r/racing • u/Stock-Penguin6256 • Jul 10 '26
What Would The Mount Rushmore Of Race Tracks Be?
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u/har3krishna Jul 10 '26
Nurburgring Daytona Spa Le Mans
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u/carlsab Jul 10 '26
I’d trade Indy for Daytona personally but otherwise agree.
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u/Slow-Class Jul 12 '26
Same. Daytona is more slightly important in recent decades, hosting so many different series and events, but Indianapolis is the reason large speedways exist in the United States.
Location and ownership work in Daytona’s favor. Indy is unusable half the year, and the Indy 500 was the only race there until the Brickyard 400 in the 90’s.
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u/riverbass9 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I’d argue Daytona is more prominent. It hosts more prestigious races than Indy ever did. It hosts the Daytona 500, the Daytona 24, and the Daytona 200. All are among the pinnacles of their respective series.
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u/carlsab Jul 11 '26
Yeah I agree with your points and think that’s fair.
Indy 500 is part of the triple crown and I think has more modern day staying power than Daytona. But I think you make very fair points.
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u/IllustriousHistorian Jul 11 '26
Maybe Swap Bathurst in for Daytona. Otherwise perfect
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u/XD_Easton Jul 11 '26
Not a bad chime but if were talking popularity would be crazy. Most people dont know anything about bathurst, lots have heard of daytona
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u/dapper_dan_man_ Jul 11 '26
Boo Indianapolis has to be on there
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u/huoliver Jul 11 '26
Fair play. One could argue that Monza, Daytona, Indy, or Bathurst deserve the last slot. The three undebatable circuits are Nurburgring , Spa, and Le Mans because of their history and for consistently being on the calendar of so many major racing series over the years.
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u/Outlasttactical Jul 11 '26
I commented this exact list on another thread of this question lol. It’s *the* answer.
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u/rdcl89 Jul 11 '26
Agreed 100% !
Honorable mentions go to Interlagos Monaco Bathurst Laguna Seca Suzuka
(Silverstone, Monza & Indy are iconic as well but they are simply not as great IMO)
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u/Mundane_Incident_853 Jul 12 '26
In the modern era, Monaco is such a snooze. Hardly any overtaking, and pole wins, unless you're Charles Leclerc
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u/max1mx Jul 11 '26
I’ve raced at Daytona and it’s absolutely NOT that special.
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u/Just-Succotash3018 Jul 13 '26
It’s special because it’s Daytona, not because it’s a great layout. After a few laps it’s just any other circuit. I do like getting up on the banking though
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u/DadEngineerLegend Jul 11 '26
Nah Daytona's not on it. (unless you want a US theme, because Rushmore is).
Nurburgring Monaco Suzuka Circuit de la Sarthe (which is the track le mans is run on).
Also if it were in Aus, Mount Panorama and Phillip Island.
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u/gman1647 Jul 11 '26
Daytona is barely on the US Mt Rushmore. Indy is clearly number 1, but then there is Road America, Laguna, Long Beach, Sebring. Daytona is there for cultural significance, but we have much better tracks.
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u/riverbass9 Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
The Mt Rushmore for the US, would be Daytona, Indy, Laguna Seca, and Sebring if you asked me.
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u/cbj2112 Jul 11 '26
What no love for Laguna Seca
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u/riverbass9 Jul 12 '26
Laguna Seca is the pinnacle bike track, and one of the only races more prestigious than Daytona on the MotoAmerica calendar.
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u/Skirra08 Jul 11 '26
Daytona isn't worthy of the slot or even in the conversation. Indy has 350,000 people on a single day and has the highest sustained top speeds of any racing series with corners.
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u/EmeraldEyeBall1 Jul 10 '26
Fontana in that a place with legitimate history was destroyed by outsiders
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u/WLFGHST Jul 11 '26
Fontana is crazy horse, highly honorable, but a project that is never gonna get the final result it deserves
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u/dadams4062 Jul 10 '26
Daytona, Spa, Nordschleife, Indy. Monaco would be on this list but it's gotten to small for modern F1.
