Kentucky Speedway
Sparta, KY, USA
Track History
Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval in Sparta, Kentucky that spent years as a lower-tier NASCAR venue before finally earning a Cup Series date in 2011. The arrival of the Cup Series at Kentucky was one of the most anticipated track additions in modern NASCAR history, with demand for tickets so high that the inaugural race became a cautionary tale in logistics when traffic gridlock stranded thousands of fans on the highways leading to the track. The 14-degree banking and D-shaped oval produce racing that is representative of the intermediate-track challenge, where tire management, aerodynamic balance, and pit strategy determine the outcome more than any single burst of speed. Kentucky's location in the tri-state region of Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana gives it access to a passionate racing fan base that has supported motorsport at every level for generations. The track has rewarded teams that find the right balance between short-run speed and long-run consistency, a puzzle that separates the best from the rest.
Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference
Top Drivers at Kentucky Speedway
Kyle Busch leads all drivers at Kentucky Speedway with 6 wins across 27 starts.
All-time stats across Cup, O'Reilly & Trucks (min 3 starts)
| Driver | Races | Wins | Avg Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Busch | 27 | 6 | 6.7 |
| Brad Keselowski | 23 | 6 | 7.4 |
| Joey Logano | 14 | 3 | 10.2 |
| Ron Hornaday Jr. | 15 | 3 | 12.3 |
| Christopher Bell | 6 | 2 | 5.3 |
Race Winners (2000-2020)
Kentucky Speedway has crowned 35 different Cup Series winners since 2000.
| Year | Race | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Quaker State 400 | Cole Custer |
| 2020 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY 200 | Austin Cindric |
| 2020 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY 300 | Austin Cindric |
| 2020 | NASCAR GANDER RV & OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Sheldon Creed |
| 2019 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Cole Custer |
| 2019 | Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart | Kurt Busch |
| 2019 | Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 | Tyler Ankrum |
| 2018 | Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart | Martin Truex, Jr. |
| 2018 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Christopher Bell |
| 2018 | Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 | Ben Rhodes |
| 2017 | Quaker State 400 | Martin Truex, Jr. |
| 2017 | Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 | Christopher Bell |
| 2017 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Tyler Reddick |
| 2016 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Brad Keselowski |
| 2016 | Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 | William Byron |
| 2016 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Kyle Busch |
| 2016 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Elliott Sadler |
| 2015 | NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Ryan Blaney |
| 2015 | NASCAR XFINITY Series at Kentucky | Brad Keselowski |
| 2015 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES AT KENTUCKY | Kyle Busch |
| 2015 | UNOH 225 | Matt Crafton |
| 2014 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Kevin Harvick |
| 2014 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky | Brad Keselowski |
| 2014 | UNOH 225 | Kyle Busch |
| 2014 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Brendan Gaughan |
| 2013 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Ryan Blaney |
| 2013 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Brad Keselowski |
| 2013 | UNOH 225 | Ty Dillon |
| 2013 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky | Matt Kenseth |
| 2012 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky | Brad Keselowski |
| 2012 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Austin Dillon |
| 2012 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Austin Dillon |
| 2012 | UNOH 225 | James Buescher |
| 2012 | Kentucky 201 | James Buescher |
| 2011 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Brad Keselowski |
| 2011 | NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky | Kyle Busch |
| 2011 | UNOH 225 | Kyle Busch |
| 2011 | Kentucky 225 | Ron Hornaday Jr. |
| 2010 | NASCAR Nationwide Series at Kentucky | Joey Logano |
| 2010 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Todd Bodine |
| 2009 | Meijer 300 Presented By Ritz | Joey Logano |
| 2009 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Ron Hornaday Jr. |
| 2008 | Meijer 300 Presented By Oreo | Joey Logano |
| 2008 | Built Ford Tough 225 presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers | Johnny Benson Jr. |
| 2007 | Meijer 300 Presented By Oreo | Stephen Leicht |
| 2007 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Mike Skinner |
| 2006 | Meijer 300 Presented By Oreo | David Gilliland |
| 2006 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Ron Hornaday Jr. |
| 2005 | Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo | Carl Edwards |
| 2005 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Dennis Setzer |
| 2004 | Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo | Kyle Busch |
| 2004 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Bobby Hamilton |
| 2003 | Built Ford Tough 225 | Carl Edwards |
| 2003 | Meijer 300 Presented by Oreo Happy | Bobby Hamilton Jr. |
| 2002 | Kroger 225 | Mike Bliss |
| 2002 | Kroger 300 Presented by Oreo | Todd Bodine |
| 2001 | Outback Steakhouse 300 | Kevin Harvick |
| 2001 | Kroger 225 | Scott Riggs |
| 2000 | Kroger 225 | Greg Biffle |
Race Dynamics
Intermediate tracks reward balanced setups and consistent speed over long runs. Track position and pit strategy are crucial. Drivers with strong average running positions at similar 1.5-mile tracks tend to be the most consistent performers.
Top Rated Drivers at Kentucky Speedway
No NR-Rating driver data available for this track yet.
Similar Tracks
Track similarity data not yet available.
Nearby Tracks
Tracks in the same region as Kentucky Speedway, sorted by total Cup Series races hosted.