Oval
★★★★☆
In Drums, Pennsylvania, oval racing brings the action close to the fans at Evergreen Raceway. Cars circle a banked loop, often door-to-door, making every turn a battle for position. First-time spectators and seasoned fans alike can enjoy the tight racing here. With numerous tracks in the area, fans can easily catch a few events in a weekend, but Evergreen's own racing is the main draw.
Know Before You Go
- Race nights
- Most short tracks run Friday or Saturday night events from April through October. Always check the season calendar — many venues take rain dates or holiday breaks.
- Ticket pricing
- General admission is typically $15-40 for adults, pit passes $50-100. Children are often free or half-price. Bigger sanctioned events (touring series) cost more.
- What's racing
- Local oval classes commonly include late models, modifieds, sprint cars, hobby stock, and street stock. Bigger ovals also host NASCAR Weekly Series feature races.
- Bring earplugs
- Open-exhaust race cars push 130-145 dB at the fence — well above the threshold for hearing damage. Bring foam plugs or over-ear protection for kids.
- Schedule rhythm
- Race nights follow a consistent flow: hot laps and qualifying, heat races, then feature events. Plan for a 4-5 hour evening from gates open to checkered flag.