I've never been a big NASCAR or racing fan and I don't know much about the sport of racing so I was wondering if someone could tell me why they race counter-clockwise instead of clockwise on oval tracks?

Maybe because it’s easier to go left at high speed?

So that when they run into the wall, the driver isn’t as likely to be injured since they’re sitting to the inside of the track?

And as the driver is on the left it’s easier to see round the left hand corners.

Most likely, it’s because horse racing in the United States was done that direction. Both flat track motorcycle and car racing grew from that.

because they’re all red necks?

I should also note, aside from them being rednecks, that in track and field events…they are also run in counter clock wise.

Since races also occur counter-clockwise with horses and track and field events like others have mentioned above, I wonder if there is a common theme between all of them or if it might just be coincidence?