Kentucky Speedway is one of the most famous tracks in the entire country, if not the world. The track is located in beautiful Lexington, Kentucky. The track itself is a 1.25-mile oval that was originally built in 1907 and then underwent several renovations and upgrades that kept it up-to-date.
The current track was designed by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Lee Petty, whose famous No. 42 team still competes at the track regularly. The track is named after him and currently has a single-track layout that can accommodate up to 150,000 spectators.
There are a variety of events that take place at Kentucky Speedway each year, and this year is no exception. Here is a look at what is going on at the iconic track in 2020.
New Track Layout
The first and most obvious change to the track this year is the layout itself. The track has gone through a complete overhaul, and it now has a four-corner pattern with a couple twists and turns. The new layout is meant to make the track more challenging and to keep drivers amped up. The new track should also provide more opportunities for passing and drafting than ever before.
The new track is a combination of the old one and a little bit of everything else. Take a look:
- The backstretch has been shortened, which makes it easier for drivers to hit the white flag.
- The outside front stretch has been moved farther up while the middle stretch has been shortened.
- There are some turns that have been rerouted and some that have been completely reshaped.
- The final corner is now a right-hander instead of a left-hander as in the past.
These new changes should provide more opportunities for drivers and, as a result, make the racing more exciting. We will have to see how much difference they make in practice and at the races themselves to know for sure.
New Entrance And Exit
Another big change at this year’s Kentucky Speedway is the entrance and exit. The track’s grandstands are now completely enclosed which protects fans from inclement weather and helps trap all the heat. This should make for some interesting angles during practice and at the races this year.
A couple of new gates have been added at the north and south ends of the track which will help funnel people in and out faster than ever before. The new gates are also equipped with video boards which will allow fans to follow the action from anywhere. Drivers and crews will no longer have to walk back along the fence to watch the race from start to finish.
These are just a few of the changes that have been made at Kentucky Speedway this year. As always, we will continue to keep you posted on any other changes that may occur throughout the year.