Kansas Speedway

Kansas Speedway is a premier motorsports facility located in Kansas City, Kansas. The track’s design offers excellent sightlines for spectators throughout the grandstands, ensuring a thrilling viewing experience. The facility is not just limited to auto racing; it also includes the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, which adds an extra layer of entertainment for visitors, featuring gaming, dining, and live entertainment options. The speedway has a seating capacity of approximately 48,000, with additional infield and luxury suite accommodations, making it a versatile venue for large-scale events. With its modern amenities and commitment to providing a top-tier racing experience, Kansas Speedway continues to be a significant player in the motorsports industry, contributing to the local economy and the broader racing community.

HISTORY 

Kansas Speedway, a cornerstone in American motorsports venues, boasts a rich history that began when it opened its gates on June 2, 2001. Constructed at a cost of $287 million, this state-of-the-art facility immediately drew attention with its progressive design and fan-friendly atmosphere. Initially owned and operated by the International Speedway Corporation, the speedway has been under the ownership and operation of NASCAR since 2019, following a corporate merger that brought further integration within the racing community.

The track’s inaugural event featured an ARCA race won by Jason Jarrett, setting a high competitive standard and showcasing the speedway’s capabilities right from the start. Shortly thereafter, Kansas Speedway hosted a groundbreaking doubleheader in July 2001 that featured both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Indy Racing League, won by Ricky Hendrick and Eddie Cheever respectively. These events highlighted the track’s versatility and ability to host different types of motorsports, solidifying its place as a multi-purpose racing venue.

The pinnacle of the opening season’s success came in September 2001 when the speedway held its first NASCAR Winston Cup Series race, which saw Jeff Gordon taking the checkered flag. 

Over the years, Kansas Speedway has continued to enhance its facilities and expand its event lineup, including the introduction of a casino at the track in 2012 which added a year-round element of entertainment and attraction. The track’s layout, with its 1.5-mile tri-oval shape and variable banking.

TRACK INFORMATION 

Kansas Speedway, located in Kansas City, Kansas, is a distinguished venue in the world of motorsports, featuring a tri-oval track and a road course. Since its opening in 2001, the facility has undergone several adaptations to meet changing demands and enhance spectator experiences. The tri-oval track, with a length of 1.500 miles and asphalt surface, includes four turns with progressive banking from 17 to 20 degrees, aiding in high-speed cornering. The frontstretch and backstretch are banked at 9-11 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively. This track configuration holds the race lap record set by Tomas Scheckter in 2002 during an IndyCar event, clocking a time of 0:24.8742.

In addition to the tri-oval, the speedway features a 2.370-mile road course with nine turns, also surfaced with asphalt. This course supports a variety of racing formats and saw its lap record set by American Scott Pruett in 2013, during a Daytona Prototype event with a time of 1:09.745.

Originally built to accommodate up to 75,000 spectators, the speedway’s capacity has evolved over the years, peaking at 82,000 in the mid-2000s. However, modern developments and a shift in spectator needs have reduced the current capacity to 48,000 as of 2019.