Construction began in May of 1999 of a new tri-oval, The facility would feature uniform 15 degree banking and boast seating for 72,000 spectators and more than 60 suites, The speedway was completed in 2001 in time for an inaugural test for stock cars and Indy Lights Series single seaters in April.
In the summer of 2012, the speedway announced track improvements including repaving of the existing track surface, reconfiguration of the oval, and the addition of the 2.37-mile (3.81 km) road course, The project immediately followed the STP 400 on April 22nd, The changes to the oval centered on the introduction of progressive banking over 17-20 degrees, with the front straightaway banked 9-11 degrees, and the back straightway 5 degrees, Portions of the field were graded and paved as part of the road course development. The repaving in particular drew praise to the NASCAR drivers when they attended a tire test in August of that year.
SAFER barriers existed around 1.28 miles (2.060 km) of the concrete retaining walls between turns 1 and 2, and between turns 3 and 4 along most of the frontstretch.
Also new in 2012 was the Hollywood Casino, which overlooks the track at turn 2, boasting 2,000 slot machines and gaming tables.[4]
On October 11, 2013, It was announced that NASCAR's lone event, the Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and the spring race swapped dates in 2014, with the spring race becoming a night race and the fall race remained as a day race.[5]
Track length of a paved oval
The track length is disputed by two major series run at Kansas Speedway, The NASCAR timing did not use a scoring use a length of 1.50 miles (2.414 km).[6] The IRL timing and scoring length of 1.52 miles (2.446 km).[7]
