Kentucky Speedway
Motorsport track in the United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kentucky Speedway is an inactive 1.5 miles (2.4 km) tri-oval intermediate speedway in Sparta, Kentucky. It has hosted various major races throughout its existence, including NASCAR and IndyCar races. The track is owned by Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) and is currently used as a storage and parking lot for various companies. The speedway has a grandstand capacity of 66,000 as of 2020.
 | |
 Tri-oval | |
| Location | 1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, Kentucky, 41086 |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC−5 (UTC−4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 38.70964°N 84.91624°W |
| Capacity | 66,000 |
| Owner | Speedway Motorsports (2009–present) Jerry Carroll (1998–2008) |
| Broke ground | 18 July 1998 |
| Opened | 16 June 2000 |
| Construction cost | $153 million |
| Major events | Former: NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 (2011–2020) IndyCar Series Kentucky Indy 300 (2000–2011) |
| Website | kentuckyspeedway Archived September 28, 2020, at the Wayback Machine |
| Tri-oval (2000–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Turns 1 and 2: 17° Turns 3 and 4: 14° Frontstretch: 10° Backstretch: 4° |
| Race lap record | 0:24.0967 ( Tomas Scheckter, Dallara IR-00, 2002, IndyCar) |
In the 1990s, then-Turfway Park owner Jerry Carroll sought to seek new profitable ventures after Turfway Park's decline, deciding to build a modern auto racing facility. Construction started in July 1998 and opened nearly two years later, with an ultimate goal of securing a NASCAR Cup Series race weekend in the near future. However, under Carroll's tenure, a Cup Series date was not given. After a change in ownership to Bruton Smith in 2008, the track gained a Cup Series date in 2011. However, after a inaugural Cup Series weekend plagued by traffic issues and lackluster revenue throughout the following decade, the facility was dropped from the NASCAR schedule starting in 2021, and has since been turned into a multi-use rental complex.
Configuration
The speedway in its current form is measured at 1.5 miles (2.4 km), with 17 degrees of banking in the first two turns, 14 degrees in the last two turns,[1] 10 degrees on the track's frontstretch, and four degrees on the track's backstretch.[2] Varying sanctioning bodies have disputed the length of the track; NASCAR's official measurement is at 1.5 miles,[2] while IndyCar used a length of 1.48 miles (2.38 km).[3]
Amenities
Kentucky Speedway is located at an intersection between Interstate 71 and Kentucky Route 35.[4] As of 2019, the facility has a grandstand capacity of 66,000 according to the Lexington Herald-Leader,[5] down from its peak of 106,000 in the 2010s.[6] In total, the facility covers approximately 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land.[7]
Planning and construction
In April 1997, the owner of horse racing facility Turfway Park, Jerry Carroll, oversaw decreasing attendance and betting at Turfway Park. Concerned about the future of Turfway Park, Carroll sought new profitable ventures. After visiting a race at the newly built Texas Motor Speedway,[8] he decided to launch a study to determine on whether building a NASCAR-style superspeedway in Northern Kentucky was feasible.[9] According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, the study was slated to last 3−4 months.[10] A press conference was later called on January 8, 1998.[11] In the press conference, Carroll announced his intents to build a 1,000-acre, 60,000-seat, 1.5-mile (2.4 km) track in Gallatin County, Kentucky, at the cost of $132 million. The project was supported by Carroll and four other business partners. Plans were made to open the facility in the fall of 1999 and for it to start hosting events by 2000, with hopes that the facility could eventually expand to 180,000 seats.[12][13] The track was announced in the midst of a surge in popularity of stock car racing, with many modern, newly built track proposals aiming to gain a coveted NASCAR Cup Series race weekend being made.[14] Carroll stated his hopes that NASCAR would award the facility a Cup Series date by 2003,[15] beginning the process by moving a NASCAR Truck Series date from the Louisville Motor Speedway, a track Carroll had bought.[16]
