Today I came across a story by Mr. Todd Jacobs. It concerned what he considers NASCAR Power Rankings about the 10 tracks you should visit before you die. Now I’m sure these tracks, in Mr. Jacobs’s opinion, are at the top of the list. But since I am a bit older than he appears in his photo, I have a slightly differing opinion. Here is a comparison. I picked tracks in the same state as the tracks in the "Power Rankings" and added a couple more at the end that belong on the list.

Coming in at number 10 on his list is Phoenix International Raceway. Never been there but it appears to be a beautiful track but I’m going out on a limb here and mention a couple of other Arizona tracks that might give Phoenix a run for their money in action and excitement. Tucson Raceway Park and USA Raceway can certainly fill your need for speed on dirt or asphalt in that area and Havasu 95 Speedway near the California line can take care of the action in that part of the state. I mean what’s not to love about a track with cars that sport tail fins and smokestacks not to mention a station wagon or two and a Starsky & Hutch Torino.

Number’s nine and seven on the who’s-who’s list are two Virginia tracks. Richmond International Raceway and Martinsville Speedway are icons on the “cup” trail. Now I have been there and done that at both great tracks but if you live in the Commonwealth, a couple of can’t miss tracks that will knock your socks off are Bill Sawyer’s Virginia Motor Speedway. Wide, smooth with very exciting racing you can afford. And tucked in the hills of Virginia between Martinsville and Roanoke is little Franklin County Speedway. FCS is a real throwback to the days when men-were-men. Paul Radford, “Satch” Worley, Billy & Jimmy Hensley and many more cut their teeth on the 3/8 mile ribbon of asphalt. Richie Evans of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and many-time Modified Champion, held the track record there for over 20 years only to see it knocked down to under 12 seconds in 2009.

At number eight in the Power Rankings is Infineon Raceway. Looks pretty dusty to me on TV when one of the “cupcakes” misses turn 7 so I’ll make plans to visit Toyota Speedway at Irwindale or Lucas Oil I-10 Speedway on my next trip to Kaliefornia (Arnold’s pronunciation, not mine).

Mr. Jacobs ranks Talladega Superspeedway at number six. It is big and fast. And BTW, Mr. Jacobs, the winner of the first race was Richard Brickhouse, not Jack. Me thinks you are showing your youth. I also think the good “racing in Alabama can be found across the street from the “home of the big one” at Talladega Short Track or down the road a bit at Montgomery Motor Speedway.

I suppose if its spectacle you want, number five on the “list” is Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Really big and has a museum full or racing history that will give you goose bumps. But if its action you want you should give Salem, Winchester and Terre Haute a shot. Indiana is full of great race tracks just waiting for the Spring thaw.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway checks in at number four in the Power Rankings. Forgive me, but I’m still trying to figure what power did the rankings. Mr. Jacobs says the drivers and fans love to go there for the experience but I’m betting the real action at the track is at the “Bullring”.

Bristol rolls in at number three in the rankings and it’s always an exciting race on the high banks but if its old fashioned beatin and bangin you crave you should check out Highland Rim or Bulls Gap or Newport. And while you are thinking about racing in the Volunteer State, you should try to make a trip to the Fairgrounds Raceway in Nashville. The city fathers there are about to drive the final nail in the coffin of the second oldest race track in the country so you had better hurry.

Number two in the rankings goes to Daytona International Speedway. Plenty of action there in February and July but if you want some real racing action in February, you need to check out New Smyrna Speedway and Volusia Speedway Park. Two of many great Florida tracks that include Five Flags and East Bay just to name a couple more.

Number one of the Power Rankings chart is Darlington Raceway. Harold Brasington, Bob Colvin, Barney Wallace and Jim Hunter and even a few race car drivers have contributed to the “history” of this great track and I won’t be the one to say Darlington Raceway doesn’t rank right at the top of the list of tracks you should see before you die. A couple of honorable mentions in South Carolina go to Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Myrtle Beach Speedway and Dillon Motor Speedway.

As a footnote, I’ll question why no North Carolina tracks made the list? Charlotte Motor Speedway packs just as much glitz and glamour as any of the other “jewels” on the Power Ranking list and the short tracks in the Tar Heel State produced some of the greatest of all time in NASCAR. North Wilkesboro and Rockingham contributed much to the sport we love only to be cast aside by the “powers that be”. Hickory Motor Speedway claims to be the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars” turning out the likes of the Jarrett’s, the Earnhardt’s, the Houston’s, and Harry Gant just to name a few. And down in Winston-Salem, a little flat quarter-mile around a football field still packs-em-in every Saturday night as the longest continually running NASCAR sanctioned track in the country.

All I’m saying is, “there is much to be seen at the tracks Mr. Jacobs and most of the others posting stories on the internet nave never heard of or probably never seen”. Take the time next racing season to check out the little jewels in your own neighborhood for some of the best racing action around.  Real race tracks!