Tracks Tips

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Originally, Indianapolis Motor Speedway was used as a test facility for the Indiana car industry. Following a series of races held in 1909, the track was paved with 3,200,000 bricks giving it its current nickname "The Brickyard". This 2.5 mile oval-shaped track is found in Indianapolis, Indiana and hosts the Indianapolis 500 - one of the most famous races in the world. It has 12 degree banking in the turns.

For further information regarding this topic, please see the article “Indianapolis Motor Speedway” in this site's articles section.

   

Daytona International Speedway

It is at Daytona International Speedway that NASCAR's major series kick off each year in February. This 2.5 mile tri-oval shaped track is found in Daytona Beach, Florida and is the home of races such as the Daytona 500, Pepsi 400, and many other races for several other series. It has 31 degree banking in the turns.

   

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, found in Navada, is the first new superspeedway to be built in the region in more than 20 years. The facility includes tracks for just about every kind of auto racing like a 1.5 mile superspeedway, an FIA-approved road course, a drag strip, short tracks, go-kart tracks and several other features as well.

   

South Boston Speedway

Just before the 1994 season, South Boston Speedway was enlarged from the 0.357 mile track of the past to the 0.4 mile track of today. This oval-shaped racetrack has held several NASCAR Busch Series events since 1982, and in 2001, the speedway started to hold Craftsman Truck Series events. South Boston Speedway, located in Virginia, features 12 degree banking in the turns.

   

Dover International Speedway

With a nickname like "The Monster Mile", it is no surprise that fan continue to flock to Dover International Speedway. This one mile oval-shaped track is found in Dover, Delaware and has seating for more than 140,000 fans. It has 24 degree banking in the turns and hosts some of the largest crowds found between New York and North Carolina.

   

Phoenix International Raceway

Ever since its grand opening in 1964, Phoenix International Raceway has earned a reputation of being one of the top facilities of its kind in the United States. This one mile oval-shaped track is found in Phoenix, Arizona at the base of the Estrella Mountains. It has 11|9 degree banking in the turns and is surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

   

Memphis Motorsports Park

Starting out as a multi-track facility back in 1986, Memphis Motorsports Park was run by a group of investors. Ten years later, the track was bought by one of America's leading players in motorsports, the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. Since then, the 0.75 mile oval-shaped track's fan base has grown larger than ever.

   

Darlington Raceway

With the nickname "Too Tough to Tame", it is no wonder that all racecar drivers dream of a win at this track. This 1.366 mile oval-shaped track, which is found in Darlington, South Carolina, is concidered one of the toughest and most desirable to win. It has 25|23 degree banking in the turns.

   

Nazareth Speedway

Originally a semi-banked dirt track, Nazareth Speedway had been built in 1966. For the 70s, the racetrack had laid dormant, hosting only special events before filing for backruptcy. Then, in 1986, Penske Speedway, Inc. purchased the facility and began renovations to improve track conditions like. The new one mile track would have 3|4|6 degree banking in the turns and would again start to attract motorsport fans.

   

Pocono Raceway

Races held at Pocono Raceway are always filled with fender-to-fender action and more often then not contain a photo-finish ending. This 2.5 mile tri-oval shaped track features three turns, each with a different degree banking (14|8|6 degrees), and three straights, all of which are different lengths.

   

Lowe's Motor Speedway

After being built over four decades ago, Lowe's Motor Speedway has grown into the largest sports facility in the Southeast. This 1.5 mile quad-oval shaped track is found in Charlotte, North Carolina features 167,000 permanent seats with room for an additional capacity of 50,000 in the infield. It has 24 degree banking in the turns and offers year-round living accommodations above Turn One.

   

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway, which happens to be the biggest motorsports facility in the world, was built at a cost of $4 million. Originally opened in 1969 as Alabama International Motor Speedway, this 2.66 mile track, which shape is a tri-oval, is found in Talladega, Alabama. It has 33 degree banking in the turns and is the fastest superspeedway in the world, holding the records for both speed and competition.

   

New Hampshire International Speedway

Being just an hour from Boston and two from Portland, Maine, and Providence, R.I., New Hampshire International Speedway is easily accessible from Vermont and Canada. For this reason, the racetrack boasts the largest crowds in New England with 101,000 spectators in attendance at each race. This 1.058 mile oval-shaped course has 12 degree banking in the turns.

   

Homestead-Miami Speedway

1995 saw its first NASCAR race at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. Each year, this 1.5 mile oval-shaped track draws more than 300,000 race fans to the area and in turn has an annual impact of $100 million for the local economy. It has six degree banking in the turns.

   

Road Course

Road courses are the tracks that NASCAR races visit a couple times a year where the drivers not only get to turn left, but right as well. A road course is not an oval, rather it is a track with several twists and turns in both directions. When on a road course, the cars will do things a little different than usual like drive in the rain if need be. The first road course event was held at Linden Airport in New Jersey back in 1954 and since then there have been 8 different road course tracks used in NASCAR. These tracks include Watkins Glen International, Infineon Raceway, Road America, Augusta International Speedway, Willow Springs Speedway, Riverside Speedway, Bridgehampton Race Circuit and Titusville-Cocoa Airport.

   

Kentucky Speedway

This state-of-the-art venue co-owned by Jerry Carroll was developed on 1,000 acres and cost a total of $152 million to build. Kentucky Speedway features a 1.5 mile tri-oval and a quarter-mile paved track, both of which are great places for all stock and open wheel racing series to compete.

