The Atlanta Motor Speedway is America’s premier short track venue. But it’s not the only one. There are numerous other race tracks across the country, some of which are associated with NASCAR. This includes the iconic speedway in Columbus, Ohio. And even ones that aren’t necessarily associated with racing, like the Nürburgring in Germany or the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.
But which one is the best? Let’s dive into the science of comparing race track seats and determine which ones are the best all-around.
Best Overall Experience
To begin with, we’ll compare all of the tracks based on the overall experience a fan has when attending one of their races. It’s important to keep in mind that this measurement will include everything from the entrance fee to the type of food available at the concession stand. So, while the actual racing experience may be more relevant here, it’s important to look at everything from the ticket price to the overall atmosphere.
It’s pretty clear that the Atlanta Motor Speedway is the best in this category. Not only does it have the most aggressive seating in the industry, but there’s also an excellent variety of food available. Plus, you can find all of the beer, wine, and popcorn you could ever want in the nearby souvenir shop.
The fan experience at Columbus’s Speedway Park is pretty good, especially considering it is associated with NASCAR. While food and beverage options tend to be limited, the overall atmosphere is lively and entertaining. There is also a wide variety of merchandise available for sale in the souvenir shop. If you want to go all the way down, the grandstands are fantastic and offer a great view of the action. Unfortunately, there aren’t any restaurants or food trucks at the speedway. But who cares when you’ve got a beer from one of the many nearby bars.
It seems pretty clear that the fans at the Atlanta Motor Speedway are getting the best overall experience at the moment. But for a different take, let’s check out the luxury boxes.
Best Luxury Box Experience
Next, let’s examine the luxury box experience at each of the tracks. This will include everything from the view to the ambiance. It would be silly to compare apples and oranges, so let’s not. Instead, we’ll examine each track individually and provide an overall rating out of five stars based on how the luxury box compares to the rest of the stadium.
As we’ve established, the Atlanta Motor Speedway is the best overall experience based on the overall rating, so let’s begin with this iconic venue first.
The luxury boxes at the speedway are fantastic. Picture perfect. You’ve got the big-name NASCAR drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin Harvick, and Jeff Gordon competing for fans’ attention. A photo of your favorite driver or team will even go on display. Plus, everyone in the luxury box gets access to the exclusive driver post-race interviews.
It doesn’t get any better than this. And the price of a luxury box is reasonable as well. For a while, it was $2,000 per month. Which, for a large family, is almost affordable. But for those on a budget, there are plenty of deals to be found online or at the box office.
The downside of the luxury boxes at the Atlanta Motor Speedway is that it’s pretty easy to become disheartened when watching a NASCAR race from there. The energy doesn’t seem to be the same as other venues, but it might be due to the fact that the drivers’ names aren’t on the wall.
The grandstands are excellent at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. So are the restrooms. But aside from that, it’s pretty hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that you dislike about the venue. You’ve got great seats, decent food, and access to amenities. It’s a pretty good place to be.
Moving on, we’ll take a quick break from the Atlanta Motor Speedway to examine the seating at the Bristol Motor Speedway. It’s not easy being a Bristol fan. You’ve got your work cut out for you.
While the grandstands at the Atlanta Motor Speedway are fantastic, the bathrooms at Bristol are some of the worst that we’ve seen. It’s just awful. Like, really awful. It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the fact that the toilets are undersized and poorly designed. There’s also a lot of space between the seats in the grandstands. Which, for whatever reason, bothers us.
A lot of people might call the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Richard Petty Country Store & Café at the entrance to the track. Which is kind of an odd location for a track. A quaint place to buy some boots and hats. And food that isn’t even served at the track. But it’s there if you want it.
Now, we head back to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the grandstands at the Colonial Grand Ballroom. While this isn’t exactly the same as being in the middle of the action, it’s still a fantastic venue. Picture worthy. You’ve got the big-name drivers like Mike Buscemi and Kirk Shelmerdine, as well as the teams like Hendrick Motorsports and Earnhardt Jr’s team all competing for your attention. And it’s warm throughout the year, so you won’t be freezing on a cold day.
The bathroom situation at the Colonial Grand Ballroom is pretty bad as well. There are large groups of men in towels and women in yoga pants. Walking back and forth trying to figure out which one of the three stalls is available. It’s ridiculous. Especially since they charge you for using the bathrooms anyway.
Now, we’ve established that the Atlanta Motor Speedway is the best overall experience. Based on the science of comparing the overall experience, the next step is to examine the food and beverage options. Where can I eat a hamburger?
It seems pretty clear that the Atlanta Motor Speedway is the best overall experience based on the science of comparing the overall experience. But it doesn’t end there. Let’s examine the food and beverage options at each of the tracks too.
Best Overall Food And Beverage
Finally, let’s examine the food and beverage options at each of the tracks based on the overall taste experience a fan has when attending one of their races. It’s important to keep in mind that this measurement will include everything from the quality of the food to the service and friendliness of the staff. So, while the actual racing experience might be more relevant here, it’s important to look at everything from the concession stand prices to the overall atmosphere.
It’s pretty clear that the Atlanta Motor Speedway is the best overall experience based on the overall rating. But let’s take a closer look.
The menus at the speedway are quite diverse, featuring everything from barbecue to crepes. Plus, there are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options too. Which makes it pretty easy for everyone to find something they like. Plus, the prices are quite reasonable too. For a while, it cost more than $10 for a hot dog at the rivalries. But you can get a hamburger, cheeseburger, and even a bacon-wrapped hot dog for around $6. And it goes without saying that there’s a variety of beers, wines, and spirits to choose from.
The bathrooms at the speedway aren’t bad either. Considering everything that’s going on, it’s a miracle that anyone ever leaves the restroom. Especially since all of the bathrooms feature showers, making it easy for the fans to wash off the dirt of battle. It’s amazing the amount of racing that goes on there. Sometimes, there will be 15-20 cars in a pack with nowhere to go. Other times, it’ll be one or two cars battling it out. Regardless, it’s always something to see.
The bathroom situation at the Colonial Grand Ballroom is pretty bad as well. There are large groups of men in towels and women in yoga pants. Walking back and forth trying to figure out which one of the three stalls is available. It’s ridiculous. Especially since they charge you for using the bathrooms anyway.
The overall food and beverage experience at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Richard Petty Country Store & Café is pretty good. While some might consider it odd to have a restaurant at a race track, the staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. Plus, the food is quite good. And, for whatever reason, the burger and pizza pies are always a crowd favorite. Especially since the toppings are quite unpredictable.