Michigan International Speedway

Michigan International Speedway Seating Chart

Michigan International Speedway History

Address: Brooklyn, MI

Michigan International Speedway

Less than an hour from Detroit, the capital of America’s automobile industry, Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the picturesque Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan.

The 2-mile oval, with 18-degree banking in its wide, fast turns, was designed by Charles Moneypenny, the same man who designed the oval at Daytona International Speedway (but not the father of James Bond’s boss’s secretary).

Lawrence LoPatin, a land developer from the Detroit area, was the driving force behind construction of the track. The facility cost between $4 million and $6 million and opened in October 1968 with a 250-mile race for Indy cars won by Ronnie Bucknum.

Michigan International Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR event in June 1969 would provide an indication of what future ticket buyers would see at the track over the coming years.

Cale Yarborough and Lee Roy Yarbrough battled side-by-side for most of the 150 laps that day. On the final lap, they traded paint in Turn 1 and Yarbrough brushed the wall. After drafting down the backstraight, Yarbrough spun off the final turn and crashed 300 yards short of the finish line, giving Cale Yarborough the victory.

In 1973, motorsports mogul Roger Penske spent about $2 million purchasing Michigan International Speedway and went to work immediately making it bigger and better.

The track’s capacity grew from around 100,000 to over 125,000 during the 25 years Michigan International Speedway was owned by Penske. It became one of America’s top facilities for both stock-car and Indy-car racing and went through several phases of improvements in its garage and infield areas.

In July 1999, Penske merged his motorsports venture with International Speedway Corporation, and yet another era of Michigan International Speedway began. Another 11,000 seats were added in 2000.

The largest renovation project in Michigan International Speedway’s history was completed before the 2005 racing season began. The project includes a new entry way for those with tickets on the frontstretch, including new vendor and display areas and concession stands. A new skylounge with 16 suites and 870 Champions Club seats, alogn with new media and timing and scoring areas, is also part of the project.

With the latest round of improvements done, Michigan International Speedway has more than 137,000 seats. Fans who enjoy camping at the track have acres and acres available to them in areas on and near the track’s property.

After scoring that first victory in Michigan International Speedway’s inaugural NASCAR event, Cale Yarborough came back and won seven more races there. David Pearson is the all-time leader with nine career Michigan victories. Bill Elliott won seven times here.

Michigan International Speedway will always have a special place in Dale Jarrett’s heart, for it was here on Aug. 18, 1991, he scored his first career Cup series victory. That victory came in a car owned by the legendary Wood Brothers team, the operation that ranks first on the all-time list at Michigan International Speedway with 11 all-time victories.

Michigan International Speedway is a favorite track among drivers, who enjoy its wide surface that allows them to choose the most effective line for them to compete for NASCAR glory.