If you go to more than a couple NASCAR races in your lifetime, it’s worth investing in a radio scanner and headset versus renting them at the track. We researched products made all across the U.S. to find NASCAR radio scanners that are made in the USA. Here are our findings. Also be sure to check out our research for NASCAR headsets.
Full List of Race Scanner Brands Made in the USA
Racing Electronics is the premier scanner manufacturer for racing fans. They have booths at every race and are headquartered in the hometown of NASCAR in Concord, NC. The RE3000 sets the standard for radio scanners at the racetrack. It’s one of the newest models from Racing Electronics and works with any headset that you pair it with. With this scanner, you will receive free Over-the-Air programming for life. The RE1000 is an older model from Racing Electronics, but still works well and is a good option for those who really value price.
The Uniden BC75XLT is a great all-around scanner for more than just NASCAR races. Tune into frequencies on emergency broadcasts, weather reports, police and fire departments, military air shows, local events, and more. It comes with some pre-programmed bands for commonly used frequencies and a belt clip so it’s easy to tote around. Program up to 300 channels, which gives you plenty of room for each of the three NASCAR series, and it auto detects nearby transmissions which is super convenient for manual programming. You don’t see this model super frequently at the speedway, but it can definitely get the job done and be used for tuning into a variety of other events and broadcasts as well. Just make sure you have your scanner programmed before the race so you don’t miss any of the action!
Factors To Consider
Sound Quality
Good sound quality is a requirement for any NASCAR scanner when you’re sitting trackside with cars going 200mph down below. If signals come in even slightly unclear, it can be tough to hear the crew chief and spotter communicate with their driver. We hand-tested each and every scanner for quality to come out with our top recommendations.
Usability and Controls
A complicated or bulky scanner can be super frustrating. We looked for ergonomic radio scanners that were easy to hold or clip to your belt. In addition to those requirements, user interface was also important. We considered race scanners that were easy to set up, program, and navigate the user interface.
Value
Getting a good value for the price you pay is important for every consumer. We eliminated several scanners from our list if we thought they were overpriced for the quality of the product. Scanners suitable for NASCAR races range everywhere from $50 to $400. We made sure to make recommendations that will give you the highest quality product and not break the bank.
Variety & Customization
Variety is important in a race scanner – you need to be able to have the flexibility to program frequencies for all your favorite drivers across three NASCAR series. We eliminated several scanners that didn’t meet our variety standards – whether it was too narrow or had more channels than necessary.