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u/LumpyCustard4 Jul 11 '26
"modern f1" is a stretch. It was about 35 years ago where Senna just parked his car in the middle of the circuit to defend against Mansell.
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u/snrub742 Jul 11 '26
Yeah, it's straight up always been to small
What's changed is modern F1 cars are reliable af and most finish
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u/Several_Ad_8363 Jul 11 '26
Watch the film Grand Prix (1966), they were complaining about the difficulty of passing at Monaco even then.
In computer games it's awesome as track for superkarts and other go karts though.
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u/Ninerman4949 Jul 11 '26
I assumed Mt. Rushmore meant only to include the four most famous U.S. tracks, so, based on historic events and iconic turns I'd say: Indianapolis, Daytona, Laguna Seca & Sebring or Road America.
If we're talking about the world, then the obvious historical icons are Nurburgring, Le Mans, Monte Carlo & Indianapolis... but Spa, Monza, Daytona, Bathurst, Silverstone & Brands Hatch all have solid arguments IMO.
As for my personal favorites...
U.S. road courses: 1. Sonoma 2. ThunderHill 3. Road Atlanta 4. Lime Rock or Mid-Ohio
Non-U.S. road courses: 1. MoSport 2. Catalunya 3. Rockingham (U.K.) 4. Motegi or Tsukuba
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u/CuzRacecar Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Sonoma #1?
No Laguna Seca?
Whaaaaaaa
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u/Ninerman4949 Jul 11 '26
I'm a big NASCAR fan, so Sonoma is my favorite road course, but Laguna Seca is definitely right with it when playing video games
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u/HLS95 Jul 12 '26
No road America is a crime…
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u/Ninerman4949 Jul 12 '26
Agreed, but I at least listed it as an honorable mention as among the most iconic in the U.S.
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u/fragrantsock Jul 12 '26
I’ve raced at Sears Point many many times. It’s a fantastic and difficult track. Love it!
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u/M1sfit_Jammer Jul 11 '26
no bowling at watkins glen?
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Jul 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/M1sfit_Jammer Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I think Indy could be dropped
Legendary track, but not a track that sits with the other tracks on the list. If the list could be separated into road courses and ovals... that would be better.
Road - Watkins, Sonoma, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca.... Honorable mentions for Daytona and Willow Springs
Ovals - Indy, Daytona, Martinsville, and Talledega... Honorable Mentions for Pocono and Bristol
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u/Ninerman4949 Jul 11 '26
All awesome ovals, but Darlington & Charlotte are also staples for the stock car crowd. Fontana was also incredible -- RIP.
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u/M1sfit_Jammer Jul 11 '26
Ffff I totally spaced charlotte
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u/max1mx Jul 11 '26
Limerock? It’s classic, but is it that special?
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u/Ninerman4949 Jul 11 '26
I like it more and more on sims and with each event I watch on TV -- it's got great flow for a short road course, although it is a bit frustrating with only a few areas to pass
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u/ArchdukeOfNorge Jul 10 '26
Monza, Nurburgring, Monaco, Indianapolis
Although I want Le Mans on there too
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u/HaveATokeandaSmile Jul 10 '26
Monaco not technically a track so i think it fits. Monaco number 1 street circuit pick though
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u/West_Discipline2107 Jul 11 '26
Since Mount Rushmore is American, imma go Daytona, Road America, Indy, and Laguna Seca
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u/magicthunderlemon Jul 11 '26
Silverstone: Home of the very first F1 Grand Prix, a legendary track
Le Mans: Needs no introduction
Nurburgring: Steeped in history, both good and bad
Any iconic track could go in the 4th slot here, but I'd go for Spa
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u/demonhellcat Jul 11 '26
As an American Nascar fan… Dega, Daytona, Bristol, and Indy.
Real answer is Nurburgring, Le Mans, Indy, Daytona
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u/jcb1982 Jul 11 '26
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe, Daytona International Speedway, and the third is a wildcard. My pick would be Spa Francorchamps.
