In 1996, International Speedway Corporation began exploring the idea of building a track in the Midwest. Bonds were sold in 1998 and construction on the 1.5-mile tri-oval began a year later.
Tickets for the 2001 season went on sale on Aug. 17, 2000, and within a week, nearly 80 percent of the season tickets had been sold. Paving on the track begin in September of that year and construction was completed in 2001.
Jeff Gordon won the first two Cup events there, starting with the inaugural race on Sept. 30, 2001.
(Courtesy of NASCAR)
Completed: 2001
Distance: 1.5 miles
Shape: D-shaped oval
Banking: 15-degree turns, 10.4-degree frontstretch, 5-degree backstretch
Frontstretch: 2,685 feet
Backstretch: 2,207 feet
Seating: 81,687
Oct. 1, 2006 – Banquet 400 – Tony Stewart
Oct. 9, 2005 – Banquet 400 – Mark Martin
Oct. 10, 2004 – Banquet 400 – Joe Nemechek
Oct. 5, 2003 – Banquet 400 – Ryan Newman
Sept. 29, 2002 – Protection One 400 – Jeff Gordon
Sept. 30, 2001 – Protection One 400 – Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon has always run well at Kansas, but with the heat of the Chase for the Championship on, he’ll be hard-pressed to hold off charging Tony Stewart or teammate Jimmie Johnson here. Others to watch are Chase outsider Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth, who’s lurking and could make a big move with the win. -MR