NASCAR is one of the best events that you could attend, regardless of the racetrack. Of course, the stakes are higher at Daytona, Talladega, and places like the Brickyard in Indy. If you want to attend these races or any others on the calendar, including the playoffs, here are some tips to get the best seats in the house at decent rates. Also, we want to help you make sure you’re not caught sitting behind the columns or any terrible spots at these tracks.
One of the coolest things about NASCAR is that you’re usually getting a multi-day family-friendly experience. There aren’t that many around these days. There’s no question that NASCAR has become THE American motorsport, even though the Indy 500 still gets good ratings every year. It’s an experience that every family should be a part of. Here are some tips to make your days at the track epic, hopefully without having to break the bank all that much.
Where You’re Sitting at the Track Dictates Your Weekend
This is a no-brainer, but we had to land the plane somewhere. A lot of people get confused because when they go to look for some of these tickets the prices are eye-popping at times. That might be because you’re looking at box seats that will include all you can eat or even drink access. Also, you’re talking about a multi-day event. When it comes to NASCAR ticket prices, you really have to consider how big the actual event is, and where the tickets you’re getting are located. It could be a good idea to understand what type of tickets are going to be available before you take a deep dive into the actual purchase page.
If you’re looking for something that’s not VIP or features some type of camping add-on, then the grandstands or different “stands” (the names can vary by venue) might be the best place to start. In this situation, you need to bring your RV. You could hitch a ride to the track with an Uber and forget about parking costs. Find a seat and enjoy the show. A spot on the main stands is the easiest way to come out to a NASCAR event. It’s actually a good weekend idea, particularly if you’re coming to the track last-minute. Before you ask, yes, last-minute deals to big NASCAR events, including Daytona and Talladega, can be available through verified ticket platforms. If you go fishing, there’s a chance you’ll catch some good deals.
Best Spots on the Grand Stands at NASCAR
There’s certainly an appeal to be particularly close to the wall when you’re at massive oval races. You’ll be close to the potential contact areas, and with NASCAR, these moments when cars touch can be some of the most memorable. Also, dangerous to a degree we’re not going to lie. If you’re coming out here for a close-up view of the contact, then you know where you need to be. However, those are not the best spots on the grandstands that we wanted to talk about!
Ideally, you’re looking to get some distance between yourself and the track. As you move up in the stands, you’ll realize that you’re getting a wider overall view of the action. At these oval tracks that we’ve been referencing, there’s also a chance to catch the action on the other side of the track from your seat. Obviously, if you bring binoculars, you’ll have a better chance of actually making out what’s happening. It’s interesting to see how things are shaping up before they reach the home stretch or the area where you happen to be sitting. The seats on the side of the finish line tend to be a little steeper than those on the opposite end.
NASCAR Infield Tickets on Regular Ticket Platforms
For a long time, infield tickets were one of the best-kept secrets in NASCAR. You had to be on the waiting list and stuff like that. Think, Green Bay Packers season tickets! There are some tracks and events where getting infield spots is like trying to get someone to sell you a state secret. However, there are certain ticket platforms that will have infield spots for RVs directly on sale through their site. Usually, this is going to be the case for the non-major races.
Still, if you want infield tickets, you want to make sure that you check availability for the race that you want to attend well ahead of time. This is going to allow you to explore some of the different possibilities that could be in the cards for you. Also, even if places like Ticketmaster or any resale platform have these available, it’s still important to read the fine print. What can you bring? What do you need to have to be able to access? All of these “rules” could vary depending on the venue.
Camping Out at a Race Track
Can you/can’t you bring your RV to the track and camp out? This works a lot like the infield spots that we just talked about. Most tracks are going to have some type of RV access near the actual venue. The problem for people who are just discovering a new track is ending up at a spot that doesn’t give you great views of the action. Not all of the options that are going to be available are “good.” That’s something that you want to keep an eye out for. Hopefully, we’ll be able to cover some good RV tracks or particular options for popular NASCAR events.
The problem with this situation is that virtually at every track you’re going to find some type of RV access parking options. That doesn’t mean that all of the “options” are good. That’s what we want to get across. The good news is the information is out there. If you want to research a particular track, it won’t be that hard to come across ratings for some of these spots. Since “camping out” at these NASCAR events is one of the best overall experiences in the sport.
How Long Before a Race Should You Purchase NASCAR Tickets?
Major races can sell out really quickly. Plus, you’ve got corporations taking over box seats almost immediately. As is the case with major concerts, there’s a surge at the start of the selling process. Let’s say the date of the 2027 Daytona 500 gets announced. Big-time fans are going to be scrambling for pre-sale spots and anything that can guarantee their place at this event early. If you miss that early, what do you need to do? The first thing would be not to panic! The resale market for the FOMO of the people who missed the pre-sale gets crazy. Then kind of quiets down. It really depends on the timing of the official ticket release.
If you’re about 100 to 90 days out from a big race, that’s when you can find a quitter resale market with potentially better deals. The surge of the first “sold out” fomo moment has died out. At 100 days most people are not thinking about the Daytona 500. The next surge is going to be a month out and anything that’s closer to raceday. If you miss the pre-sale, then maybe the next window is within that 100 to 60 days out. This is, of course, for major races. Lower profile events, when you miss the pre-sale, the window is more between 60 and 30 days before the event. In some cases, you can find great last-minute deals for unsold spots!
Other Things To Think About When Looking Into NASCAR Spots
One thing we mentioned already, but might be worth repeating, is the fact that these are multi-day events in most cases. That’s why you might ticket prices that are steeper than they would be for, let’s say, a gameday experience for any sport. Although with how expensive NFL and good college games have gotten, you could actually find a better deal at a NASCAR event for the same price and multiple days of fun!
It might also be important to read up on some info on particular sections at specific tracks. Why is that? Well, you don’t want to bring the family to a section where the party’s at! That’s especially the case if you’re with young kids. Sometimes there’s even restricted access for children in specific areas. Make sure to be on the lookout for that as you go through the ticket purchase process. Other than that, try to find a spot with a great view and above all else, have a blast during your day at the track!