Michigan International Speedway

Michigan International Speedway is a 2-mile D-shaped oval nestled in the Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan, a track that has been one of the fastest on the Cup schedule since it opened in 1969. The wide racing surface and 18-degree banking in the turns allow for genuine side-by-side racing at speeds that approach 200 mph, creating a spectacle that combines the pack dynamics of superspeedway racing with the strategic depth of intermediate-track competition. Michigan has always been a horsepower track — the long straightaways and sweeping corners reward engines that can produce raw speed, and the aerodynamic tow down the long back straightaway creates drafting opportunities that keep the racing tight and unpredictable. The track's location in the heart of the American auto industry gives it a cultural significance that extends beyond the sport itself, a connection to the manufacturing heritage that made the automobile the defining technology of the American century. Michigan rewards boldness and engineering excellence in equal measure.

Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference