7 time-honored traditions that make NASCAR special

Every motorsport series has some unique characteristics that separate them from others. And NASCAR is no different. While motorsport is all about high-speed adrenaline, technology, and the smell of burning rubber, smoke, and fuel, certain traditions are worth noting.

NASCAR is the most popular form of motorsport in the United States and one of the most fan-friendly genres of major motorsport. There are reasons why the sport has grown exponentially over the last few decades and has a massive growth trajectory.

Amid them, innumerable traditions make the sport more than just exciting. With that said, let us dive down to explore seven time-honored traditions followed in NASCAR:

#1 Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway

Daytona SpeedWeek presents a series of racing events that take place in January and February every year. This event kicks off the NASCAR season with the Daytona 500.

Fans can enjoy the practice sessions, and qualifiers, as well as the main races across all three formats (Truck Series, Xfinity Series, and the Cup Series.) Besides this, they also get to enjoy various activities at the Fan Zone.

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#2 Winner's Trophy at Martinsville Speedway

The winner's trophy is a unique characteristic of the Martinsville race. The drivers (in all formats) who come out on top of races at this track, traditionally receive the long-case clock, as in The Grandfather Clock, as a nod to the renowned furniture industry of Martinsville.

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#3 NASCAR Hall of Fame at Charlotte Motor Speedway

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is located at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It honors all the great drivers, crew chiefs, broadcasters, and team owners for their contribution to the sport.

The eligibility criteria indicate that the drivers and crew chiefs must have to stay connected with the sport for at least 10 years, and retired for at least three.

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#4 Champions Week at Nashville

Champions Week is celebrated every year after the conclusion of the NASCAR season. The Music City Centre in Nashville, Tennessee, hosts the NASCAR Awards Banquet. It was previously held in Las Vegas and New York City.

Initially, this award ceremony was only for the Cup Series as the other series had their own. However, in 2021, NASCAR included all series under one big ceremony.

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#5 Hauler Parades at Las Vegas Boulevard

The Hauler Parade is a fan-favorite tradition in NASCAR, hosted annually on the Las Vegas Strip. The parade kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as the haulers move from the Luxor Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard and proceed north to Sahara Avenue.

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#6 Burnouts

NASCAR drivers are renowned for their post-race burnouts. The drivers, as they cross the finish line and clinch victory, often burn the rubbers as a sign of celebration.

Burnouts have become a staple of NASCAR since Kevin Harvick's victory at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2001. From there on, drivers such as Martin Truex Jr., Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney often take turns to perform burnouts once they win a race.

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#7 Pace Cars

Pace Cars are generally the Safety Cars in Formula 1. However, the history of Pace Cars in the US dates back to 1911, when the inaugural Indianapolis 500 took place.

The pace cars have been high-performance American Street cars for NASCAR events. Automobile manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and most recently Toyota delivered pace cars to NASCAR. In 2024, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse and Toyota Camry XSE served as pace cars.