Note from 10Best: Some of these events have been canceled or postponed for 2020. While not all of us are ready to pack our suitcases and head out on our next adventures quite yet, we’ll keep supporting the destinations and events that inspire us from afar.
It’s summertime, and that means we’re celebrating all things high octane with a search for the best motorsports races, NASCAR tracks, car shows and attractions, air shows and rodeos in the country. A panel of industry experts helped 10Best editors choose the nominees, and for the past four weeks, our readers have been voting for their favorites.
Click on each category below to see the complete winners’ lists.
Best Air Show: Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show
The 2020 winning air show is scheduled for October — Photo courtesy of Glenn Watson/Mach Point One Aviation Photography
Featured performers at the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show each October often include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Team Oracle, Navy F-35 Demo, All Veteran Parachute Team and Aftershock Jet Truck. Guests also enjoy the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, STEM Discovery Zone, the Veterans’ Village and two Kids Zones featuring aviation-themed inflatables.
The 2020 show is currently still a go for October.
Full list of winners: Best Air Show »
Best Attraction for Car Lovers: National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Winning attraction celebrates America’s favorite sports car — Photo courtesy of National Corvette Museum
The Corvette, America’s legendary sports car, is manufactured only in Bowling Green, and the city also plays host to the National Corvette Museum. Here automobile enthusiasts will find a collection of more than 80 Corvettes in period settings alongside numerous interactive exhibits.
Visitors can even snap a selfie behind the wheel of a 2015 Stingray. The museum just reopened to the public, but make sure to double-check opening times and guidelines before you go. Visitors who can’t make it in person can watch an online video series on the museum or attend live virtual events and seminars.
Full list of winners: Best Attraction for Car Lovers »
Best Car Show: Cruisin’ The Coast on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
“America’s largest block party” celebrates classic cars — Photo courtesy of Cruisin’ The Coast
Cruisn’ The Coast is considered “America’s largest block party.” Imagine more than 7,000 vehicles – hot rods, classics, antique vehicles – in a massive car show along the beachside highway on the Mississippi Coast. Car lovers love this annual event, which has taken over the Mississippi Gulf Coast every year since its inception in 1996.
Cruise between the different venues, each a festival in and of itself, and catch live music, food, merchandise, a car auction, swap meet, parade and plenty of car talk.
Full list of winners: Best Car Show »
Best Motorsports Race: Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in Sebring, Florida
Drivers race for 12 hours during this winning endurance event — Photo courtesy of IMSA
Sebring International Raceway was originally an Air Force training base during World War II, but in the post-war years, the base was bought from the US government and transformed into the cathedral of American endurance racing that it is today.
Sebring hosts a twelve-hour event in March that serves as one of the benchmark races to determine who has what it takes to win the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Full list of winners: Best Motorsports Race »
Best NASCAR Track: Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York
This is the fourth win for Watkins Glen International — Photo courtesy of Sean Gardner/Getty Images
At one time the home of the F1 US Grand Prix, today Watkins Glen’s biggest race is its annual NASCAR date that sees its two top tier series competing on a double header weekend. The fast lefts and rights of this upstate New York track have seen more than a few daring last lap moves and the “bus stop” on the back stretch is a legendary spot for intrepid drivers to make up time.
Full list of winners: Best NASCAR Track »
Best Rodeo: Davie Pro Rodeo in Davie, Florida
Winning rodeo plans to return in 2021 — Photo courtesy of David Rosenfield / Davie Pro Rodeo
Often considered Florida’s best rodeo, the Davie Pro Rodeo takes place in “Cowboy Town” with plenty of rodeo action, as well as a vendor marketplace and activities for kids in attendance. The Round Up Nightclub hosts an official rodeo after party for the chance to meet some of the week’s stars.
While the June 2020 rodeo had to be cancelled, local rodeo goers can plan to attend the Weekley Brothers Davie Pro Rodeo in September, along with the Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo in November 2020.
Full list of winners: Best Rodeo »
Congratulations to all these winning events and attractions.