The NASCAR Monster Energy Cup season is nearly half over (no really) and there has been some decent racing this year due to car modifications and the addition of stage racing. However, not every race is worthy enough to spend 3-4 hours on the couch on a Saturday or Sunday to watch.
Here are the 10 best NASCAR races to watch on TV. Note: Exhibition races like the Daytona Clash and All-Star Race are not included.
10 Best NASCAR Races to Watch on TV
10. Homestead
The season finale is the championship race for the season. Four drivers are eligible to take the title in this race. The track isn’t anything to really write home about. But “The Chase” has added intrigue in recent years and created great battles to the finish.
9. Sonoma
It used to be that the road-course races were single-file snoozefests. Not any longer. Because of changes to the car, these drivers beat and bang their cars around the twists and turns of Sonoma. The scenic views of the area definitely also help the viewing experience.
8. Pocono
The “Tricky Triangle”, like Sonoma, also used to be a snooze fest. But the racing has picked up in recent years. The track is definitely unique, which puts it above the numerous cookie-cutter ovals in the NASCAR season.
7. Charlotte (May)
The Coca Cola 600 is the longest race of the year. It’s an endurance test for the drivers, so if you can stand to sit for four-plus hours to watch a race, this is the one to watch.
6. Daytona (July)
The 400-mile Daytona race might be at the same track as the Daytona 500, but the shorter race and the higher temperatures make for some really fun racing. That the race is held mostly at night always makes it fun to watch.
5. Bristol
This short track is probably more fun to watch a race in person than on TV, but the side-by-side racing definitely doesn’t hurt the broadcast at all.
4. Martinsville
The paperclip-shaped track is always fun to watch. From the beatings the cars take in the corner to drivers getting pushed out of line and watch as the field drives past, this race is always a must-see.
3. Talladega (October)
The fall Talladega race is always around Halloween so it’s nicknamed “Hallodega”. The race is in the 10-race chase for the championship so title implications are high, and so are the tempers in the restrictor-plate race.
2. Richmond (September)
Combine a short track with the final “regular season” race before the chase, and there are a bunch of drivers jockeying their way to get into the sports playoff. That makes for some extremely competitive and watchable racing.
1. Daytona 500
There is a reason this race is considered the sport’s Super Bowl. Despite being the first race of the year, this is the one to watch above all others. The title every driver wants leads to some of the most dramatic and fantastic racing of the season.
