Grandstand Ticket or Pit Pass: Which Should You Buy?

By David Thompson, Short Track Coffee

If you are attending your first short-track race, buy a grandstand ticket unless you specifically want to spend time around the cars, crews and pit area. A grandstand ticket is cheaper, simpler and usually gives you the best overall view of the racing. A pit pass gets you closer to the people and machinery, but it also comes with more noise, movement, safety rules and less comfortable places to watch.

For most newcomers, the grandstands are the better place to start.

The pits are worth experiencing.

They are just not automatically the better ticket.

What Is a Grandstand Ticket?

A grandstand ticket gives you access to the spectator side of the speedway.

That usually includes the main seating area, concession stands, restrooms and whatever spectator amenities the track offers. Depending on the facility, admission may be general seating or reserved.

The grandstands are designed around watching the race.

That sounds obvious, but it matters.

You are elevated above the track, you can usually see most or all of the oval, and you are surrounded by people watching the same thing you are. If you are new, that makes the race much easier to follow.

You can see who is leading.

You can watch battles develop across several corners.

You can understand restarts, traffic and where cars are finding speed.

From the pits, you may be physically closer to the cars while seeing less of the actual race.

What Is a Pit Pass?

A pit pass gives you access to the working side of the speedway.

That is where the race cars are parked, prepared, repaired and staged before going onto the track.

Depending on the track and event, the pit area may include team trailers, race cars, tech inspection, staging lanes, tire areas, officials and support vehicles.

A pit pass puts you much closer to the machinery and people involved.

You may see crews changing tires, adjusting suspension, repairing bodywork or trying to solve a problem before the next race.

You will also see a lot of people working.

That distinction is important.

The pits are not a backstage attraction built for spectators.

They are a workplace.

Which Gives You the Better View of the Race?

Usually the grandstands.

If your main purpose is to watch the racing, the spectator side generally gives you the better view.

Grandstands are positioned so fans can see as much of the track as possible. The pits may sit behind the backstretch, inside the oval or in another area where sightlines are limited.

Some tracks have pit grandstands.

Some have excellent viewing from the pits.

Others give you a beautiful view of one corner, six trailers and the back of somebody's hauler.

Do not assume that paying more for a pit pass means you are buying a better seat.

You are buying access.

Those are different things.

Why Would You Buy a Pit Pass?

Because the pits show you a part of short-track racing that the grandstands cannot.

You can stand near the cars before they race. You can see how teams prepare them. You can watch what happens after a crash when a damaged car returns to the trailer and six people immediately start pulling bent pieces off it.

You also begin to understand how much work exists between the races.

From the grandstands, a car disappears through the pit gate.

Twenty minutes later, it returns.

The pits explain what happened during those twenty minutes.

That is one reason pit access can change how you understand the sport.

You stop seeing only drivers.

You start seeing crews, families, mechanics and the amount of labor required to put one car on the track.

Is a Pit Pass Worth the Extra Money?

That depends on why you are going.

If you mainly want to watch the racing, probably not for your first visit.

If you are especially interested in the cars, mechanical side or people involved, it may be worth every dollar.

Pit passes usually cost more because they provide additional access and may include insurance or sanctioning-related fees associated with entering a restricted competition area.

The price difference can vary substantially.

At some tracks, it may be modest.

At special events, pit admission can be considerably more expensive than a grandstand ticket.

Check current prices before you go.

Do not assume “pit pass” means a small upgrade.

At some races, it is a completely different ticket.

Can You Watch the Race From the Pits?

Usually, yes, but the quality of the view varies.

Some tracks have dedicated pit grandstands. Others allow people to watch from designated areas near the infield or backstretch.

What you should not assume is that you can stand anywhere you want.

Pit roads, staging lanes and work areas need to remain clear. Race cars may move through the area with limited visibility, and teams need room to work.

There are also tracks where the pit area provides a poor view of the racing.

If your priority is seeing every pass, the grandstands still make more sense.

If your priority is watching a crew replace a front suspension between races, the pits win easily.

Are the Pits Dangerous?

They can be.

That does not mean you should be afraid of them, but you should treat them seriously.

Race cars move through pit areas.

ATVs, golf carts, tow vehicles and support equipment may also be moving constantly.

Cars can be hot.

Engines may start unexpectedly.

Fuel, tools and equipment are everywhere.

The people working on cars are usually focused on the cars, not on making sure a visitor knows where to stand.

That is why many tracks restrict pit access by age, require waivers or impose specific safety rules.

If you enter the pits, pay attention.

Do not stand in travel lanes.

Do not lean against race cars.

Do not touch equipment.

And if six people suddenly start running toward a damaged car, move.

They probably need the space more than you do.

Can Kids Go Into the Pits?

Sometimes.

Age restrictions vary by track, sanctioning body and event.

