What began in 1997 as a imaginative and prescient to carry top-tier racing in America to Northern Kentucky now sits simply off I-71 having not hosted reside racing in entrance of followers for greater than 5 years. Kentucky Speedway, based by Jerry Carroll and now owned by Speedway Motorsports, is a part of a cohort of race tracks round the USA that also exist, however have not hosted race weekends in years.
There are many causes Kentucky Speedway is successfully closed − the COVID-19 pandemic affect on reside, in-person sports activities, NASCAR scheduling and Speedway Motorsports’ allotment of race weekends on the NASCAR schedule being chief amongst them.
Commercial
Speedway Motorsports owns Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Echopark Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilksboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Cup Sequence options races at 24 completely different tracks and Speedway Motorsports owns 10 of these tracks. The race weekend in Sparta, Kentucky, that used to characteristic the highest three NASCAR Sequence − Cup Sequence, O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence and Craftsman Truck Sequence – has moved to Echopark Speedway (previously Atlanta Motor Speedway), which Speedway Motorsports invested considerably in facilities across the monitor.
Will NASCAR return to Kentucky Speedway?
When the 2026 NASCAR schedule was launched on Aug. 20, 2025, Kentucky Speedway was not listed as a bunch for any of the top-three nationwide collection. Nor was it on the schedule for another nationwide racing collection.
Commercial
The Courier-Journal examined the present state of Kentucky Speedway and its affect on the group, however there appears to be no clear future plans for the monitor within the fast future.
NASCAR Cup Sequence subsequent era automotive
The NASCAR Cup Sequence next-generation automotive, launched in 2022, has been broadly criticized for its aerodynamic bundle, which results in racing that is not conducive to passing. The reason being the aerodynamics create a state of affairs the place it is tough to move to due the air coming off a lead automotive negatively influencing the path automotive.
Commercial
The perfect tracks for next-generation automotive passes and shut racing within the Cup Sequence have been at 1.5-mile tracks like Kentucky – Texas and Las Vegas are the closest comparisons as Echopark has was a singular drafting monitor with pack racing just like Daytona Worldwide Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway, however on a smaller monitor.
The ultimate races at Kentucky Speedway – all green-white-checker finishes − produced nice finishes. Probably the most talked about amongst them being when Kurt Busch beat his youthful brother Kyle Busch by .076 seconds for the closest end ever on the intermediate monitor.
A 12 months later, within the final Cup Sequence race to be held at Kentucky Speedway, Cole Custer received by passing for the lead by going 4 large on the ultimate lap of the race.
What is going to occur with Kentucky Speedway?
NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports schedule nearly all of the races at their very own tracks with the occasional worldwide or distinctive avenue circuit popping up on the schedule.
Commercial
It is unlikely NASCAR will ever carry again its high nationwide collection races to Kentucky Speedway, however by no means say by no means. A extra probably situation is that the present Speedway profile would ultimately be redeveloped into an industrial web site given its present infrastructure.
For anybody wanting to maintain monitor of what was NASCAR at Kentucky Speedway, listed below are the previous winners:
Kentucky Speedway Cup Sequence winners
Sunday, July 12, 2020 Cole CusterSaturday, July 13, 2019 Kurt BuschSaturday, July 14, 2018 Martin Truex Jr.Saturday, July 8, 2017 Martin Truex Jr.Saturday, July 9, 2016 Brad KeselowskiSaturday, July 11, 2015 Kyle BuschSaturday, June 28, 2014 Brad KeselowskiSunday, June 30, 2013 Matt KensethSaturday, June 30, 2012 Brad KeselowksiSaturday, July 9, 2011 Kyle Bush
Commercial
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence winners
Thursday, July 9, 2020 Austin Cindric Friday, July 10, 2020 Austin Cindric Friday, July 12, 2019 Cole Custer Friday, July 13, 2018 Christopher BellSaturday, September 23, 2017 Tyler ReddickSaturday, July 8, 2017 Kyle BuschFriday, July 8, 2016 Kyle BuschSaturday, September 26, 2015 Ryan BlaneyFriday, July 10, 2015 Brad KeselowskiSaturday, September 20, 2014 Brendan GaughanFriday, June 27, 2014 Kevin HarvickSaturday, September 21, 2013 Ryan Blaney Friday, June 28, 2013 Brad KeselowskiSaturday, September 22, 2012 Austin DillonFriday, June 29, 2012 Austin DillonFriday, July 8, 2011 Brad KeselowskiSaturday, June 12, 2010 Joey LoganoSaturday, June 13, 2009 Joey Logano Saturday, June 14, 2008 Joey LoganoSaturday, June 16, 2007 Stephen LeichtSaturday, June 17, 2006 David Gilliland Saturday, June 18, 2005 Carl EdwardsSaturday, June 19, 2004 Kyle BuschSaturday, June 14, 2003 Bobby Hamilton Jr.Sunday, June 16, 2002 Todd BodineSaturday, June 16, 2001 Kevin Harvick
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence winners
Saturday, July 11, 2020 Sheldon CreedThursday, July 11, 2019 Tyler AnkrumWednesday, July 11, 2018 Ben RhodesThursday, July 6, 2017 Christopher BellThursday, July 7, 2016 William ByronThursday, July 9, 2015 Matt CraftonThursday, June 26, 2014 Kyle BuschThursday, June 27, 2013 Ty DillonFriday, September 21, 2012 James BuescherThursday, June 28, 2012 James BuescherSaturday, October 1, 2011 Ron Hornaday Jr.Thursday, July 7, 2011 Kyle BuschFriday, September 3, 2010 Todd BodineSaturday, July 18, 2009 Ron Hornaday Jr.Saturday, July 19, 2008 Johnny BensonSaturday, July 14, 2007 Mike SkinnerSaturday, July 8, 2006 Ron Hornaday Jr.Saturday, July 9, 2005 Dennis SetzerSaturday, July 10, 2004 Bobby HamiltonSaturday, July 12, 2003 Carl EdwardsSaturday, July 13, 2002 Mike BlissSaturday, July 14, 2001 Scott RiggsSaturday, June 17, 2000 Greg Biffle
Commercial
ARCA Menards Sequence winners
Saturday, July 11, 2020 Ty Gibbs 3Friday, September 22, 2017 Austin Theriault 12Friday, September 23, 2016 Austin Cindric 3Saturday, September 26, 2015 Ryan Reed 9Friday, September 19, 2014 Brennan Poole 8Saturday, September 21, 2013 Corey LaJoie 13Saturday, July 18, 2009 Parker Kligerman 2Saturday, Might 9, 2009 James Buescher 1Friday, July 18, 2008 Scott Velocity 6Saturday, Might 10, 2008 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 15Friday, July 13, 2007 Michael McDowell 2Saturday, Might 12, 2007 Erik Darnell 5Friday, July 7, 2006 Brad Coleman 3Saturday, Might 13, 2006 Steve Wallace 1Friday, July 8, 2005 Chad Blount 2Saturday, Might 14, 2005 Frank Kimmel 17Saturday, July 10, 2004 Ryan Hemphill 4Saturday, Might 8, 2004 Ryan Hemphill 2Saturday, Might 10, 2003 Kyle Busch 4Friday, July 12, 2002 Chad Blount 3Saturday, Might 11, 2002 Frank Kimmel 2Friday, July 13, 2001 Frank Kimmel 1Saturday, Might 12, 2001 Frank Kimmel 1Saturday, August 26, 2000 Ryan Newman 1Sunday, July 2, 2000 Tim Steele 2
Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Cole Custer (41) wears a masks as he celebrates within the winner’s circle after successful the NASCAR Cup Sequence tenth Annual Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Sunday, July 12, 2020.
Tenting World Truck Sequence driver Chase Miller (4) finishes forward of Brandon Jones (99) in the course of the NCWTS Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 truck race on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Thursday, July 6, 2017. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Sam Greene)
From left: Xfinity Sequence drivers Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones (20) and Xfinity Sequence driver Kyle Busch (18) lead the pack out of flip 4 in the course of the XFINITY Sequence Alsco 300 auto race, Saturday, July 8, 2017, on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)
Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates after successful the Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence Quaker State 400 auto race, Saturday, July 8, 2017, on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)
Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) is launched earlier than the Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence Quaker State 400 auto race, Saturday, July 8, 2017, on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)
Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88 leads a bunch of automobiles round flip three in the course of the Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence Quaker State 400 auto race, Saturday, July 8, 2017, on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Kareem Elgazzar)
Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Brad Keselowski (2) goes into flip one within the first stage the NASCAR Cup Sequence Quaker State 400 on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) tallied a victory in time beyond regulation after a warning on lap 265.(The Cincinnati Enquirer/Sam Greene)
Followers go away their RVs to go for the race monitor the NASCAR XFINITY Sequence Alsco 300 race on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Saturday, July 8, 2017. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Sam Greene)
Casey Mears (98) and Jeb Burton (24) cross the beginning line within the second stage of the NASCAR XFINITY Sequence Alsco 300 race on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Saturday, July 8, 2017. (The Cincinnati Enquirer/Sam Greene)
Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) leads the race with driver Kyle Busch (18) in second throughout a restart late within the third stage of the NASCAR Cup Sequence Quaker State 400 on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Monster Power NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) tallied a victory in time beyond regulation after a warning on lap 265.(The Cincinnati Enquirer/Sam Greene)
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 88, and Carl Edwards, 99, lead the pack to start out the NASCAR Dash Cup Sequence race, the Quaker State 400, on the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky Sunday June 30, 2013.
June 7, 2000: Jerry Carroll, Co-owner and Chairman of the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky posed on the completed monitor Wednesday afternoon throughout a media occasion. The monitor will host it is inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence race June 17, 2000.
