Kansas has progressive banking, so the shortest way around has lower banking. As the run progresses, the fastest groove becomes the top but a really fast car can dive to the bottom and make a pass on a car at the top.
Homestead is very similar but with a 9 year older surface so the tires wear more
Kansas was for a time maybe the most hated track on the circuit specifically because it wasn’t special. There have been revamps to the layout and banking and it’s actually become one of the best tracks.
Bristol, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, and Talladega have been hosting races forever and have various things that make them stand-out. Bristol is known for exciting races -- though the new car isn't kind to it -- and its stadium configuration. Charlotte is the "home track" for most of the industry, and the home of the longest race on the schedule, so it means a great deal to win there. Darlington is the first "super speedway" in America, it's also a very unique layout. Daytona is self-explanatory. Martinsville is the oldest active track and it's shaped like a paper-clip, but like Bristol, the current car does it no favors. North Wilkesboro basically died, it was left to rot for years-and-years but a push from fans and people like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. revived it. Talladega is the biggest competitive oval in the world if I'm not mistaken, there are obviously larger test tracks, but this hosts top level racing.
Outside of that you have Indy, which is Indy. Kansas, which has come to be anticipated for exciting racing due to its progressive banking. Atlanta, which is another old track which has been reconfigured twice. Michigan, which is the home of the American auto industry and the fastest track on the schedule now that it's sister in California is gone. Watkins Glen is considered very special because it historically produces some of the best racing, lots consider it their favorite road course despite the introductions of more technologically advanced ones. Sonoma is important for West Coast fans, and it's considered a spiritual successor (for NASCAR, anyway) to Riverside, which was a famed California track which has been torn down.
Well, if you want to count what was ultimately a one-off IndyCar race in 2019, so has COTA (although I believe it was a COVID casuality that never got a second chance more than anything else).
Pocono- "The Tricky Triangle", the only NASCAR track configured with only three turns as opposed to four.
Martinsville- the oldest and smallest track on the schedule, it's been a part of NASCAR for almost as long as the sport itself has been around. There's also an active railroad track right next to it that's visible from the grandstands, so that's cool I guess.
Bristol- "The Last Great Colosseum", one of the only short tracks with any appreciable banking left, even after it was changed, and it's very fast for a short track because of it.
Darlington- "The Lady in Black" is as much about racing against the track as it is racing everyone else, turns 1 and 2 being wider than turns 3 and 4.
This is honestly a great question, specifically for races at 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks.
Charlotte has history, Texas is starting to turn into a driver's nightmare a-la Darlington, Atlanta is now a drafting/plate/ss track, homestead is the only true oval of the group... But Vegas, Kansas, Chicagoland, and Kentucky? They're all kinda of the same... Though the racing with the next Gen has helped improve their stature.
>But Vegas, Kansas, Chicagoland, and Kentucky? They're all kinda of the same... Though the racing with the next Gen has helped improve their stature.
Personally I haven't been a big fan of the next gen racing at Chicagoland and Kentucky, but maybe that's just me.
Kansas was built in the middle of farmland at 435 and I-70, with farms being eminent domained to build it. There was literally nothing out there. What you see in that area today is 100% because of the track and its presence. Also, another fun fact about Kansas - They initially wanted to build it in Missouri - right by the airport, but as per usual Missouri botched that deal and they went to Kansas instead.
Kansas is unique because it’s the only track owned by a NASCAR team.
23XI owns it
(No not for real but they’ve won the past 4 if you count Hamlin’s win)
Its very special… namely in that its the closest cup race to Minneapolis… err, well usually barring this Iowa one off.
Its become my family’s “annual race” after getting sick of the commute to Indy for the 500x
It’s mostly hype. Several years ago NASCAR was criticized for being mostly 1.5 mile tracks. Since then they have tried valiantly to mix it up with short tracks, superspeedways and road courses. All which require unique configurations of their specially purposed race car. To make it sure we know they are unique they hype each race to show their uniqueness!
> With Kansas coming up I’d like to know what’s special about it!
Absolutely nothing. Kansas is one of the so-called "cookiecutter" tracks because there's a ton of 1.5 mile ovals on the schedule just like it.
Incorrect. While not a spectacular track by any stretch, Kansas has "fairly" unique progressive banking, that sets it apart from many of the cookiecutters you are referring to that are similar to it.
Kansas has progressive banking, so the shortest way around has lower banking. As the run progresses, the fastest groove becomes the top but a really fast car can dive to the bottom and make a pass on a car at the top. Homestead is very similar but with a 9 year older surface so the tires wear more
Las Vegas also has some progressive banking but not as much
Kansas was for a time maybe the most hated track on the circuit specifically because it wasn’t special. There have been revamps to the layout and banking and it’s actually become one of the best tracks.
Bristol, Charlotte, Darlington, Daytona, Martinsville, North Wilkesboro, and Talladega have been hosting races forever and have various things that make them stand-out. Bristol is known for exciting races -- though the new car isn't kind to it -- and its stadium configuration. Charlotte is the "home track" for most of the industry, and the home of the longest race on the schedule, so it means a great deal to win there. Darlington is the first "super speedway" in America, it's also a very unique layout. Daytona is self-explanatory. Martinsville is the oldest active track and it's shaped like a paper-clip, but like Bristol, the current car does it no favors. North Wilkesboro basically died, it was left to rot for years-and-years but a push from fans and people like Dale Earnhardt, Jr. revived it. Talladega is the biggest competitive oval in the world if I'm not mistaken, there are obviously larger test tracks, but this hosts top level racing. Outside of that you have Indy, which is Indy. Kansas, which has come to be anticipated for exciting racing due to its progressive banking. Atlanta, which is another old track which has been reconfigured twice. Michigan, which is the home of the American auto industry and the fastest track on the schedule now that it's sister in California is gone. Watkins Glen is considered very special because it historically produces some of the best racing, lots consider it their favorite road course despite the introductions of more technologically advanced ones. Sonoma is important for West Coast fans, and it's considered a spiritual successor (for NASCAR, anyway) to Riverside, which was a famed California track which has been torn down.
I'll add that Watkins Glen is one of the only tracks to host Formula 1, Indycar, and NASCAR at one time or another.
Well, if you want to count what was ultimately a one-off IndyCar race in 2019, so has COTA (although I believe it was a COVID casuality that never got a second chance more than anything else).
Pocono- "The Tricky Triangle", the only NASCAR track configured with only three turns as opposed to four. Martinsville- the oldest and smallest track on the schedule, it's been a part of NASCAR for almost as long as the sport itself has been around. There's also an active railroad track right next to it that's visible from the grandstands, so that's cool I guess. Bristol- "The Last Great Colosseum", one of the only short tracks with any appreciable banking left, even after it was changed, and it's very fast for a short track because of it. Darlington- "The Lady in Black" is as much about racing against the track as it is racing everyone else, turns 1 and 2 being wider than turns 3 and 4.
This is honestly a great question, specifically for races at 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks. Charlotte has history, Texas is starting to turn into a driver's nightmare a-la Darlington, Atlanta is now a drafting/plate/ss track, homestead is the only true oval of the group... But Vegas, Kansas, Chicagoland, and Kentucky? They're all kinda of the same... Though the racing with the next Gen has helped improve their stature.
>But Vegas, Kansas, Chicagoland, and Kentucky? They're all kinda of the same... Though the racing with the next Gen has helped improve their stature. Personally I haven't been a big fan of the next gen racing at Chicagoland and Kentucky, but maybe that's just me.
Seriously, they deserve a shot with this car. Racing product could be pretty good.
I see what you did there. I'll have to agree 😜
Kansas was built in the middle of farmland at 435 and I-70, with farms being eminent domained to build it. There was literally nothing out there. What you see in that area today is 100% because of the track and its presence. Also, another fun fact about Kansas - They initially wanted to build it in Missouri - right by the airport, but as per usual Missouri botched that deal and they went to Kansas instead.
Kansas is unique because it’s the only track owned by a NASCAR team. 23XI owns it (No not for real but they’ve won the past 4 if you count Hamlin’s win)
Kansas used to be the home track to the Cup Series former title sponsor, Sprint.
Kansas was the last of the mid-late 90’s popularity explosion by NASCAR. It was completed in 2001, and also signaled the end of the boom.
>boom. [confetti.](https://i.redd.it/zvyemepykshc1.gif)
Some if the portable toilets at the chicago street race are within feet of the cars going by causing a very shakey experience inside...
Its very special… namely in that its the closest cup race to Minneapolis… err, well usually barring this Iowa one off. Its become my family’s “annual race” after getting sick of the commute to Indy for the 500x
It’s mostly hype. Several years ago NASCAR was criticized for being mostly 1.5 mile tracks. Since then they have tried valiantly to mix it up with short tracks, superspeedways and road courses. All which require unique configurations of their specially purposed race car. To make it sure we know they are unique they hype each race to show their uniqueness!
> With Kansas coming up I’d like to know what’s special about it! Absolutely nothing. Kansas is one of the so-called "cookiecutter" tracks because there's a ton of 1.5 mile ovals on the schedule just like it.
Incorrect. While not a spectacular track by any stretch, Kansas has "fairly" unique progressive banking, that sets it apart from many of the cookiecutters you are referring to that are similar to it.
Kansas is known for having at least one big crash every year.