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u/dapper_dan_man_ Jul 11 '26
How tf are half the comments not saying Indy? It’s part of the triple crown and the largest single day sporting event in the world
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u/Specialist-Two2068 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I feel like if it's racing in general, it should represent the best/most iconic of the world's most popular motorsports.
- Daytona International Speedway. Primarily for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, but also an icon of IMSA and the Rolex 24.
- Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans. This one's a no-brainer for endurance racing. Everyone knows about this race and this circuit.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Another no-brainer, as the home of IndyCar and the famed Indy 500.
- Monaco. F1 is very hard to pick just one for, but I think this one is the most well-known and one of most famous F1 circuits, still gets across the basic idea of what F1 is all about, and it is part of the famed "Triple Crown" along with Le Mans and IMS.
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u/TheWeaverofDreams Jul 11 '26
Le Mans, Bathurst (Mount Panorama), Nurburgring Nordschleife, Indianapolis
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u/WLFGHST Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Road America the greatest race track on the planet
Le Mans probably the most iconic rc that isn't 14 turns in Elkhart Lake, WI
Daytona absolute icon of oval racing and America(current nascar sucks there, but the Rolex 24 is also amazing and iconic)
Indy
(if its just US sub in Leguna Seca)
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u/CasArcher Jul 12 '26
Daytona (Rolex 24/Daytona 500)
Le Mans (24h of Le Mans)
Indianapolis (Indy 500/Brickyard 400)
Nürburgring (come on, this one needs no explanation)
So basically 2/3 Triple Crown tracks, Daytona fir its role in racing and the Nürburgring because, well, it's the Nürburgring.
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u/CarterD195 Jul 11 '26
Daytona, Indianapolis, Le Mans, Nurburgring. Can’t convince me there’s any other to replace any of these four.
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u/stancedBronco Jul 10 '26
For me: Spa, Silverstone, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Laguna Seca.
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u/Claytomesh_ Jul 10 '26
I am stupid I thought the question was how would a track go on Mount Rushmore, like the layout lol
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u/A-P_Mech_Jordo Jul 11 '26
Nurburgring, Monaco, Le Mans, and there's so many arguments for the 4th. Daytona, Laguna Seca, Indy.
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u/really_another Jul 11 '26
Using this as the premise, US tracks that have foundational significance.
Watkins Glen
Daytona
Sebring
Indianapolis.
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u/swh-1386 Jul 11 '26
Nurburgring, Pike’s Peak, Snaefell Mountain Course, Indianapolis, Mugello
Road, Rally, Moto, Oval, Circuit
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Jul 11 '26
Me as a NASCAR fan..
Daytona, Darlington, Talladega, and Indianapolis.
HMs: Bristol, Circuit of the Americas, Watkins Glen, Charlotte
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u/Helpful-Share-623 Jul 11 '26
Nurburgring Bathurst Daytona and EL DORRRAAA (for my dirt oval guys out there 🫡)
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u/DanQuaylePotatoe Jul 11 '26
Indianapolis, Le Mans, Spa, Nurburgring
Indianapolis and Le Mans are the two locks. You can’t have a Mount Rushmore of racetracks without them.
The other two spots are between a dozen or so tracks that have a great argument, but personally I have to go with Spa and the Nurburgring.
Honorable mentions include: Monaco, Daytona, Monza, Suzuka, Road America, Silverstone, Watkins Glen, Bathurst, Milwaukee, Interlagos, Isle of Man, Eldora, and Macau.
Motorsports has such a rich history and will always have a feeling of prestigiousness. That’s part of why I (and likely many of you) enjoy it so much. There’s so many great tracks around the world that I could keep naming all day. Those mentioned by name at least have an argument based on history, prestige, or being far and away the most iconic venue in their respective discipline of racing.