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By February 1998, Carroll announced that a "best-case scenario" for groundbreaking was August 1 of that year.[17] Although Carroll had announced his hopes of hosting Indy Racing League (IRL), Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), and second-tier NASCAR Busch Series events in the near future,[16] IRL president Tony George stated that the IRL was not looking to host any races at the facility.[18] In contrast, Carroll stated that he thought NASCAR and its president Bill France Jr. had been "very loyal"; he later decided to move the groundbreaking date earlier to July 1.[19] A final date for groundbreaking was set for July 18, with groundbreaking ceremonies occurring at Turfway Park for "convenience of the public";[20] actual work was scheduled to begin on the facility on August 1. By the time groundbreaking occurred, the budget for the project rose to $152 million, with the track being formally named Kentucky Speedway.[21] Within the first month, track officials had been selling permanent personal seating licenses,[22] with around 1,500 being sold by November.[23] By the end of the year, the demand of luxury suites had risen to a point where the original 23 suites planned to be built had rose to "at least 50".[24] Under the advice of track advisor and Kentucky native Darrell Waltrip, the track's banking was changed to have 14 degrees of banking in the turns and 12 degrees of banking on the track's straightaways.[25] In February 1999, the track was formally annexed into the town of Sparta, Kentucky.[26] That same month, Carroll sold his ownership of Turfway Park, stating that the decline of the facility had left him "frustrated and somewhat burned out", wanting to focus on Kentucky Speedway's construction.[27] In the following months, Cintas, the Ford Motor Company, and Budweiser agreed to become corporate sponsors for the track.[28][29][30]
In June, the track announced its first scheduled races, with an Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) race scheduled for sometime in June 2000.[31] By July, an IRL date was rumored to be "highly probable" according to the Courier Journal;[32] the decision was confirmed two months later, with a 300 miles (480 km) race being scheduled in August 2000.[33] In October, the first testing runs were made by ARCA driver Bill Baird, who stated that the track was "as smooth as a baby’s bottom."[34] On November 4, a third-tier NASCAR Truck Series was announced for June 17, 2000;[35] the initial seating capacity was also increased to 70,000 fans.[36] The Truck Series event was later accompanied by a NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series event to christen the track the day before the Truck Series race.[37] Further tests by Greg Ray in an IndyCar were also made in November.[38] That same month, Mark Cassis was appointed as the general manager of the track.[37] By the start of 2000, Kentucky Speedway officials stated that 70% of the track was complete.[39] Further news of potential NASCAR races were made in February; although the chances of a Cup race were "not very good" according to NASCAR CEO Mike Helton,[40] the facility was considered ready for a second-tier Busch Series race.[41] In May, after a Truck Series test session, track developers opted to repave the track after complaints were made;[42] it was completed by the end of the month.[43] By the start of the track's inaugural race weekend, the facility held a grandstand capacity of 65,989, around 23,000 parking spots, 104 infield garage spots, and two Outback Steakhouse restaurants,[44][45] receiving praise from numerous NASCAR officials and drivers.[46]
Early years
Kentucky Speedway opened as scheduled on June 16, 2000, with Billy Bigley winning the first ever event at the facility in front of a crowd of 36,210.[47][48] A near sell-out crowd for the Truck Series race despite the race being delayed a day by heavy rain occurred on the 17th and 18th, with Greg Biffle winning.[49] However, the rain caused several dirt parking lots to be closed due to their condition, leading some spectators to be turned away.[50] The closing sparked a traffic jam as long as 14 miles (23 km) on Interstate 71 according to The Cincinnati Post.[51] To remedy the problem, track officials put down approximately 50,000 tons of gravel in the facility's parking lots and added an emergency parking lot that held 10,000 cars.[52] In August, after openings were made in the NASCAR Busch Series schedule,[53] Kentucky Speedway was awarded an annual Busch Series race starting in 2001,[54] with Kevin Harvick winning the track's first Busch race on June 16, 2001.[55] The facility saw its first major injury the next year when actor and aspiring IndyCar driver Jason Priestley crashed during a test session at approximately 180 miles per hour (290 km/h), severely injuring him.[56] Speedway officials first applied for a Cup Series race for the 2002 season; however, NASCAR rejected because they felt that including the facility "would not further its expansion goals."[57] Despite plans to host the Cup Series by 2003, no races were also announced in 2003[58] and 2004.[59]
Antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and ISC
By June 2005, Carroll, growing frustrated at the track's lack of a Cup Series race, stating that he would seek out more aggressive tactics to gain one, including the possibility of an antitrust lawsuit.[60] On July 13, a lawsuit was officially filed against NASCAR and the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), with the speedway seeking out "more than $400 million in damages" and a Cup Series race.[61] After proceedings began in December, NASCAR and ISC argued for the case to be heard in Florida, where both companies were headquartered, instead of Kentucky;[62] the proposal was dismissed by United States district judge William Bertelsman,[63] eventually ordering a one-year period of discovery for both parties set to end on February 1, 2007.[64] Seen as a risky endeavor due to the possibility of the removal of its Busch Series date,[65] by 2006, with the exception of its Busch Series race, all major series races at the track oversaw steep attendance declines.[66] In April 2007, Kentucky Speedway amended their lawsuit, no longer demanding a Cup Series race; instead, they called for the France family, owner of both NASCAR and ISC, to give up ownership of one of either of the two companies.[67] Kentucky Speedway officials also stated that NASCAR and ISC had pressured numerous owners of other tracks to sell to them only; a claim NASCAR denied.[68] After a failed mediation in June,[69] NASCAR asked Bertelsman to throw out the lawsuit on the basis that the "Kentucky Speedway has not come close to showing evidence supporting its allegations of a conspiracy to limit its ability to obtain an elite Nextel Cup Series race" in September;[70] the request was accepted by Bertelsman on January 7, 2008.[71] Kentucky Speedway's lawyer Stan Chesley proceeded to file an appeal four days later.[72]
Bruton Smith's purchase, Mark Simendinger era
On May 22, 2008, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that a press conference had been scheduled with Speedway Motorsports' (SMI) Bruton Smith regarding a potential partnership with the track or its selling.[73] The purchase of the facility was confirmed by Smith that day for $78.3 million, with SMI buying the track for $15 million and assuming the rest in debt.[74] With Smith purchasing the track, he aimed to add approximately 50,000 seats, additional bathrooms, increased parking space, and a renovated garage area upon confirmation of a Cup Series date.[75][76] Smith later stated that he hoped that he could negotiate a Cup Series race for the facility in 2009;[77] NASCAR later dispelled the comment, with a NASCAR spokesman stating that "we don't see any possibility of there being a Sprint Cup Series race in Kentucky in 2009."[78] Although Smith sought to end the appeal,[79] Carroll refused to budge, stating that "We are very, very adamant to the fact that we think we have a good lawsuit... What matters is the even playing field."[80] The purchase was officially finalized on December 31;[81] soon after, general manager Mark Cassis resigned from his position as the track's general manager.[82] In February, SMI sought to acquire a tax break covering portions of renovation costs was proposed in February in the Kentucky General Assembly;[83] it was approved by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear four months later.[84] By April, Mark Simendinger replaced Cassis as the general manager of the facility.[85] That same month, the first phase of a planned $75 million in renovations begun in April, focusing on new access roads and increased camping spots.[86][87]
