KANSAS SPEEDWAY
Kansas Speedway
boasts great views from every seat and easy access in and out of the 1
1/2-mile, state-of-the-art facility, a response to growing interest for
motorsports entertainment in the Midwest. Though the tri-oval track design is
not unique to Kansas Speedway, a slight difference in the banking makes this
track unique. With 75,000-seat capacity, the Kansas Speedway, a 1.5-mile
tri-oval was host to the NASCAR Winston Cup race each fall. This track is
situated at the largest intersection of I-435 and I-70 in the west side of
Kansas City and easily accessible to all directions. The speedway is near to
two interstate highways and State and Local roadway. This speedway has 12
different traffic lanes to access the facility. The design of the track has
great views from every corner of the. Kansas Speedway set industry records for
tickets sale in the inaugural season as the interest for motor-sports
entertainment in the Midwest is growing. HISTORY OF KANSAS SPEEDWAY
The Kansas Speedway is also host to the NASCAR Winston Cup, Busch, Craftsman Truck, and Indy Racing Events. The track boasts of driving schools, custom car shows, national barbecue contests, and a souvenir shop along with several events. Colored lights making the ambience colorful with the defused tinted filters light the 450-foot-long pedestrian tunnel of Kansas Speedway. The 1.5 mile tri-oval of Kansas Speedway is almost equal to the size of seven football fields and the grass, which covers the seven-acre was transplanted entirely from a field in Lawrence, Kan. Kansas Speedway also boasts of driving schools, giving the opportunity to new drivers and a chance to test drive their cars. In order to build the speedway, 11 million cubic yards of dirt was removed, which was equal to 1 million dump truck loads or the five times of an NFL stadium. The Sears Tower in Chicago had laid 45 times to equal the total amount of storm sewer pipe used in the project. This state-of-the-art facility at the Speedway appeals a large number of tourists in the State of Kansas. To make the surface as smooth as possible, a very good quality of polymer-modified asphalt had been used in the track. Seventeen-year-old Shelby Howard became the youngest winner of the race at the track on June 1, 2003. He won in the BPU 200 after a yellow flag pit stop. “Kansas INDY 300 Event Program”, the stars of the Indianapolis 500 blow into Kansas Speedway, the site of some of the closest races in IRL Indy Car Series was held at Kansas Speedway on July 6, 2003. The new talents emerged as the winners in the IRL Infiniti Pro Series along with the roughest competitors in all of motor-sports and the tough truckers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Source: Kansas Speedway. Official Website. NASCAR 2003 HISTORICAL RECORDS IN A CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
v October
15, 1996 - International Speedway Corporation explores options to build a
speedway facility in the Midwest region of the United States. v January
10, 1997 - The Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri area is chosen as
the prospective Midwest location. v August
6, 1997 - Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas are selected as the site for
the new speedway. v October
15, 1997 - Grant Lynch is appointed as President of the Kansas Speedway
Corporation project. v January
18, 1998 - Bonds are sold and financing is approved to begin construction of
the 1.5 mile tri-oval 75,000 seat speedway project. v May
25, 1999 - The Construction Celebration kicks off the work to be done at the
speedway, which will be located in Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County at
the intersections of Interstates 70 and 435. NASCAR Winston Cup Series Drivers
Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Kenny Schrader help kick off the event along
with NASCAR President, Bill France, Jr., International Speedway Corporation
(ISC) President and Chief Operating Officer, Jim France and ISC Executive Vice
President, Lesa Kennedy. Also in attendance are Kansas Governor, Bill Graves
and Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas Unified Government Mayor/CEO,
Carol Marinovich. v May
25, 1999 - Kansas Speedway Corporation announces that the profits from its sale
of Personalized Paver Stones at the facility's main entrance will go to endow
Checkered Flag Charities (CFC). CFC, a 501 (c) (3) organization, will provide
financial assistance to programs that advance youth and community development
in Wyandotte County and Greater Kansas City. v June
22, 1999 - The Kansas City Sports Commission presents an award to Bill France
as an Outstanding Promoter of Sports in the Kansas City area. v July
28, 1999 - Kansas Speedway launches ticket sales effort through the sale of the
Founding Fan P.A.S.S. (Preferred Access Speedway Seating). Baseball Hall of
