Hampton, Va.

In its 62nd year, this track is Virginia's longest-running professional sports business, Berggren says. "You walk in there and you're literally walking into motorsports history." It has family ticket packages, and offers discounts to seniors and military. The speedway hosts the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East June 23. 757-865-7223; langley-speedway.com

Grandview Speedway

Bechtelsville, Penn.

The hilltop track is named for the gorgeous sunsets, but fans are most enthusiastic about the racing, which management calls "the greatest show on dirt." The one-third mile oval course, located about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia is slick and has high banks. "Cars get upside-down with surprising regularity," Berggren says. But injuries, he notes, are rare. 610-754-7688; grandviewspeedway.com

Motor Speedway

Stafford, Conn.

While Connecticut has several top tracks, Berggren has a sentimental attachment to Stafford, where his father introduced him to racing when he was 8. "It's just a wonderful place." The announcers here make a special effort to explain the action so even newcomers can understand the race, he says. "They don't treat every fan like they're insiders and already know everything." 860-684-2783; staffordmotorspeedway.com

Evergreen Speedway

Monroe, Wash.

Known as the "Superspeedway of the West," Evergreen is located on a fairgrounds with old-fashioned grandstand seating. As part of a NASCAR clean air program, it recently planted cypress trees to help offset its carbon footprint. Still, the track is all about horsepower. "You're going to see very professional racing but on a local level," Berggren says. It hosts the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West on July 14. 360-805-6100; evergreenspeedway.com

Colorado National Speedway

Dacono, Colo.