Tailgating: One of NASCAR's Most Fun Traditions

When many people think of big games they think of tailgaiting. Tailgaiting is setting up in the parking lot of a sporting event in your car or pick up truck. Many people turn it into a small party or outdoor barbecue. it is one of the most fun things that you can do to spend time with your friends and fellow sports fans. Food, comraderie, fun and entertainment all combine for this casual event.

NASCAR fans have a long tradition of tailgating in the parking lots prior to the beginning of the race. It gives them the opportunity to get together with like-minded-and maybe not so like-minded-race fans, family and friends for a bit of socializing prior to and sometimes after the race. Tailgating is such an art for NASCAR fans that there are cookbooks dedicated to it. One such cookbook is "Mario Tailgates: NASCAR Style" and is hailed as "the essential cookbook for NASCAR fans." The cookbook was written by Mario Batali, one of the world's top chefs. Recipes in the cookbook include for breakfast, appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks, all incorporating ingredients found in almost any market.

There are grill covers and lawn chairs for NASCAR tailgating. There are also a number of games designed to be played at tailgating parties. Portable tailgating generators are popular, as are power inverters. If you don't have an RV, you might want to invest in a personal private restroom in a tent. It sure beats the bushes or a long trek to wait in line for a public restroom. The restroom includes a sturdy privacy tent, a lightweight heavy-duty toilet, and a chemical disposal system that "turns waste into an odorless gel that is disposable in any trash can." The product is available from PerfectTailgate.com.

According to About.com Guide Steve McCormick, there are seven "best" NASCAR tailgating spots. Number one is Bristol Motor Speedway in August. This Bristol, Tennessee race is a night race, so tailgaters have all day to hang out and wait for the race. Number two is Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. McCormick calls Charlotte fans the "most hardcore NASCAR fans on the planet." Number three is Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Number four is the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. "I don't know if it's the poor sightlines for the fans, unbearable traffic jams, lack of other entertainment, or what exactly causes it but Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania hosts a surprisingly rocking tailgate bash twice each year," says McCormick. Number five is Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Number six is Dover Downs, and number seven on the list is Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.