History of Kansas Speedway in Timeline

Kansas Speedway, a 1.5-mile tri-oval speedway located in Kansas City, Kansas, has been a hub for motorsports since 2001. Owned by NASCAR since 2019, the track hosts races from prominent series like NASCAR, IndyCar, and IMSA. Its president is Patrick Warren, and the speedway is conveniently accessible via major highways like I-70, US-24, US-40, and I-435.

January 1999: Kansas Speedway Bond Issuance

In January 1999, after resolving legal disputes with property owners, $95.6 million worth of bonds were sold to finance the construction of Kansas Speedway. This marked the official resumption of the project.

May 25, 1999: Groundbreaking Ceremony and Driver Endorsements

On May 25, 1999, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Kansas Speedway. Notable NASCAR drivers Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace, and Ken Schrader expressed their support and enthusiasm for the project.

May 28, 1999: Hollywood Casino 400 Announced

The Hollywood Casino 400, a NASCAR Cup Series race held at Kansas Speedway, was first announced on May 28, 1999.

November 1999: Final Budget Announcement

In November 1999, the final budget for Kansas Speedway was announced at $287 million.

March 2000: Kansas Lawmakers Visit and Praise Speedway

In March 2000, Kansas state senators Nancey Harrington and Ben Vidricksen visited Kansas Speedway and commended the project.

August 2000: High Ticket Demand for NASCAR Race

By August 2000, ticket sales for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway reached 80% capacity, highlighting the strong public interest in the event.

2000: Construction Delays and Race Date Uncertainties

In 2000, despite construction having started, delays cast doubt on the Kansas Speedway's opening date. NASCAR officials expressed uncertainty about awarding a Winston Cup Series race weekend to the track, considering new dates allocated in 1997 and 1998.

February 2001: Retail Outlet Development Announcement

In February 2001, plans were revealed for a $236.6 million retail outlet development adjacent to Kansas Speedway. The project, spanning 250 acres, was slated to open in 2002.

June 2, 2001: Kansas Speedway Opening and Inaugural Race Weekend

On June 2, 2001, Kansas Speedway officially opened its doors. The inaugural race weekend featured events from ARCA and the NASCAR Winston West Series.

2001: First NASCAR Xfinity Series and Truck Series Races at Kansas Speedway

Alongside the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race, the track also hosted its first NASCAR Xfinity Series and Truck Series races during its opening season in 2001.

2001: NASCAR and IRL Race Weekend Announcements and Ticket Sales

In 2001, NASCAR president Bill France Jr. confirmed a race weekend at Kansas Speedway, while the Indy Racing League (IRL) also announced future races at the track. Ticket sales were initiated, with high demand leading to considerations for capacity expansion.

2001: Inaugural Hollywood Casino 400 Race

The first Hollywood Casino 400 race took place in 2001.

2002: Planned Opening of Retail Outlet Development

The retail outlet development surrounding Kansas Speedway was scheduled to open in 2002.

2003: Projected Economic Impact of Kansas Speedway

In 2003, the local city sports council estimated that Kansas Speedway would generate $2.28 billion for the local economy by that year.

2004: Casino Proposals and Opposition

Starting in 2004, the Kickapoo tribe and the Sac and Fox Nation proposed constructing a state-regulated casino west of Kansas Speedway. The $210 million project faced strong opposition from various business interests and lobbying groups, who cited concerns about the proposed revenue structure and the potential for corruption.

March 2005: Casino Proposal Stalled

In March 2005, Doug Mays, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, declared the proposal for a state-regulated casino near Kansas Speedway to be effectively dead for the legislative session. This followed heavy opposition from business leaders and lobbyists who argued against the proposed revenue-sharing model and raised concerns about potential government corruption.

2007: Multiple Casino Proposals Submitted

In 2007, Kansas Speedway and Cordish Corporation submitted a proposal for a 500-room hotel and casino project. This proposal was one of seven vying for approval, with competitors including Las Vegas Sands and Pinnacle Entertainment. The Unified Government aimed to review all proposals by the end of the year.

March 2008: Lawsuit Filed Against State-Owned Kansas Lottery

In March 2008, government watchdog group Americans for Prosperity-Kansas filed a lawsuit against the state-owned Kansas Lottery in relation to the casino proposal by Kansas Speedway and Cordish Corporation. The group alleged that the project, which would be funded by revenue bonds or prior tax financing, would "create an illegal tax".

August 2008: NASCAR CEO Expresses Support for Second Cup Series Race at Kansas Speedway

In August 2008, NASCAR CEO Brian France stated in an interview with The Kansas City Star that he believed Kansas Speedway was deserving of a second NASCAR Cup Series race weekend.

June 2009: Planned Opening of Kansas Speedway Development Delayed

The initial target for the first phase of the Kansas Speedway development was set for June 2009. However, this was postponed to later in the year.

February 2010: Final Approval Granted for Casino Project

In February 2010, the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission gave the final approval for the casino project by signing off on licensing background checks. This paved the way for the commencement of construction.

March 2010: Track Leadership Transition at Kansas Speedway

In March 2010, Jeff Boerger stepped down as president of Kansas Speedway to focus on leading the development of the Hollywood Casino. Patrick Warren, the track's vice president of marketing and sales, was promoted to oversee the track's operations.

April 30, 2010: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Hollywood Casino

On April 30, 2010, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway took place. This marked the official start of the construction phase for the project.

2010: Second NASCAR Cup Series Race Added to Kansas Speedway Schedule

A second NASCAR Cup Series race weekend was officially added to the Kansas Speedway schedule in 2010, fulfilling promises made during the casino proposal process.

March 23, 2011: Topping Out Ceremony for Hollywood Casino

On March 23, 2011, the topping out ceremony for the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway was held. This signified the completion of the structural framework of the building.

June 2011: First Running of Second NASCAR Cup Series Race at Kansas Speedway

The second NASCAR Cup Series race weekend was added to the schedule in 2010, with the first race taking place in June 2011.

July 8, 2011: Kansas Speedway Announces Track Renovations

On July 8, 2011, Kansas Speedway announced a series of renovations to the track. These included repaving, reconfiguring the oval track, and constructing a new infield road course. Notably, the variable banking was increased from 15 to 20 degrees.

February 3, 2012: Public Opening of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway

The Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway opened its doors to the public on February 3, 2012. This marked the culmination of the casino project and the beginning of its operation.

2012: Planned Opening Date for Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway

The Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway was projected to open in early 2012. This came after the Kansas Lottery approved the proposal for a $386 million casino in December of the previous year.

2019: Capacity Reduction at Kansas Speedway

By 2019, the seating capacity of Kansas Speedway had been reduced from 64,000 to 48,000, according to archived records from International Speedway Corporation (ISC).

2022: Schedule Shift for Hollywood Casino 400

In 2022, the Hollywood Casino 400, typically held in late September or October, was moved to early September to become the second race of the NASCAR playoffs' Round of 16.

2024: Return to Traditional Weekend for Hollywood Casino 400

In 2024, the Hollywood Casino 400 was moved back to its traditional late September/early October weekend, becoming the opening race of the NASCAR playoffs' Round of 12.