NASCAR teams turn first laps at repaved Kansas Speedway

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, in action during NASCAR testing at Kansas Speedway on October 17, 2012 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, in action during NASCAR testing at Kansas Speedway on October 17, 2012 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images for NASCAR)

A total of 47 NASCAR Sprint Cup cars, including 4 redesigned 2013 machines, waited out a rain delay Wednesday at Kansas Speedway but were finally able to get in two hours of testing on the newly reconfigured 1.5 mile oval.

The track was repaved during the summer, and the turns now have variable banking – 17 degrees to 20 degrees – that replaces the 15 degrees (apron to wall) of the former layout.  In combination with the new pavement the new banking leaves teams wondering just what to expect for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.

“I look at it as a new race track,” two time Kansas winner Jeff Gordon said. “We don’t think of it from any notes that we had from this track in the past. We pretty much just start from scratch. It’s like going to a brand new race track somewhere else. It looks completely different than it ever did before.” MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.