Fame Inductee, George Brett, purchases the first Fan P.A.S.S., which will allow
fans to lock-in the best seat locations at the track as well as acquire
benefits otherwise not available to the general public. v July
29, 1999 - Due to the high level of interest in Kansas Speedway, all 32 luxury
suites planned for the facility are sold out. The International Speedway
Corporation Board of Directors approves funding for an additional 36 suites. v August
18, 1999 - Founding Fan P.A.S.S. is expanded to the Tower and Sky Tower seating
sections due to the tremendous demand locally, regionally and nationally. The
addition of these sections, essentially doubles the amount of seats available
through the Fan P.A.S.S. v November
4, 1999 - Kansas Speedway announces its initial marketing partners. The Midwest
Ford Dealers Association, University of Kansas Medical Center, Pepsi-Cola,
Price Chopper Supermarkets and Coors Brewing Company. The strength of these
brands continues to demonstrate the high level of interest the construction of
the facility has generated in both consumer and commercial markets. v November
4, 1999 - Kansas Speedway announces that it is on track with its goals of
utilizing Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Woman Business Enterprises
(WBE) in the construction of the speedway project. With 83% of the project
awarded to date, 24.29% has been awarded to MBE and 7.15% to WBE. It is
anticipated with only 17% of the project to be awarded, Kansas Speedway
Corporation will successfully meet and exceed the goals of 15% for MBE and 7%
for WBE involving the facility's construction. v February
9, 2000 - Kansas Speedway unveils a 2000 Ford Taurus as its Official Replica Pace
Car. The car, which is adorned with racing stripes, also displays the number 58
on each of the rear fenders in memory of former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker,
Derrick Thomas. v May
8, 2000 - NASCAR and Indy Racing League announce they will bring events to
Kansas Speedway for its inaugural racing season in 2001. v Indy
Racing League - July 8, 2001 v NASCAR
Busch Series - September 29, 2001 v NASCAR
Winston Cup Series - September 30, 2001 v August
1, 2000 - NASCAR announces they will bring a third event to Kansas Speedway.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will race in Kansas on July 7, 2001. v August
17, 2000 - Kansas Speedway tickets go on-sale to residents of Wyandotte County. v August
21, 2000 - Kansas Speedway tickets go on-sale world-wide via the internet,
telephone, fax, US mail and at local Price Choppers. v August
25, 2000 - Kansas Speedway announces that nearly 80% of the season tickets for
its inaugural season have been sold. v September
10, 2000 - Kansas Speedway officials announce that paving is underway. TRACK INFORMATION
With the front
stretch, which is the curved part of the D-shaped track and the straight
Backstretch,
audiences can have great views from every seat at Kansas Speedway. Opened in
2001, the speedway is easily accessible in and out of the 1.5 mile tri-oval
track. The speedway, banking in corners at 15 degree, with 10.4 degree banking
on front straight and 5 degree on back straight had witnessed first qualifying
record and first race record on September 28 and 29, 2001 respectively. The
width of the track is 55 feet with frontstraight and backstraight length of
2685 feet and 2207 feet respectively. The width if the track pavement is 55
feet. SEATING ARRANGMENT AND DETAILING
The track seats
80,187 spectators in the grandstands, but will eventually expand to 150,000
upon completion of the final phase of development. The facility has fan
friendly access to 65 rows of seating, with a unique ground level concourse
that allows spectators to walk down 30 rows (on grade) or up 35 rows (on
structure). Parking for the facility accommodates more than 65,000 vehicles.
Parking is always free at Kansas Speedway.
The speedway is
strategically located at the intersection of I-435 and I-70 in Kansas City,
Kan., about 15 miles west of downtown Kansas City. PRICING REGULATIONS AND OTHERS
All the ticket
orders are immediately processed within 24 hours in weekdays. For special
delivery arrangement of the race with 72 hours, contact us on (800-451-8499).
There is also a choice to purchase or cancel the orders, if the Kansas Speedway
tickets are not available. No
cancellation is provided, once the order is processed. |
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Initially, the
speedway was planned to build double in size through completing grandstands in
sections until they surround the 1.5-mile tri-oval. The expansion was made
easier and more economical when the electricity and water lines were installed
to the infrastructure, for a cost of $260 million. By that time, the light
poles were already placed with affixed lights.
 © 2003 K & J Productions |