Know Your Track: Chicagoland

Chicagoland Speedway

Track Name: Chicagoland Speedway

           

Nicknames: N/A

Location: Joliet, Illinois

Capacity: 75,000

Date of First Race: July 15, 2001

Layout: Chicagoland is a 1.5 mile asphalt "Tri-oval". The track's four turns feature 18 degrees of banking. The backstretch has a slight curve to it, making it the only track in NASCAR where there is no true straightaway. 

Current Sprint Cup Races:

• September 20, 2015 - MyAFibStory.com 400, a 400.5 mile, 267 lap Chase race. It is the first race of the Challenger Round and the first out of ten races in the Chase overall. This is a Sunday afternoon event.

Most Wins:   

• All-Time: Tony Stewart, 3 wins
• Active: Tony Stewart, 3 wins
• Latest Winner:
• 2014 MyAFibStory.com 400: Brad Keselowski

Description: Chicagoland is one of three tracks that have been added to the NASCAR schedule since 2000 (along with Kansas and Kentucky). Like the other two tracks, Chicagoland is still writing its early history and finding its identity. It has been a very flexible track in terms of its dates since its inception. Chicago started as a day race, moved to a night race, and back to a day race one it moved from its former summer date to the first race in the Chase a few seasons ago.

The track has already shown it can create great racing, however, with the build of the track allowing for those great multiple racing grooves. Brad Keselowski proved that much with his great move for the win in last season's Chase opener.

As long as the track doesn't plan on a repave soon, it should serve as a good opening track for the Chase for years to come.

Fun Facts: When the juice company Tropicana used to sponsor events at the track, a gigantic inflatable orange got loose on the track on a windy day and caused a stoppage in qualifying.