Competing is human nature. There is a certain kind of thrill and achievement that comes with it. Racing is also a competition – a competition of speed. As much thrilling as it is for the racers, onlookers get their kicks from simply watching it. And while this sport has been around since the time of ancient Greece, racing has become one of the biggest sources of entertainment for adrenaline junkies in the recent past.
Every country where racing is popular has different rules and forms of the sport but the thrill of speed is the same. The most basic form of racing is running the distance. It developed into vehicle race competitions and later into races with animals.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is a historic equestrian sport which earned the title of “Sport of Kings” because of its popularity with royal societies and aristocrats. The sport has a rich history in the United States as well. The three most famous traditional horse racing events are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.
Belmont Park in Elmont, New York is the largest grandstand in the country. In addition, Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, Churchill Downs in Kentucky, Aqueduct Racetrack in New York, Arlington Park in Illinois, Del Mar Racetrack in California and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas are among the renowned racetracks in America.
Automobile Racing
Automobile racing is a more action packed type of racing which has been around for ages. It has become a popular sport all over the world, especially in the US where the events have become a major source of entertainment for masses. One example is Monster Jam which not only features races but is also an exhibition spectacle featuring tricks of mammoth vehicles.
There are many different types of automobile racing. Among the most well-known is the Formula 1 World Championship series of the “open seat racing” featuring super lightweight cars with approx. 800 horsepower engine. American Indy Car Series, A1 Grand Prix and GP2 Championship Series are other famous open seat racing events. NASCAR series special is “stock car racing” featuring purpose-built racing vehicles. Craftsman Truck series and NASCAR Busch series are two popular events of stock car racing. Another crowd-pleasing racing type is “drag racing” featuring powerful vehicles that requires parachutes to stop them because of their mega speed. The National Hot Rod Association holds all the major drag racing events in the U.S.
Touring Car, Rally Racing, Bicycle Racing and Motorbike Racing are other prominent forms of automobile racing. The best part about automobile racing is that the sport is for old and young alike. Also, because of the growing popularity of this sport, it has crossed the barrier of gender specification and a large number of lady fans are also seen in the audience stands of almost all events. People buy Racing tickets for the excitement that comes with watching the power machines zoom past in an attempt to reach finish line the first. The thrill can reach a point where the event becomes a bench-grabbing spectacle keeping fans at the edge of their seats. It’s simply incredible.