# Why do all NASCAR races run counter-clockwise? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 8, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141 "2004-02-08T17:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/1 "2004-02-08T17:17:32Z")
Why only left turns? Are right turns too dangerous? Has it always been this way? ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/2 "2004-02-08T18:10:52Z")
From [here](http://www.nbc4.com/answerstoaskliz2001/1162997/detail.html) - no idea how trustworthy this site is. > [@](#): > > Q: Why is it that on on racetracks almost all races go in a counterclockwise direction? > > A: That’s a great question and it has several answers. The USA track and field organization tells us that in 1912 the international governing body of track and field made an arbitrary decision that runners would run counterclockwise and it’s been that way ever since. > > NASCAR tells us auto racetracks were set up counterclockwise in the tradition of horse racing, and the thoroughbred racing association says american racetracks were first set counterclockwise in 1780 because American breeders were still angry at the British, whose horse racing tracks ran clockwise. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/3 "2004-02-08T18:21:42Z")
Whatever the history, etc. it seems to me that the driver has a better view of the track ahead curving to the left. If I were in a Europian race with a RH driver’s positionI would think a track curving to the right would be freferred. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/4 "2004-02-08T18:22:31Z")
FWIW, the races at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glenn (road courses) are run clockwise. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/5 "2004-02-08T18:29:50Z")
Most European short and long track racing, and Formula 1, runs clockwise. Anyone know about European horse racing, and if there’s any correlation? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goofballz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@Mr.Goofballz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goofballz)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/6 "2004-02-08T18:39:48Z")
During one of the races last year an announcer brought this up. He said it was because the driver is the farthest away from a side impact to the wall. It makes sense in that respect but I don’t know if thats the historical answer. Just relaying what he said. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/7 "2004-02-08T19:20:19Z")
You’re right Mr. Goofballz, I saw a race taped at an Australian oval and the cars ran clockwise because the cars were right hand drive. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-all-nascar-races-run-counter-clockwise/228141/8 "2004-02-08T19:23:48Z")
Actually this question has been answered before by Cecil. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_113b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_113b.html)