When you talk to someone who is not a NASCAR Fan or even a motorsport fan, ask them, “What is NASCAR?” The most common descriptions are the NASCAR Cup Series and “turns left.” Ask an average or even an avid fan, and they will tell you about the Xfinity Series (many still call it the Busch Series, though it’s been 17 years since that changed) and the Craftsman Truck Series.

NASCAR, however, is a lot more than that. It actually has 11 active sanctioned series, including four sanctioned online iRacing Series. So, let’s take a dive into all of the Active (Physical) NASCAR Series.

NASCAR Cup Series

With its inaugural season in 1949, the flagship NASCAR Cup Series is easily the most recognizable series operated by the sanctioning body. This is the pinnacle of American motorsports and the ultimate goal for stock car races around the world. It is a national sport that currently operates only in the United States, but it has aspirations to go international within the next 1-2 years. The NASCAR Cup Series currently operates 3 OEMs with Ford, Toyota, and Chevrolet stock cars. The series runs 26 points-paying races on 26 different tracks, including mostly ovals, road courses, and even a street course in the city of Chicago.

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series

Running since 1985, the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series with title sponsor Advanced Auto Parts is a local series racing numerous different categories of cars on mostly 1/4 mile-5/8 mile ovals paved ovals with a significant number of dirt ovals as well over 5 different divisions. Tracks are located all across the United States as well as Canada.

Whelen Modified Tour

The Modified Tour is NASCAR’s oldest series, dating back to 1947. The Whelen Modified Series operates modified stock cars that use a tubular chassis covered in sheet metal with most of the front suspension and the front wheels exposed. It is the only open-wheel series sanctioned by NASCAR. The series runs 16 races, mainly in the Northeastern United States.

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series

NASCAR’s Whelen Euro Series is one of NASCAR’s four internationally sanctioned series. Established in 2009, the Euro Series operates internationally within the European Union in Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, England, Italy, and the Czech Republic for 13 races. Tracks consist nearly entirely on road courses, though a 1/2 mile oval is returning in 2024 at Raceway Venray in the Netherlands. The series runs 450 horsepower V8 engine, rear wheel drive stock cars based loosely on American NASCAR cars with the same OEMs (Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet). Two divisions make up the series, with numerous championships awarded for differing groups of drivers.

NASCAR Mexico Series/ FedEx Challenge Series

The NASCAR Mexico Series races at 10 different tracks, 9 throughout Mexico. It will also run at the LA Coliseum in February 2024. The Mexico Series is the second of four international series sanctioned by NASCAR. Chevrolet and Ford are the OEMs of the series. Competing since the 2006 season, the series has only had six champions.

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR’s youngest US National Series, founded in 1995, is the Truck Series. Based on a similar tubular chassis to the other National Series, NASCAR pushed the best-selling line of vehicles in the United States, which is pickup trucks. Originally running short tracks in the Western United States, the Craftsman Truck Series quickly grew to become a fan favorite that followed the Xfinity and Cup Series. Brand representation for OEMs is the same as that of Toyota, Chevrolet, and Ford. It is considered the “entry-level” of NASCAR’s major touring series. Today, the Truck Series runs 23 races across the US.

NASCAR Canada Series

Formerly known as the Pinty’s Series, the Canada Series is the third of the four international Series Sanctioned by NASCAR. It races at 12 different tracks across Canada, including Street circuits, road courses, and ovals. Established in 2007 after NASCAR purchased the CASCAR Super Series, the Canada Series became NASCAR’s second internationally purchased series. The Canada Series was the last NASCAR Series to operate the Dodge Challenger along with Ford and Chevrolet as OEMs.

ARCA Menards Series/ ARCA East & West

Originally founded in 1953 and then purchased by NASCAR in 2018, the ARCA Menards Series is the main feeder series into NASCAR’s three “Major” series, with the Menards Series being national & the East & West Series being regional. It is often considered the “minor leagues” or semi-pro of stock car competition. Based on former Cup Series cars, ARCA cars are mostly powered by the Ilmore 396 V8, which produces 700 horsepower unrestricted with the Chevrolet SS, Toyota Camry (2011-2014 body), and Ford Fusion bodies. (Mustang bodies are rolling in). The Menards Series runs at 20 tracks across the country, with the East & West regional series running at 8 (East) & 9 (West) with many overlapping.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

The NASCAR Xfinity Series, as it runs today, was established in 1982 as NASCAR’s middle, second-tier series. Today, the series runs 33 races on superspeedway, short, intermediate, and road course-type tracks, as well as a Street Course in Downtown Chicago. It operates the same three OEMs as NASCAR’s other two national touring series, making 650-700hp. In 2011, the series was the first under the sanctioning body to move over to a composite body.