Over the last couple of months, I’ve been itching to go to a race track. Ever since the June Pocono race, I realized it would be another year until NASCAR came around again. Little did I know, I live in the dirt racing capital of the US.
I really had no idea. Within 2 hours in any direction of my house I have Grandview, Big Diamond, Williams Grove, Port Royal, Action Track, Bridgeport, and Lincoln.
What have I been doing all these years?!
Well, a few weeks ago I decided to venture out to the closest track—Grandview Speedway.
Grandview is highly banked ⅓ oval and one of the only tracks in Pennsylvania (let alone the country) that is part of the NASCAR Regional series.
The NASCAR Regional series gives exposure to grassroots racing through its name and likeness, but it also directly affects local drivers.
Drivers that race at official regional tracks are entered into a sanctioned competition. If they win their regional division, NASCAR pays out $15,000.
That’s pretty cool for a grassroots champion.
For a track in the middle of Pennsylvania being affiliated with a prestigious brand like NASCAR makes it enticing for spectators as well.
When you step in the gates of Grandview, you feel the history of stock car racing. The wooden bleachers, the clay covered catch fence, and the cool breeze of an September night really brings out the culture of a local track.
If you haven’t been to a dirt race, it’s exhilarating. It’s not like the Cup series where you typically sit up and away from the asphalt.
At a dirt track, you are much closer to the action. You’ll feel the dust cloud sprinkle the seats after the drivers rip around the turns.
You don’t want to sit in the front row, but if you really want to feel the race you can. Not to mention, get insanely close to the start finish line.
It’s tracks like Grandview that make legendary drivers. They all start somewhere—and even end there—so catching a local race can be even more exciting than a national one.
If you’re close enough to a NASCAR Regional track—I highly recommend attending a race