Aggressive, renewed calls for all original investors of the facility to end the appeal by Smith came in May.[88] In response to Smith's calls, Richard Duchossois, one of the original investors, stated that all five investors were agreed in continuing the appeal process, adding that he thought that Smith's plea to end the appeal was "NASCAR's way of trying a force a settlement."[89] Smith later claimed that as long as the lawsuit occurred, NASCAR would not consider giving the facility a Cup Series date.[90] By June, Smith conceded most hopes of hosting a Cup Series race in 2010, instead hoping to obtain one in 2011.[91] Arguments for the appeal started in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in July 30;[92] on December 11, the court upheld Bertelsman's ruling in favor of NASCAR.[93] A week later, Carroll officially dropped his lawsuit against NASCAR and ISC, allowing the facility to begin the eligibility process to obtain a Cup Series date.[94] However, 11 days after, Duchossois sued Carroll, claiming that the appeal could not be dropped until at least 75% of the track's ownership agreed to it.[95] The Sixth Circuit Appeals Court denied Duchossois' request for a rehearing in February,[96] and although a trial date was scheduled for May 7, the two came to a settlement by April 30, formally ending the six-year lawsuit.[97]
After showing some initial doubt,[98] Smith submitted an official bid for a Cup Series date for 2011 in the beginning of July.[99] A "major" press conference was announced later that month to take place on August 10;[100] The Charlotte Observer reported that the press conference was to announce a new Cup Series date at the facility.[101] On August 10, a Cup Series date was officially confirmed, with Smith planning to invest $90–100 million towards 50,000 additional seats, additional bathrooms and elevators, and the rezoning for 200 more acres of camping.[102][103] By November, new spectator towers, the Kentucky and Ohio towers that contained 19,000 seats each, were being built to increase grandstand capacity to 106,000.[6] In the months heading into the Cup Series race, Smith stated concerns of potential traffic issues, stating in the Lexington Herald-Leader, "Getting the people in here and out is going to be a tall order for us... It’s going to take a lot of hard work and planning to get that done."[104] He later added that Interstate 71 was "the worst interstate highway that I have ever driven on in my life... That highway should have been rebuilt five years ago because it's so antiquated and falling apart."[105] By the start of the race weekend, approximately $70 million of renovations were made, including the move of the track's pit road 200 feet closer to the frontstretch and the addition of 3,000 campsite spots.[106][107]
First NASCAR Cup Series race, subsequent traffic nightmare
On July 9, 2011, the first ever NASCAR Cup Series race ran at the facility, with Kyle Busch winning the event.[108] Like the track's first ever race, the race was mired by heavy traffic jams. Reports of "total gridlock" stack-ups leaving fans waiting for six hours were reported,[109] with traffic being reported in cities as far as Carrollton. By 9:30 PM EST, fans were being turned away;[110] according to Bruton Smith, by the end of the race, approximately 20,000 fans were turned away from entering.[111] Different reasons were given on the cause of the traffic jam; Smith again blamed Interstate 71 and its lack of lanes, while Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear blamed a shortage of parking spaces; at the time, the facility had 33,000 parking spaces.[112] To alleviate the problem, SMI announced to spend $11 million worth of renovations, including the purchase of 219 acres (89 ha) of land and the construction of a new pedestrian walkway.[113][114] An exit ramp of Interstate 71 and parts of Kentucky Route 35 were also widened.[115] The renovations proved to be a success; according to multiple outlets, no major traffic jams were reported.[116][117]
Following years, repave
By 2014, the track's surface gained a reputation for a rough and bumpy surface. Although the surface received positive reactions along with pleas from several NASCAR drivers to not repave the track,[118][119] track officials opted to grind down a patch of track in the track's fourth turn after complaints of a dip that was "beyond the level of tolerance".[120] Attendance also saw a major decrease over a three-year period, fueling speculation of the move of the facility's Cup Series date to another SMI-owned track.[121] That same year, the track oversaw its first automobile-related fatality when Stephen Cox crashed his car during a Rusty Wallace Racing Experience session.[122] Despite plans to not repave the surface in 2015,[123] problems arose when water leaked from the track surface during a rain delay in July.[124] In response, officials announced in January 2016 a repave and modifications to the track's first two turns; they were changed to have 17 degrees of banking from 14 degrees and were narrowed from 74 feet to 56 feet.[125] The repave drew mixed reactions,[126] with Simendinger opting to add an additional asphalt layer to the track's surface because it "did not meet specifications".[127] Within the next three years, the facility decreased grandstand capacity twice; one in 2017 that removed 20,000 seats to decrease capacity to 86,000,[128] and one in 2019 that decreased capacity to 69,000.[129] By 2020, according to Mark Story of the Lexington Herald-Leader, capacity was down to "some 66,000".[5]
