NASCAR is obviously in no position to expand at the moment. That being said, I see no reason to not mix up the schedule a bit and add some new tracks. There are obviously some less popular tracks for NASCAR fans such as Chicagoland, Kentucky, Kansas and all the problems Texas has been experiencing. Based on the unexplored markets that are desperate for a NASCAR Cup Series race and old tracks that fans are eager to experience a race at once again, here is my list of 10 tracks and cities for a future NASCAR expansion (new territory in red):
- Columbus, Ohio
- Iowa Speedway, Iowa
- Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Black Hills South Dakota
- Road America, Wisconsin
- Pike’s Peak International Raceway, Colorado
- Memphis International Raceway, Tennessee
- Gateway Motorsports Park, Illinois (outside of St. Louis)
- Milwaukee Mile, Wisconsin
- Rockingham Speedway, North Carolina
Ohio Motor Speedway – Columbus, OH
Ohio is a state that has been criminally excluded from the current NASCAR schedule. Based on Google searches from this year, Ohio ranked as the No. 21 most searched state for NASCAR. Columbus, the capitol city of Ohio, is the perfect location for a NASCAR track because it’s located in the middle of the state. It’s also in close proximity to West Virginia, the second most Google searched state for NASCAR. As well as the metro areas of No. 8 Parkersburg WV, No. 14 Zanesville OH, No. 19 Clarksburg-Weston WV, No. 20 Charleston-Huntington WV and No. 21 Lima OH. Although Columbus doesn’t currently have a racetrack that is NASCAR-ready, I preemptively named their future track, Ohio Motor Speedway.
Race to replace: Consumers Energy 400 – Michigan International Speedway
Iowa Speedway – Newton, IA (Des Moines)
Iowa is the No. 4 most Google searched state for NASCAR, second most without a race and most searched state thats furthers from any cup series track. To make matters worse, the Great Plains region of the Midwest is practically raceless, depending on your definition of the Great Plains region of course. No. 10 South Dakota, No. 12 North Dakota, No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 18 Nebraska are all deprived of a NASCAR cup race and all within a relatively close drive to the centrally located Iowa. The Iowa Speedway is located near the middle of the state just outside Des Moines and currently has two Xfinity Series races and one Camping World Truck Series race. Not only is it a short track, which many NASCAR fans have been begging for more of but its a short drive to the No. 7 NASCAR Google searched city, Omaha.
Race to replace: Hollywood Casino 400 – Kansas Speedway
Gulf Coast Speedway – Lake Charles, LA
I have previously written an article making an argument that Lake Charles, Louisiana would make the best NASCAR expansion option. For a much more in depth and obviously amazing breakdown for the need of a track in Lake Charles, I highly recommend checking that out. In summary however, Louisiana is oddly left out of the southern dominated sport of NASCAR. I chose Lake Charles because there is already a track in Dallas, which is close to northern Louisiana. Lake Charles however, is in between New Orleans and Houston, the No. 12 most NASCAR Google searched city. Regardless of state affiliation, Houston is actually a closer drive to Lake Charles than it is to Dallas. Lake Charles is also an awesome gambling city along the gulf coast thats great for tourism. In order to encompass both Houston and New Orleans rather than just Louisiana, I chose to name their future track the Gulf Coast Speedway.
Race to replace: AAA Texas 500 – Texas Motor Speedway
Black Hills South Dakota (Spearfish, Rapid City, Sturgis)
This is by far the most remote expansion option I chose to list for NASCAR but one I think that would be a wonderful addition to the schedule. South Dakota is a state full of motorsport fans that have never had the pleasure of hosting a NASCAR race. Rather than the largest city in the state, Sioux Falls, I chose to include the beautiful Black Hills to my list due to one important event, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sturgis hosts the largest biker rally in the world every year in August and would surely draw a massive crowd to a NASCAR race. South Dakota is the No. 10 most NASCAR Google searched state and the Black Hills are in close proximity to No. 12 North Dakota, No. 18 Nebraska and No. 20 Wyoming, all without NASCAR races. Not only would this huge event bring fans but would also fill a NASCAR regional void.
Race to replace: GoBowling at The Glen – Watkins Glen International
(Although I have no intention of removing the only race at The Glen from the cup series schedule, its the race that takes place during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I would recommend moving the race at The Glen to replace another race like the Consumers Energy 400 in Michigan or Hollywood Casino 400 in Kansas.)
Road America – Plymouth, WI
Unlike most of the tracks on this last, Road America has previously held a cup series NASCAR race. Although there was only one cup series race in 1956, the Xfinity Series has continued to hold a race at this track for the past 8 years. In a motorsport beloved state such as Wisconsin, the No. 13 most NASCAR google searched state, there is sadly no cup series race. It is also in close proximity to the No. 4 most searched state of Iowa as well as Minnesota, both without NASCAR races. To make the expansion argument even stronger for Road America, this the only road course on my list, which is something NASCAR fans have begged more of on the schedule. If Road America is good enough for the Xfinity Series, I see no reason to not include another road course on the Monster Energy Cup Series schedule while giving Wisconsin a race they deserve.