Some tracks allow children into the pits with a parent or guardian and a signed waiver. Others have minimum age requirements or restrict minors during certain portions of the program.

If you are bringing children, verify the policy before buying tickets.

Even when kids are allowed, the pits may not be the easiest place for them.

It is louder, busier and less controlled than the grandstands.

For a child's first race, the spectator side is often the simpler option.

You can always walk through the pits later if the track offers post-race access.

Do You Have to Sign a Waiver for a Pit Pass?

Often, yes.

Entering the pit area usually means entering a restricted motorsports area, and tracks commonly require participants and guests to sign a liability waiver.

You may receive a wristband after signing in.

Some venues require identification.

Minors may require additional paperwork from a parent or legal guardian.

The exact process varies, so check the track's current pit-admission requirements.

This is another reason to arrive early if you are buying a pit pass.

The grandstand gate may involve handing someone money and walking in.

The pit gate may involve paperwork.

Can You Meet Drivers With a Pit Pass?

Possibly, but do not treat access as a guarantee.

One of the best parts of short-track racing is how approachable many drivers and teams are. You may be able to talk with a driver beside the trailer, look at the car and ask questions.

Timing matters.

Before a race, a driver may be getting ready to compete.

After a crash, the crew may be trying to repair the car.

During qualifying, people may be focused on making the next session.

If someone is obviously working, let them work.

After the racing is usually a better time to talk.

Most people in grassroots racing are happy when someone takes a genuine interest.

They are less enthusiastic when someone blocks the toolbox while the feature is lining up.

Are the Pits More Fun?

Different fun.

The grandstands give you the race as a whole.

The pits give you fragments of the work behind it.

In the grandstands, you see a driver make a pass for the lead.

In the pits, you may see the crew discover afterward that the right-front tire was nearly gone.

In the grandstands, you see a car spin.

In the pits, you see someone with a hammer, a pry bar and very little time trying to make it raceable again.

Neither experience is more authentic.

They show different parts of the same night.

What Is a Pit Grandstand?

A pit grandstand is a seating area located inside or near the pit area.

This can give pit-pass holders a better place to watch the race without leaving the competition side of the facility.

At tracks that have them, pit grandstands can be useful because they combine closer access with a better view.

They are not always as large or comfortable as the main grandstands, and sightlines vary.

If you are considering a pit pass specifically because you want to watch the race from that side, check whether dedicated seating actually exists.

“Pit access” does not automatically mean “pit seating.”

What Is a Paddock Pass?

At some tracks or events, you may hear terms such as paddock pass, garage pass or infield pass.

These can mean something similar to a pit pass, but the access level may be different.

A paddock pass might allow you into team areas but not hot pit lanes.

An infield pass might provide a viewing area without full team access.

Special events sometimes divide access into multiple zones.

Do not assume the terminology means the same thing everywhere.

Read what the ticket actually includes.

That advice will save you from paying extra for something you thought included access it does not.

Can You Buy Both?

Sometimes, but you may not need to.

Some pit passes also include grandstand access.

Others do not.

Some tracks allow pit-pass holders to move freely between the pits and spectator areas. At other events, access may be restricted.

This is one of the most useful things to check before buying.

If a pit pass includes grandstand access, it can give you the best of both worlds: spend time in the pits before the races, then move to the grandstands for the feature.

That can be an excellent way to experience a track.

Just verify the policy first.

What Should a First-Time Fan Buy?

A grandstand ticket.

There are exceptions, but that is the recommendation I would give most people.

Your first race already has enough going on.

You are learning the classes.

You are figuring out heat races, features, flags and restarts.

You are trying to understand why one person beside you is suddenly furious about the outside lane.

The grandstands make all of that easier to see.

Once you know what you are watching, the pits become more interesting because you understand the context.

That damaged car is no longer just a damaged car.

It is the car that was running second until Turn 4.

That crew thrashing on the right front suddenly has a story attached to it.

Is There a Way to See the Pits Without Buying a Pit Pass?

At some tracks, yes.

Many short tracks open the pits to spectators after the racing ends. Others hold autograph sessions or pre-race pit walks.

Some special events sell separate pit-tour access.

This can be the ideal option for a newcomer.

Watch the race from the grandstands.

Then walk through the pits afterward.

You get the best view during the event and still get close to the cars once the work has slowed down.

Not every track offers this, so check ahead.

If it does, take advantage of it.

A race car looks very different from three feet away than it does from Row 12.

The Simple Version

Buy a grandstand ticket if you primarily want to watch and understand the race.

Buy a pit pass if you want closer access to the cars, teams and work happening behind the scenes.

For most first-time fans, start in the grandstands.

You will see more of the race, spend less money and have an easier time understanding what is happening.

Then visit the pits when you get the chance.

The grandstands show you the competition.

The pits show you what it costs in work, broken parts and hurried repairs to create that competition.

Both matter.

You do not have to choose one forever.