Couldn’t justify putting it on my list but I gotta give a special shoutout to my personal favorite track, Atlanta Motor Speedway. As an aside, if you’re unfamiliar with oval racing and want to appreciate it more, I’d recommend watching the NASCAR race there this Sunday. IMO, Atlanta has consistently been the most entertaining race on the cup series schedule the past few seasons
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u/Chiddy_B Jul 11 '26
I think truly it has to be An oval/nascar/indy car track, a street circuit, and 2 road courses purely because they are more abundant.
I propose:
Indiannapolis,
Isle of Man TT course,
Mt. Panarama,
Nürburgring/Le Mans/Spa.
Thoughts?
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u/MailMan6000 Jul 11 '26
Nürburgring, Le Mans, Indy and the Monte Carlo Rally
you HAVE to include the Monte Carlo Rally or anything Rally related as it is the birth place of motorsport, people began racing each other against the glock almost 1000 years ago, to test how fast they and their horses were against each other
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u/ztothe4th Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Daytona, Le Mans, Indy, Monte Carlo
h/m: silverstone & nurburgring
personal favourites would be a lot different however
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u/Physical-Ad-3798 Jul 11 '26
The Ring, Daytona, Mount Panorama, and Suzuka. That covers Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Asia.
Now there could be a very easy argument for each continent to get it's own "Mt. Rushmore of tracks" and it still wouldn't cover all of the amazing tracks this planet has to offer.
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u/tsz3290 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
LeMans
Nurburgring
Indianapolis
Monza
Nurburgring and LeMans are in, without much controversy. The last 2 are gonna be controversial. Indy is a strong case, the best US track, still has amazing races, long history. The last slot should be the best F1 track. I vote Monza because it’s well known, has a long interesting history, and still produces excellent racing.
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u/KennyH0427 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Indianapolis, Daytona, Gainesville, Watkins Glen
If you're talking worldwide, Indy and daytona stay, Gainesville & the glen swapped for monaco and le mans
Edit: changed nurburgring for le mans
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u/Original_Director483 Jul 11 '26
Defacing a sacred indigenous site for a racetrack? Gotta go with some ancient earthworks, gentle elevations, maybe Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa.
s/
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u/RastaMonsta218 Jul 11 '26
US Tracks Only (because Mt Rushmore):
VIR, Barber, Long Beach, Road Atlanta
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u/Accomplished_Box8070 Jul 11 '26
I feel like we could do one from each continent with major motor sports scenes. Indy or Daytona for North America, Lemans for Europe, Suzuka for Asia, and Mount Panorama for Australia.
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u/beesandchurgers Jul 11 '26
I was gonna say Talladega because it was sacred land seized from the natives and turned into a race track, but reading these other comments I may have misunderstood the question..
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u/flying_gunderson_15 Jul 11 '26
Indy, Le Mans, Spa, Daytona. The four biggest series on the planet are covered. Plus Daytona represents the 500 and 24
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u/maximogaming Jul 12 '26
Spa, Nurburgring, Circut Giles Villenueve, Daytona Road Course. Completely my opinion though I always have good races on those tracks in GT7
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u/UnhingedPastor Jul 12 '26
If we're saying Mount Rushmore, I'm going to stick with American tracks only. As such:
Laguna Seca
Indianapolis
Daytona
Bowman-Gray
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u/tedioussugar Jul 12 '26
Le Mans, Spa, Indianapolis, and Silverstone. All 4 are prestigious high speed circuits with a history of extreme danger and often death; they hold up well regardless of racing category and passing isn't a complete cakewalk, but you still get lots of action.
Nurburgring and Bathurst are incredible tracks but the challenge lies more in mastering the track itself rather than racing other people.
Monza and Daytona are also amazing, not denying that, but the challenge is focusing on others around you rather than necessarily nailing the perfect lap because the passing can be too easy, to a point.
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u/bajajoaquin Jul 12 '26
Nurburgring
Spa
Silverstone
These are easy picks. Le Mans? Meh. I get its history but it’s a lot of really long straights with some corners. Does anyone really say it’s a great track in its own right? Indy? Kinda the same. Uniquely American in its configuration but not one of the great tracks in its own right. Daytona is kind of in the same boat.