Race to replace: Consumers Energy 400 – Michigan International Speedway
Pike’s Peak International Raceway – Fountain, CO
With Martin Truex Jr. officially joining Joe Gibbs Racing as a result of the Furniture Row Racing team closing its doors, the Rocky Mounties are suddenly experiencing a NASCAR cultural drought. Although not the absolute furthest state from any NASCAR cup series track, Colorado is among the furthest. Yet, the Centennial State has a track that was once included in not only the Xfinity Series and Truck Series but the IndyCar series as recent as 2013 as well. Starting in 1998, NASCAR held a race at Pike’s Peak International Raceway every year until 2005. Unfortunately, in 2008 a group bought the track with a non-compete clause – meaning they could not allow similar competition that competed at other ISC tracks to compete there. This means, for NASCAR to return to Pike’s Peak the track would need to be purchased by a NASCAR approved group or somehow end the non-compete clause. Let’s hope for the sake of Rocky Mountain NASCAR fans, one of these two options comes to fruition.
Race to replace: Hollywood Casino 400 – Kansas Speedway
Memphis International Raceway
Although Memphis is in a state that already hosts a cup series race, it’s on the complete opposite side and boarders a NASCAR vacancy in a deserving region. Just south of Memphis sits Mississippi, the No. 27 most NASCAR google searched state. To the north is Missouri, the No. 24 most google search state and directly across the Mississippi River is Arkansas, the No. 29 state. It’s also 3 hours from Chapmansboro, TN, the most NASCAR google searched city in America as well as 5 hours from Louisville, the 4th most searched city. Fortunately, Memphis already has a track. The Memphis International Raceway held Xfinity Series and Truck Series races from ’99 to 2009. It could be argued that the 35,000 capacity grand stands would need expansion for a cup series race but at the same time, that was the exact attendance for the popular race of Brickyard in Indy this year, leaving roughly 200k vacant seats. Like the trend for smaller football stadiums, Memphis International Raceway might be the perfect size.
Race to replace: AAA Texas 500 – Texas Motor Speedway
Gateway Motorsports Park – Madison, IL (St. Louis, MO)
Similar to the NFL, St. Louis is currently missing out on local NASCAR. There has never been a cup series race at the Gateway Motorsports Park and the Xfinity Series hasn’t returned since 2010. The Camping World Truck Series however, hosted the Villa Lighting Delivers the Eaton 200 at the track this year and has held a race there every year since 1998. This track stays true to its motorsports park name by offering a 1.25 oval tack, 1.6 mile infield road course and a quarter-mile drag strip. Its location also makes it a prime racetrack for fans. It’s surrounded by the No. 4 most NASCAR googled state Iowa, No. 29 Arkansas as well as the No. 4 city Louisville, No. 6 Indianapolis, No. 22 metro area Terre Haute, Indiana and No. 23 Quincy, IL-Hannibal, MO-Keokuk, IA metro area. After a multimillion-dollar resurfacing project in 2017, the Gateway Motorsports Park is cup series ready and in a excellent location.
Race to replace: Hollywood Casino 400 – Kansas Speedway
Milwaukee Mile – Wisconsin
Although it has never actually hosted a Monster Cup Series race, the Milwaukee Mile has had the pleasure of hosting 19 Xfinity Series races, 15 Truck Series races and 11 IndyCar races. Since its historical opening in 1903, the Milwaukee Mile has seen great NASCAR drivers from the likes of Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Rusty Wallace, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. “America’s Legendary Oval” would fill the racing void of Wisconsin, the No. 13 most NASCAR google searched state. It would also be close proximity to the No. 4 most searched state of Iowa as well as Minnesota, both without NASCAR races. The Milwaukee Mile would be a great historical option for track expansion in a state that is unfortunately without a NASCAR cup series race.
Race to replace: Hollywood Casino 400 – Kansas Speedway
Rockingham Speedway – Rockingham, NC
The Rockingham Speedway use to be a treasured race in the NASCAR cup series. First used by NASCAR in 1965, “The Rock” saw multiple wins by legendary drivers such as Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace and Jeff Gordon but was mastered by Richard Petty with an incredible 11 wins. Since 2013 however, the league removed the track for the schedule and The Rock has unfortunately sat vacant. As of 2018 however, a new group purchased the track with plans to bring racing back to the legendary track with the allure of renovations. Although Rockingham sits in a heavily saturated NASCAR territory, The Rock is a wonderfully historic track that race fans would surely enjoy experiencing once again.
Race to replace: Gander Outdoors 400 – Pocono Raceway