   

Pikes Peak International Raceway

With seating for over 42,000 fans Pikes Peak International Raceway is a fan favorite because the entire track is visible from nearly every seat. This one mile oval-shaped track is found in Fountain, Colorado and features 10 degree banking in the turns. The raceway also contains a 1.3-mile road course complete with grandstand seating.

   

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Ever since Bruton Smith made his purchase of Atlanta Motor Speedway back in 1990, this 1.54 mile oval-shaped track is found in Atlanta, Georgia has become an ultra-modern venue. This multi-purpose racetrack features 24 degree banking in the turns. Some other great things to be improved on this facility include a nine-story office/condominium complex, extra permanent seating and a four-color electronic message center.

   

Milwaukee Mile, The

Racing at what is now known as the Milwaukee Mile is not a new thing. Originally, back in the 1870s, the land was used as a place to train and race thoroughbred horses. In 1903, the track held its first auto race and by 1954, the track had been paved. Now, this one mile oval-shaped track is home to some of the greatest racing in America. This racetrack is located in West Allis, Wisconsin.

   

Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway is the shortest track to which the Winston Cup Series visits. This 0.533 mile oval-shaped track is found in Bristol, Tennessee and has 36 degree banking in the turns - the highest banking on the Winston Cup circuit. Bristol, which had previously been paved with asphalt, was resurfaced to concrete in 1992.

   

Chicagoland Speedway

New to NASCAR racing in 2001, Chicagoland Speedway includes 75,000 spectator seats, 37 luxury suites and on-site camping areas. This 1.5 mile tri-oval shaped racetrack is found in Joliet, Illinois, and contains 18 degree banking in the turns. Also, for the fan who prefers to attend a race in their RV, there is long-term parking areas reserved for recreational vehicles.

   

Mesa Marin Raceway

Mesa Marin Raceway, located in Bakersfield, California is the birthplace of the Craftsman Truck Series. It had hosted a roll-out event in 1994 featuring the now famous trucks. This 0.5 mile track is oval-shaped and features 17 degree banking in the turns.

   

Richmond International Raceway

Originally, the site where Richmond International Raceway sits today hosted dirt auto races on a half-mile track. That had been back in the 1940s. By 1966, the track was paved and then later, in 1988, the course was redesigned and became the 0.75 mile oval we know today. Recently, additional renovations have been made creating one of the most modern speedways in the Virginia area.

   

Nashville Superspeedway

Being one of only three concrete tracks on the NASCAR circuit, Nashville Superspeedway had to be constructed using a specially designed concrete paving machine created for this project. This 1.333 mile oval, that was built in 2000, has 14 degree banking in the turns.

   

Watkins Glen International

Since 1948, Watkins Glen International helped to create a road-racing tradition like no other. Previously hosting the F1 United States Grand Prix, this track is one of the most respected in the northeast. The road course is 2.45 miles long and is located in Watkins Glen, New York.

   

North Carolina Speedway

At North Carolina Speedway's Official Website you will find recent and upcoming events information along with track news, maps, online ticket sales and quite a few more features.

http://www.northcarolinaspeedway.com/

   

Texas Motor Speedway

Found along the Chisholm Trail in Fort Worth, Texas Motor Speedway is a motorsports haven with seating for 150,061 fans. This 1.5 mile quad-oval shaped track is the ultimate in luxury for auto racing fans because of its 194 skybox VIP suites.

   

Michigan International Speedway

It is the wide racing surface and the high banking that made Michigan International Speedway one of motorsports' premier facilities. Because of these features, it is common to see three and even four wide racing. This two mile tri-oval shaped course is found in Brooklyn, Michigan and has 18 degree banking in the turns.

   

North Carolina Speedway

The first race held at North Carolina Speedway was back in 1965 as a joint venture between Darlington Raceway builder Harold Brasington and Bill Land, the land owner. Then, L.G. DeWitt took control of the track and in 1969 the racetrack became the 1.017 mile oval-shaped track that we know today. Nicknamed "The Rock" because of its Rockingham location, the speedway has 22|25 degree banking in the turns.

   

Gateway International Raceway

Gateway International Raceway, which is able to host almost any form of major-league racing, can be found in Madison, Illinois. This 1.25 mile egg-shaped oval track, features two unique sets of turns with 11|9 degree banking in either end. The facility also contains a road course and a drag strip.

   

California Speedway

California Speedway, which is located on the site of the former Kaiser Steel mill, is a two mile D-shaped oval racetrack. This track, which is found in Fontana, California, hosts six major racing weekends. It has 14 degree banking in the turns and is a great place to experience the thrills of NASCAR.

   

Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville opened in 1947, just two years before the creation of NASCAR. The track is oval-shaped, resembling a paperclip, and is the shortest racetrack found on the NASCAR cercuit. This 0.526 mile track has 12 degree banking in the turns.

   

Infineon Raceway

Found in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, Infineon Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point Raceway) is surrounded by one of the top wine-producing regions in the world. This two mile track is one of the two road courses visited by the NASCAR Winston Cup Series each year. The raceway first opened in California in 1968.

   

Daytona International Speedway

At this site you will find the latest information about upcoming events at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. It has ticket information, a full schedule, news, maps and so much more.

http://www.daytonaintlspeedway.com/

   

Kansas Speedway

Due to the growing interest in motorsports entertainment in the Midwest, the people of Kansas City responded by creating a state-of-the-art facility in their area. Kansas Speedway, has at times been called a "cookie cutter speedway" because of its non-unique tri-oval track design, but the slight difference in banking provides a new edge to a familiar track.

   
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