Stoppage of racing, transition to storage and parking lot
On September 29, 2020, NASCAR officially confirmed to The Athletic that the organization would not return to Kentucky Speedway for their 2021 season in any capacity.[130] In a Cincinnati Enquirer analysis piece by Jason Hoffman, the decision was due to the track "succumb[ing] to its inability to bring in enough revenue for its parent company."[131] In response to the news, Simendinger stated that the facility would "evolve into a multi-use rental complex... we have the potential to host special events, commercial television production, music festivals, other racing series and stand-alone RV rallies and camping events."[132] In December of that year, Simendinger resigned from his position, leaving SMI.[133] In May 2021, amidst a global semiconductor shortage, the track was used by the Ford Motor Company to store thousands of pickup trucks waiting for computer chips.[134] Later deals with Amazon were made within the year.[135] By 2022, the only event held at the speedway was an EDM music festival.[136][137] By 2024, although calls were made to return to the track by numerous personalities, such as NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and Gallatin County judge Ryan Morris, the track was viewed as dilapidated, needing major renovations and government subsidies, with the state of Kentucky not willing to contribute. Kentucky Lantern writer Tim Sullivan stated that "the state appears conspicuously short of the political will and financial muscle necessary to underwrite that undertaking... Kentucky lags so far behind that it risks being lapped."[7]
Racing
NASCAR
The facility held the third-tier NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the second-tier NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2000 and 2001, respectively.[138][139] From 2012 to 2017, a second annual Xfinity Series race was awarded to the facility;[140] it was taken away in 2018,[141] but later was reinstated as a one-off in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[142]
From 2011 to 2020, the facility held the Quaker State 400, an annual 400 mi (640 km) NASCAR Cup Series event that was held in either late June or July. The first iteration was held on July 9, 2011.[143] Since 2021, all three top NASCAR series have ceased racing at the facility.[144]
IndyCar Series
From 2000 to 2011, IndyCar held the Kentucky Indy 300, an annual 300 mi (480 km) IndyCar Series event. The first iteration was held on August 27, 2000, with Buddy Lazier winning the event.[145] The event ran continuously until 2011, when IndyCar announced in December of that year that the series would not be returning to the track in 2012.[146]
Music festivals
Kentucky Speedway has held numerous music festivals. In July 2000, the facility held its first concert as part of Metallica's Summer Sanitarium Tour, with approximately 50,000 fans attending.[147] A year later, the facility held a stop of the traveling Warped Tour.[148] From 2003 to 2004, the Meijer Country Stampede was held at the track.[149] In May 2015, a festival headlined by Kings of Leon, Miranda Lambert, and Green Day was announced for August of that year;[150] however, a month before the festival, organizers cancelled it due to a lack of ticket sales.[151] In August 2022, the facility hosted the Interstellar Music Festival, an EDM music festival.[137]
As of July 2019, the fastest official race lap records at Kentucky Speedway are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Oval: 1.609 km (2000–present)[152] | ||||
| Indy Racing League | 0:24.0967[153] | Tomas Scheckter | Dallara IR-00 | 2002 Belterra Casino Indy 300 |
| Indy Pro Series | 0:27.668[154] | Alex Lloyd | Dallara IR-00 | 2007 Kentucky 100 |
| NASCAR Cup Series | 0:29.444[155] | Martin Truex Jr. | Toyota Camry NASCAR | 2018 Quaker State 400 |
| NASCAR Xfinity Series | 0:29.971[156] | John Hunter Nemechek | Chevrolet Camaro SS | 2018 Alsco 300 |
| NASCAR Truck Series | 0:30.116[157] | Grant Enfinger | Ford F-150 NASCAR | 2019 Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 |
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