This is mine, not counting Carmageddon:

1. Flatout 2 (2006, PC) - undoubtedly the best arcade racing game on PC, amazing and timeless.

2. Dirt 2 (2009, PC/PS3) - if it had city/asphalt stages it would probably edge out Flatout 2.

3. Viper Racing (1999, PC) - viper sim with amazing physics and tracks, holds up really well.

4. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 (2002, PS2) - the best need for speed.

5. Xpand Rally (2004, PC) - underappreciated gem.

6. WRC Rally Evolved (2005, PS2).

7. Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 (1998, PC) - random F1 sim but loved so much at the time.

8. Motorstorm Pacific Rift (2008, PS3).

9. Colin McRae Rally 2 (PC, 2000).

10. Motorstorm Apocalypse (2011, PS3).

1) Smuggler's Run

2) Smuggler's Run 2

I owe you the rest

Smuggler's games are fun but they become extremely hard and annoying at some point where 5 or more cops constantly bump you like flies. I would put them in my top 30.

That's when you hit break man, that's when you hit the break and they don't know what to do but turn around and then you go past them! :D

The terrain can be a little bitchy sometimes and make dealing with cops somewhat difficult though.

Yes but in later stages that doesn't help, but I give extra points to Smuggler's Run 2 for F grade acting in videos between missions.

1. Star Wars Pod Racer
2. Crash Team Racing
3. Gran Tourismo 2
4. Destruction Derby
5. Wipeout Fusion
6. Rollcage
7. Forza 3
8. Colin Mcrae Rally
9. F-Zero GX
10. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2

Only wanted to list each series once and tried to pick my favorite from them.

"SIMULATION":
DiRT (Colin McRae)
Need For Speed (Special Mention: Hot Pursuit 2)
Project Gotham Racing
Forza Motorsport
Oddly never liked Gran Turismo though.

ARCADE:
Burnout Paradise
Smuggler's Run (GC)
Ridge Racer (First real racing game on PSX as well as sequels)
WipEout (F-Zero is too fast for me)
Split/Second
Destruction Derby

KARTS (& other):
Mario Kart
Sonic & All-Stars Racing
WaveRace
Ignition
TrackMania (Wii)
Crazy Taxi
Micro Machines
Road Rash

BACKLOG:
MotorStorm
Modnation Racers
FlatOut
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
DriveClub

Those clips were quite pointless indeed.

Actually, that game isn't a racing game, it has more to do with GTA than a racing game. Open World action adventure game with the occasional check-point race, like GTA. Best Simpson game I have ever played.

My Top 10, in no paticular order though.

Need for speed underground (the original, great story an setting)
NFS ProStreet ( I may be in the minority here, but I loved the festival atmosphere and story)
Juiced (similar to NFS but had pink slips and you could manage a crew member in a race, like B spec in GT)
Gran Turismo 4 (so huge, and you had to wash and change the oil on second hand cars!)
WipEout HD (outstanding graphics and sound)
Forza Horizon 2 (wonderful game)
Forza 5 (good package and my first Xbox game ever)
F1 2010 (A great 1st effort from codemasters, fun and authentic)
F1 2015 (the best effort since 2010)
Project Cars because I can't think of anything else, it's really authentic and a nice success story.

All IMHO.

Edit: Burn me alive I forgot Burnout Paradise so I would put that in over Project Cars. And probably Motorstorm Apocalypse over F1 2015.

A top 10 is a bit difficult to make, so here's my top 5.

1. Mario Kart 8
2. Burnout 3
3. F-Zero GX
4. Ridge Racer
5. Mario Kart DS