| | | | | | | | | | Michigan International Speedway | High-Bank Racin' |
| | Brooklyn, Michigan Since its opening in 1968, Michigan International Speedway has become the largest sports arena in Michigan. With 18-degree banking and 73-foot wide sweeping turns, the speedway provides drivers three and four grooves to run around the 2-mile track.
More than 2.5 million yards of dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval, which was designed by Charles Moneypenny, who also designed the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. The first NASCAR race at the speedway was won by Cale Yarborough on June 15, 1969.
The speedway originally included infield and exterior roads, which could be configured into a 3-mile or two 1.9-mile road courses. The exterior road course was last used in 1973, and the last interior road course race was held in 1984.
When oil prices and rising gas prices threatened the racing world in 1973, Roger Penske wanted to turn the speedway into a premiere motorsports facility. He purchased the deed to Michigan International Speedway for an estimated $2 million, and went to work making improvements.
Penske made a lot changes to the facility while he was the owner. He expanded the grandstands from 25,000 seats to more than 125,000, and added several buildings to the property, including three garages, 26 pit terrace suites, an administration building, and two ticket offices.
Over the years other improvements have been made, such as building timing and scoring stands, corporate suites, an infield hospital and pedestrian bridges, among other improvements. About 400 acres were also purchased for extra free parking.
The improvements continued in 2000, when a new 10,800-plus seat grandstand was built in turn 3, lending a view of the whole speedway and surrounding hills.
When the speedway was last resurfaced, it became the first track to use a polymer-enhanced asphalt, formulated for the harshness of the Michigan winters as well as high-banked racing. The facility added 870 new seats in 2005, with a new Club level seating area called the Champions Club.
| | | | | | |
