Must-See Races for 2013.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. Every racing enthusiast has must-see events on their fantasy calendar. "Fantasy" because life gets in the way of attending all the races racing enthusiasts want to see. Jobs, responsibilities, family obligations - you name it, there are always reasons not to attend a race. But despite that, most of you out there reading this have at least one event they won't miss this year, or maybe two or three when it comes right down to it.

Yes, racing isn't the same for a lot of people, I hear that all the time. As a matter of fact I get more emails from people telling me that they've stopped attending races altogether more than anything else. And the reasons given are many. The politics, the overwhelming presence of NASCAR - and the stick-and-ball media's continued belief that no other type of racing exists in this country - the three-day minimums (at $300 per night +) with no cancellation option at Super 8 quality hotels near the tracks, the racing isn't fun anymore, road racing is fractured and stupid, Indy car racing has lost its way, etc., etc., etc.

You name it, and I've heard it. But at the same time, I know there are people out there who still care, who still plan on attending "live" races instead of watching them on television, who still get geeked-up about the upcoming season. So for them I will offer a few suggestions. Now this is my list, and it is not to be confused with, or dictate, yours. But maybe it will trigger you to make a plan to go see a race in person this year.

The Daytona 500. Yes, it's predictable to put NASCAR's biggest race on the calendar, but if you say "you watch it on TV every year" and have never seen the event in person, then you owe it to yourself to go at least once. This just in: TV slows the cars down. Dramatically so, in fact. When you're there in person it's an entirely different dimension of speed.

The 12 Hours of Sebring. Maybe with the unified road racing series coming together for the 2014 season the Dayona 24 Hour will carry more weight, but I doubt it. Sebring is still the oldest and most prestigious road racing endurance event in this country. And though the track is in the middle of frickin' nowhere, and there are countless reasons to dislike the place as a fan, it's still the road racing event of the year for a lot of people. And it's not all that hard to understand why. You have the finest field of cars, including the international teams, it's Spring Break - with Sebring now a traditional place to partake in that mindset - and it's just flat-out great racing.

The Indianapolis 500. Despite the political infighting that almost killed Indy car racing for good and despite the fact that Indy car racing seems to be hovering on the edge of oblivion almost every year, this race is the one race to make the effort to see, no matter what kind of racing fan you consider yourself to be. There is no more electrifying moment in all of sport than the start of the Indianapolis 500, especially after the patriotic run-up and pomp and circumstance before the start. Nothing even comes close, in fact. So if you've never been there, you owe it to yourself to go once. And if you have but it has been a while, maybe it's time to go again.

The NASCAR road races: Take your pick, either the event at Sears Point in June or the event at Watkins Glen in August, but there's no denying that the Sprint Cup cars - and drivers - on road racing circuits are spectacular, and loads of fun to watch. As a matter of fact it's the best pure racing on the NASCAR calendar. It's just too bad that there aren't at least two more road races on the schedule, especially in The Chase.

The Nationwide race at Road America. Everyone says that Road America should be on the Sprint Cup schedule, even the majority of NASCAR drivers who have been there. This Saturday race on the third weekend in June is the closest thing to it. "America's National Park of Speed" has become a favorite stop on the Nationwide schedule. And it's easy to see why.

The Truck race at Eldora. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on the dirt at Eldora Speedway? No need to say more. Could be the event of the year, which is why it's almost sold out.

MotoGP: Indianapolis, Laguna Seca or our pick - the Circuit of the Americas - but the spectacular MotoGP boys on their mounted missiles put on the best display of pure racing you'll find anywhere.

The Bristol night race. It's a spectacle, it's crazy, the fan camping feels more like Woodstock and it can only happen at one place: Bristol Motor Speedway. Forget the daytime race in the spring, the Bristol night race in August is a singular happening and worth the effort. There's just nothing else like it.

IndyCar at Alabama, Mid-Ohio or Sears Point. It's a shame but these tracks are the only natural-terrain road racing circuits that IndyCar runs on all year. And since I loathe street circuits, guess where I'll be.

The ALMS in Austin. The American Le Mans Series race in Austin at the new Circuit of the Americas should be something to see, especially with the GT class offering up the best - and most fierce - road racing in the world.

The U.S. Grand Prix. Watching - and hearing - an F1 car screaming through the "canyon" on the front straightaway at the Circuit of the Americas is an experience that every racing enthusiast should enjoy at least once. The new track is spectacular and it's in Austin, Texas, to boot. As Dr. Bud says, "What's not to like?"

(Courtesy of Wood Brothers Racing)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Len Wood was kind enough to pass along this photo of a tribute car of the 1963 Daytona 500 winner, which was just completed by his Uncle Leonard for his NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibit. Really cool (see more below). - PMD

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives and Wieck Media)

Daytona Beach, Florida, 1963. Dan Gurney stands by his No. 0 Holman-Moody Lafayette Ford at the Daytona Speedway before the Daytona 500. Gurney would qualify in eleventh position and finish fifth. Fireball Roberts would start from the pole in his No. 22 Pontiac prepared by Banjo Matthews but he would exit the race with a blown engine. Tiny Lund would win the race as a last-minute replacement driver for the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford sponsored by English Motors. Fred Lorenzen (No. 28 Holman-Moody Lafayette Ford) finished second, and Ned Jarrett (No. 11 Burton-Robinson Ford) finished third. Watch a video of the race in old-school black & white here.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD