Well, well, well…. WELCOME TO KENTUCKY!!!
There’s yet to be racing history made at this 1.5 mile tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky as this is the long-awaited and much-anticipated debut of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series takes place at Kentucky Speedway this Saturday night in the Quaker State 400. The NASCAR Nationwide Series has been visiting here since 2001 and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, since 2000.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will run Thursday night, in the UNOH 225. The NASCAR Nationwide Series will run Friday night, in the Feed The Children 300.
Harvick’s seventh-place finish, combined with Carl Edwards’ 37th place run at Daytona, gave Harvick the points lead for the first time since last September after Atlanta, heading into Kentucky.
There are no stats to post for Kentucky Speedway but according to the Nationwide series stats, the driver to watch out for is Joey Logano. He has won three consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Kentucky, all from the pole – the first driver in series history to do that.
Notice was posted by Kentucky Speedway that all 107, 000 grandstand seats and campground areas are sold out. Fans can still take advantage of the speedway’s Pit Road Club that offers an infield view of the race action from behind pit road wall or $60 standing room only tickets that will provide access to the Turn 1 and Turn 4 concourses. Fans still seeking race week campsites can visit http://www.kentuckyspeedway.com and click “Camping” for a listing of campgrounds offering last minute options within walking distance of the speedway and in the surrounding area.
Both can be purchased by phone at 888-652-7223 and 859-578-2300 or by visiting the speedway corporate offices at 1 Speedway Drive in Sparta, Ky., just off Interstate 71 Exit 57 and state Highway 35.
HAULER PARADE
Race week festivities begin Wednesday, July 6, when NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team haulers visit Cincinnati, Ohio, Lexington, Ky., and Louisville, Ky.
Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) haulers will visit Fourth Street Live! in downtown Louisville from 11:30 a.m., to 1:00 p.m.; Cincinnati fans can meet Mayor Mark Mallory while viewing Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing team haulers at the corner of Fifth St., and Race St., near the Millennium Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; and Lexington, Ky., will play host to 35 to 40 haulers at Hamburg Place at 2350 Grey Lag Way from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., before they depart on a 12-mile parade that will traverse the city by way of Sir Barton Way, Winchester Rd., Midland Ave., E. Main St., and Newtown Pike.
ABOUT THE TRACK:
Capacity 107,000
Owner Speedway Motorsports, Inc.
Broke ground July 18, 1998
Opened June 16, 2000
Construction cost $153,000,000
Major events:
Indy Racing League:
Kentucky Indy 300
Kentucky 100
NASCAR:
Quaker State 400
Feed the Children 300
UNOH 225
Built Ford Tough 225
Tri-oval
Surface Asphalt
Length 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Turns 4
Banking Turns: 14°
Tri-Oval: 8–10°
Straight: 4°
RACE SCHEDULE:
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
UNHO 225 (225 miles / 150 laps)
Practice: Wed. 6 P.M./ 10 A.M. Thurs.
Qualifying: 3:03 P.M./et. Thursday, SPEED
RACE: Thursday night, SPEED at 8 P.M.
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Feed the Children 300 (300 miles / 200 laps)
Practice: Thurs. 6:10 P.M./ 9 A.M. Fri.
Qualifying: 3:30 P.M./et. Friday, SPEED
RACE: Friday night, 7:30 P.M. /et., ESPN
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Quaker State 400 (400 miles / 267 laps)
Practice: Thurs. 11:05 P.M./ 4 A.M. Thurs./11:30 A.M. Fri/1:30 P.M. Fri., SPEED
Qualifying: 5:00 P.M./et. Friday, SPEED
RACE: Saturday night, 7:30 P.M. /et., TNT
TV:
Darrell Waltrip sets the stage for the first Sprint Cup race at Kentucky Speedway in a one-hour SPEED special on Saturday at 3 pm ET.
Kentucky Speedway currently has TWO passes available for race fans to purchase:
FAN ZONE PASS – $50/NCWTS; $75/NNWS ; $100/NSCS
Provides access to the infield area surrounding Victory Lane and Pit Road until one hour prior to the start of each race. Must posses race ticket in addition to Fan Zone Pass. All children enjoying Fan Zone and Prerace Fan Zone access must possess a race ticket and be accompanied by a paying adult.
PRE-RACE FAN ZONE PASS – $150*
*Available ONLY for the July 9th Sprint Cup race
Same amenities as above for the Fan Zone – however – this pass will get you closer to the stage for the pre-race concert by Clay Walker.