There is something special about a motorsport race weekend. The sounds of the roaring engines and screeching tires, the smell of burning rubber and gasoline, and the electric atmosphere created by the army of supporters in the stands all decked out in their favorite team and driver’s colors. Many Kansas citizens love motorsports, NASCAR, in particular, and do not have to travel far for some top-tier racing thanks to the iconic Kansas Speedway being within state borders.
The 1.5-mile tri-oval Kansas Speedway opened its gates in 2001, making it one of the newer NASCAR tracks. Only the Chicagoland Speedway, which opened a month later, is fresher, although NASCAR no longer uses it for events. The latest race track in the United States is still under construction in Las Vegas, Nevada. That will debut when Formula One heads to “Sin City” in November. But before punters decide which Formula 1 bet to make, Kansas Speedway will host the latest edition of the NASCAR Cup Series on September 10.
The Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Race
September 30, 2001, is a date Kansan racing fans will remember forever because it is the date the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series took place in their state. The Protection One 400, as the first-ever race was known, was the 28th of 36 races that year, and it was a spectacular occasion.
Fans filled the stands and cheered as some of the most powerful machines blasted around the oval track for 267 laps. Jason Leffler of Chip Ganassi Racing qualified in pole position, his first-ever pole position, but he crashed out on the 256th lap and finished in 28th place.
Rusty Wallace of Penske Racing South was phenomenal for most of the race. Wallace led from the front for 117 laps after starting from 11th on the grid. However, he was eventually overtaken and beaten by Ricky Rudd, Ryan Newman, and the eventual champion Jeff Gordon. The victory gave the legendary Gordon a 222-point advantage going into the final eight races of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Gordon went on to seal the championship that year, his fourth and final title.
Reconfiguring the Track and the First Night Race
By 2010, Kansas Speedway had grown in popularity, and NASCAR added a second weekend for the 2011 season. The addition of a second race weekend coincided with lights being installed. Those lights are usually used in case of rain, but the decision was made to allow Kansas Speedway to host a night race. An ARCA race on October 7, 2011, was the first time there was night racing, with the first NASCAR night race occurring in 2014.
The speedway underwent some significant changes to its layout in 2011. The banking of the turns was increased from a uniform 15 degrees to a progressive 17-20 degrees. The changes added another element of risk and excitement and were welcomed by racegoers and NASCAR drivers alike.
Memorable Moments at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway has witnessed many memorable and iconic moments that have left their mark on the NASCAR Cup Series. The race’s position in the playoffs often makes it a make-or-break venue for those challenging for the overall title.
Joe Nemechek will forever remember the 2004 meeting because it was one of the best weekends of his career. Having won the Xfinity Series event a day earlier, Nemechek qualified for the Cup in pole position and managed to narrowly hold off Ricky Rudd at the finish. With his impressive double, Nemechek became the first driver to win both races of a Kansas weekend.
In the fall 2015, racegoers were on their feet thanks to the thrilling late-race battle between Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth. On the final lap, the cars of Logano and Kenseth made contact, sending Kenseth into a spin, ultimately allowing Logano to clinch a thrilling victory after a green-white-checkered restart and finish.
History was made at the Kansas Speedway in 2022. Kurt Busch led for 116 laps and edged out Kyle Larson following an epic back-and-forth race. Nobody knew then, but it turned out to be the final victory of Busch’s long and illustrious career. A few months later, in the fall of 2022, injury rendered Busch unable to race, so Bubba Wallace stepped in as his replacement. Wallace emerged victorious, making it the first time in 40 years that the same car won both races with different drivers behind the wheel and the first time in Kansas.
Embracing Fan Interaction
The Kansas Speedway management knows that the sport is nothing without the hoards of fans turning out each race weekend. Kansas Speedway has one of the best fan zones in the industry. For a relatively small fee, fans can get close up and personal with driver introductions, gain access to the pit lane before the race, and download mobile apps that provide real-time race updates.
The Impact on the Local Community
More than $250 million is estimated to be brought into the state of Kansas each year from the Kansas Speedway. The track provides more than 4,000 jobs, while local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses benefit financially from the influx of visitors each race weekend.
In 2012, the speedway spent $380 million on the Penn National Gaming Hollywood Hotel and Casino at the track. The resort provides more than 1,000 jobs and attracts half a million visitors annually.
Wrapping Things Up
The Kansas Speedway may be one of the newer NASCAR tracks, but what it lacks in longevity, it makes up for with pure excitement and exhilaration. Ever since Jeff Gordon powered to victory in the inaugural 2001 race, Kansas Speedway has done everything in its power to put Kansas on the NASCAR map.
The track’s evolution has made it one of the most thrilling spectacles in the industry, and it is easy to see why fans and drivers hold Kansas Speedway dear in their hearts. The track has been in business for 22 years, and there is no reason why it will not continue thrilling spectators for another two decades.
