Going to a NASCAR race is a quintessential American experience.  The sights and sounds will leave a strong and lasting impression on even the most casual sports fan.  With stick and ball sports, being close to the action is highly desireable so the spectators can immerse themselves in the drama of the game. 

However, auto-racing is a unique sporting experience that requires the spectator to take a more wholistic view of the playing surface in order to fully appreciate the minute differences that separate the winner from the back-markers.  In general, sitting in the first five rows of a grandstand next to the catch fence limits the view and distorts our understanding of the causes and effects that determine the winner.  So, where is the best place to view a NASCAR race?  I've attended races throughout the southeast since the late 1980's.  Keep these things in mind to maximize your day at the races:

1.  Seats that offer views of the front-stretch and pit-road are the most desirous.  I like sitting at he entrance to Turn 1 at Dover, Bristol and Martinsville where the cars race toward me before diving down into the corner.  At tracks like Charlotte and Daytona, I like sitting at the start/finish line where the slight dog-leg at the line provides dramatic racing and good views of the action off of Turn 4 and into Turn 1.  Due to grandstand designs, frontstretch seats at Darlington (Tyler Tower) and Dover (Allison Grandstand) often offer bad views of the cars going down the front-stretch.  Avoid seats on the backstretch at all tracks except Bristol.   

2.  I enjoy watching a race from above row 20 which will guarantee that you'll see the entire racing surface at most of NASCAR's ovals.  At tracks like Bristol and Richmond, the best tickets are very hard to obtain, but the atmosphere is great from just about any seat above row 10.  At tracks like Daytona and Talladega, the best seats are above row 40 where you'll be able to see the action on the back-stretch.

3.  How high is too high?  That's a subjective question, but there are certain tracks that have high seats that should be avoided.  The Ford Upper Terrace at Charlotte made me weak in the knees, but other people I talked to loved the panoramic view from this steep-angle grandstand.  The Kulwicki Tower at Bristol is very high, but the folks up there are just happy to be at Bristol.  My definition of too high is this... you feel like you're losing out on the atmosphere of the race.. the roar of the cars, the smell of the fuel and the wind-draft created by the 180mph racing.  

4.  Get seats as close to the aisle as possible. 

5. Ask about visual obstructions like catch-fencing, support beams or infield obsrtuctions. 

6. Ask about the type of seat you're buying..... is it a bleacher (bad), bench (better) or a stadium-type seat (best)?   Beware of sellers that try to sell you "great" frontstretch seats at Charlotte (row 3-10) or Dover (row 1-25) which are uncomfortable cramped bleachers (aluminum at Dover and concrete at Charlotte).   The bench seats have a back and generally offer a little room underneath for storage, while the stadium-style seats are fold-down plastic seats usually offered in the more expensive terrace sections.

7. Bring ear-plugs, sun-screen, sun-glasses, scanners/headsets, wear comfortable shoes, and find out about cooler restrictions before you haul that Igloo to the front gate...  remember,  no glass bottles or umbrellas.    

NASCAR races can be great family experiences that will create wonderful memories.  Keep these things in mind and you'll greatly improve your day at the races!