I've done a bit of research on this question, and the answer is a lot harder to know than I first thought. Anyway, I think a lot of it has to do these two things. The first is if the racetrack going to be of international standard. If this is the case, the track may well be designed to run clockwise. Formula one is still the most expensive form of motor sport in the world, and there is strict guidelines regarding and tracks layout. Formula one and now the new Formula A race clockwise. The second may have something with the origins of saloon car racing. I live in Melbourne; Australia and we have about six racetracks. One is the street course known as Albert Park. It is a temporary track; it's international and runs clockwise. The Adelaide (South Australia) Grand Prix street track runs clockwise too (but Melbourne stole the rights to F1) Calder Park is a combination track which runs NASCAR's as well as saloon cars. The NASCAR racing is counter clockwise, but other forms of racing on the tri-oval track are clockwise. (One of the few tracks that can be used both ways) Australian cars are right hand drive, and the rest of the tracks are counterclockwise except for Winton (a small track in mid Victoria) Australia's most famous race is the Bathhurst 1,000. I believe it is of international standard, but runs counterclockwise. I was going to add that it has to do with the design of the track itself. I think that very few tracks can be run in "reverse." In looking for answers, I found this article. The anti clockwise racing (mainly used in oval racing and some rare road courses) comes perhaps from the track cycling races which are run anti clockwise, as well as horse racing. These races appeared in the 19th century or even before, so they were here before motorsports arrived. As for most of the F1 tracks being clockwise... I really don't have an explanation, maybe the first successful tracks (Le Mans, Monaco etc.) were clockwise and those who built the others followed the trend) I don't know if that has answered your question, or just make things more complicated. A very good question, thanks!

That was not a clear answer, are there any others input to this answer to this question?

Because the drivers sit on the left side of the car and it is easier for the drivers to see out the left window than the right side mirror...secondly, in the old days of racing when they had guardrails, by going counterclockwise, the guardrails were on the passenger side of the car thus less danger!

I would tend to think it's because drivers sit on the left side of the car (in the U.S. at least) but it could be a holdover to horse racing tradition.

That depends on what kind of racing and where. In other countries it is clockwise. In the USA it's left handed or counter-clockwise. What predates car racing is horse racing. Here in the USA it was left-handed racing and in UK and Europe it was right handed. All horse racing in the USA was changed to go counter-clockwise after the Revolutionary War so they would be different than the British who went clockwise. Oval track racing in the ISA followed the cue of horse racing.

To reduce the finish time.

This is in the USA and other countries,Formula One etc and Australia go clockwise. Our steering wheel is in the left.It is safer in a way since usually the passenger side will hit the wall.Also entering a turn you can judge better. Nowadays though most race cars have the seat in the center. Nascar still has it on the left though.

Nascar drivers have a problem making right hand turns.

maybe its easier for them to drive that way