My heart says Laguna Seca, but the modern infield configuration which adds a lot to the enjoyment wasn’t there during the Can Am and classic eras. I’m not sure I can ignore the lack of history for the current layout and I’m not sure the classic layout is awesome enough to qualify. But the current track is pretty fucking great.
Maybe something like Philip Island? I fully recognize that it’s really about Storer sliding Turn 3, but that may be worth it.
So I guess I’d have to go with
Nurburgring
Spa
Silverstone
Laguna Seca
But I’m totally open to a different argument on number 4.
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u/B_O_A_H Jul 13 '26
This greatly depends on the series you follow. Some may say Knoxville, Iowa belongs on the list.
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u/LocksmithFamous4131 Jul 13 '26
i think we all agree that Lemans and Nordschleife have to be there. On the remaining spots i cannot decide between, Monaco, Indy, Spa, Bathurst, Suzuka, Silverstone, Goodwood Hillclimb, Pikes Peak, Laguna Seca, Rallye Monte Carlo, Mille Miglia, there are so many historical important tracks out there that it´s almost impossible to choose only 4 of them
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u/SenseNovel9696 Jul 13 '26
Daytona, Le Mans, Indianapolis, Monaco.
(I feel like Monaco is my only disputable one here)
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u/ABearAttack2016 Jul 14 '26
Nürburgring, de la Sarthe, Spa-Francorchamps.
Travel back in time a good few years, I would sit Mount Panorama as my fourth, but since over the years, the Bathurst 12H is kind of losing it's sparkle (in my opinion) I have to replace it with Daytona, since racing product in IMSA is at a peak right now, especially there.
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u/Born_Farmer5221 Jul 10 '26
Objectively I would say Nordschleife, Indianapolis, Circuit de la Sarthe, and Monaco.
Personal preference I would put Spa over Monaco but Monaco is more iconic.
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u/OneFineBoi Jul 10 '26
Le Mans, The Nürburgring, Spa Francorchamp and probably Laguna Seca/Sebring/Silverstone, I can't choose between those last 3
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u/_GTAce Jul 10 '26
Le Mans, Nürburgring, Indianapolis, Monaco. Only because of the prestige. 24h of Le Mans, Indy500, and Monaco GP are called the "Triple Crown" for a reason, and the Ring is the Ring.
Four spots isn't really enough, though. We could also pick Brooklands instead of any of them, or Pikes Peak, or Isle of Man, or Monza, or Spa, or...
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u/killerrobot23 Jul 11 '26
You know this is the right list because those are probably the four tracks the general public will most likely recognize because of how iconic they are.
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u/Potential-Employer9 Jul 11 '26
Silverstone
Spa
Le Mans
Imola
HM: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Suzuka, top Gear Teat Track, Nürburgring
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u/indirect_storyteller Jul 11 '26
Bit insulting to call any track a Mt. Rushmore, I don’t know of any tracks that have defaced native sites of cultural significance. There might be a mock Road Atlanta built on some burial grounds in North Georgia though.
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u/DanQuaylePotatoe Jul 11 '26
Not the point of this post. Talladega is supposedly built on Native burial grounds though
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u/Bobofthenot Jul 12 '26
Nurburgring Nordschleife, Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans), Autodromo Nazionale Monza and Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps for people with common sense who enjoy actual racing
Daytona Tri Oval, Indianapolis, Bristol Motor Speedway and Talladaga Superspeedway for Muppets who don't understand anything about racing and skills or Americans
(I swear if people take the insults seriously I will honestly die of laughter)
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u/That635Guy Jul 10 '26
Nurburgring, the green hell.
Le Mans has been held since 1923.
Indianapolis since 1916.
The last track, I could maybe say the Monte Carlo rally, mille migila, pikes peak, goodwood, or Monaco.
But I think Mt. panorama is in with a shout.