There are many forms of auto racing, even some that are very obscure like Norwegian ice racing. However, here’s a list of several mainstream amateur-friendly types of racing and links to sanctioning organizations for more information. As a takeoff from the Field of Dreams movie, it’s true that “if you build it, they will race it!”
Road Racing – Maybe the purest form of auto racing. Wheel to wheel on paved road courses throughout the US
Rally Racing/Rallycross – Car racing on dirt roads and dirt lots. Why race trucks and buggies off road when you can race road-going cars off road?!
Time Trial/Time Attack – Like road course racing but it’s just you against the clock without banging doors with other racers. A very good way to race almost anything on a real racetrack with a lot less risk. But you can still total your car
Dirt Track/Oval Track – This is a very diverse form of racing from karts to insanely fast giant-winged tube frame vehicles. From NASCAR super speedway to rural dirt tracks at local fairgrounds
Autocross – Parking lot racing through a course of cones for time. The easiest way to ‘race’ anything. Drive to the parking lot, race, drive home. Even lower risk than Time Trials. You’d have to try very hard to hurt your car
Drag Racing – Straight line run what you brung or spend bazillions. No turns. Built motors. Get to the finish line first. America’s auto racing roots are NASCAR and drag racing
Karting – What most people call ‘go-karts’ have specialized smaller tracks for very fast, exiting wheel to wheel racing at every age and budget. Arguably, the best place to start racing
Drift Racing – Sliding two cars door to door around a few turns for style points. Drifting has become very popular and happening throughout the world from karting tracks to road courses to speedways
