This weeks “off season” top 10 list is going to cover my all-time favorite NASCAR tracks. This list is not covering the weekly short tracks necessarily, but just the top 10 in general; so here we go.

1) North Wilkesboro Speedway: At 5/8 of a mile this track, like any great speedway; has so much character. One straightaway goes downhill, while the other is uphill. This place was always one of my favorites to see on television. I did manage to see a race there in 2010, when the track was briefly reborn. It was all I hoped it would be. Hopefully, they find a way to keep this place open for great short track events.

2) Bristol Motor Speedway: It’s Bristol baby!! Racing around it has been compared to flying jets in a gymnasium. Perhaps the most spectacular track of its size ever, the track is never short on excitement. Incredibly fast with very tight confines, it is in a word awesome. I have been fortunate enough to see both the spring race and night race.

3) Rockingham Speedway: The first superspeedway on my list, this high banked, high speed track used to be a great place to see a Cup race. I never saw a cup race there, but did see a Busch race in 1998 having to drive through some snow covered roads to get there. I have also seen the Frank Kimmel Street Stock series here, and it was just incredible. The Camping World truck series marks the return of NASCAR to “The Rock” in 2012. Long live Rockingham!!

4) Darlington Raceway: Although nearly a 1.5-mile, this is certainly not a “cookie cutter” track. With two distinctly differently turns, and a groove that is right up against the wall. This place has been on the Sprint Cup schedule for a very long time, and is raced today nearly the same way that it was raced back in the 50’s. Hopefully my grandkids will be able to see races here for a long time to come.

5) Richmond International Raceway: The perfect blend of short track and intermediate speedway type racing, it is no wonder that Richmond is a fan favorite. Originally a ½ mile fairgrounds type track (which I also really liked), this is another place like Bristol that they have done a tremendous job with.

6) Hickory Motor Speedway: At only .363 of a mile, this track no longer hosts the top levels of NASCAR, but has a pretty good weekly show that is usually worth seeing. I love its nickname “The Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars”; it had to be pretty great to watch the Winston Cup series stars racing here.

7) Martinsville Speedway: I have been fortunate enough to see a Cup race here, and the first thing I noticed was that upon entering the grounds; it was like going back in time. There have been some incredible races on the “paperclip”, and it’s another place I hope never goes away.

8) Daytona International Speedway: As a kid growing up in south Florida this was by far the closest big league track to home. I have very fond memories of camping along on the speedways property right along Highway 92. My family always had a tremendous time going here whether it was in February or July. Going to speed weeks always meant side trips to New Smyrna Speedway at night, something I always looked forward to.

9) Dover International Speedway: The “Monster Mile” has been one of my favorites for a very long time. This concrete palace has high banks and lots of speed and action. I have been to the track and watched a racing school car run laps around it, but have not had the opportunity to see an actual race. Eventually I will…..

10) Any dirt track the Cup series ever raced at: While only a pipe dream, I think it would be a true representation of the tremendous overall skills of the drivers. We have oval tracks of all sizes in concrete and asphalt. We have road courses on the schedule. Why not have the next track built be about a ¾ mile high banked dirt track that could fit about 100,000 of your closest friends. It would be beyond amazing to see, say Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards; sliding side by side through turns 3 and 4 on their way to the checkered flag. A guy can dream can’t he?

Well that’s all for my first installment of the New Year, I hope everyone had a great holiday season.

Until next week, keep the shiny side up……

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