Homestead-Miami Speedway:

Homestead-Miami Speedway:

History

·            Groundbreaking for Homestead-Miami Dade Motorsports Complex – as the track was originally named – began Aug. 24, 1993. The first race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Nov. 5, 1995.

·            The original configuration was a four-turn, rectangular oval based on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's layout.

·            The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Homestead was held on Nov. 14, 1999.

·            2002 was the first season of the Championship Weekend at Homestead, with all three of NASCAR’s national series holding their season finale at the same track.

 

Notebook

·            Since the inception of the position-based points system in 1975, only three drivers have made up a points deficit in the season finale: Richard Petty in 1979 (made up two points on Darrell Waltrip), Alan Kulwicki in 1992 (made up 30 points on Davey Allison) and Jimmie Johnson in 2010 (made up 15 points on Denny Hamlin).

·            There have been 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Homestead, one per season since 1999.

·            Five drivers have competed in all 12 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, Elliott Sadler and Tony Stewart.

·            David Green won the first pole, in 1999.

·            Tony Stewart won the inaugural race, in 1999.

·            There have been nine different pole winners. Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson lead all drivers, with two.

·            There have been eight different race winners, led by Greg Biffle, with three.

·            Jack Roush has won seven races, most among owners.

·            The race has been won from the pole twice: Bill Elliott (2001) and Kurt Busch (2002).

·            The race has been won from a top-10 starting position in nine of 12 races.

·            Denny Hamlin won in 2009 from the 38th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

·            Three active drivers have averaged a top-10 finish: Carl Edwards (5.7), Kevin Harvick (7.9) and A.J. Allmendinger (8.7).

 

Homestead-Miami Speedway Data

Race: 36 of 36 (11-20-11)

Track Size: 1.5 miles

Race Length: 267 laps/400.5 miles

·     Banking/Corners: 18 - 20 degrees

·     Banking/Straights: 4 degrees

·     Frontstretch: 1,760 feet

·     Backstretch: 1,760 feet

 

Driver Rating at Homestead
Carl Edwards	117.5
Martin Truex Jr.	107.4
Matt Kenseth	105.7
Kevin Harvick	102.8
Greg Biffle	97.4
Jimmie Johnson	97.4
Denny Hamlin	92.5
Kasey Kahne	89.6
Mark Martin	89.6
Jeff Gordon	88.7

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-11 races (six total) at Homestead-Miami.

 

Qualifying/Race Data

2010 pole winner: Kasey Kahne (176.904 mph, 30.525 seconds)

2010 race winner: Carl Edwards (126.585 mph, 11-21-10)

Track qualifying record: Jamie McMurray (181.111 mph, 29.816 seconds, 11-16-03)

Track race record: Tony Stewart (140.335 mph, 11-14-99)

 

Michigan re-paving is complete

Michigan re-paving is complete: Michigan International Speedway is paving the way for the exciting return of NASCAR to Michigan in 2012. The fourth repave project in the track's 44-year history is complete. The completion of the project means NASCAR drivers will have to work extra hard to win a race at Michigan, a driver favorite and fan since the track opened in 1968. A laser survey of the racetrack before the repave project began last August collected more than 100 million data points across the surface, allowing engineers to replicate all points of the original pavement. But crews smoothed out all of the dips and bumps that occurred over time, making MIS as smooth as silk. "Since the track is so much smoother, it has now created a level playing field for all competitors and all teams," Roger Curtis, president of MIS, explained. "Some teams have a larger book of historical information about the track from past events. All this data can now be thrown out the window because the new, smooth surface will mean the less experienced teams have just as much knowledge of the new surface as the larger, more experienced super-teams." The data points also showed MIS has always had variable banking in its 18-degree turns. Variable banking allows cars to carry more speed through the turns, enabling drivers to run multiple lines around the racetrack. Additionally, a smoother surface usually means more grip with the tires, and more grip means better handling of the cars so drivers feel good about passing and driving high lines.
The $7 million project was done by Ajax Paving Industries in Troy, Mich., who has extensive background in paving high-speed, high-banked ovals including the Chrysler Corp. oval in Chelsea, Mich., and the Ford Romeo Test Track for Ford Motor Co., a five-mile, steep-banked oval used by the manufacturer for testing. The group also completed Phoenix International Raceway, which will host NASCAR events this weekend. The ISC Design & Development engineering and construction team overseeing the project has paved seven NASCAR-sanctioned tracks since 2003. Besides completion of the two-mile oval, the 1.5-mile road course inside the oval was also paved and unveiled to media Thursday. The paving of the road course will enhance the speedway's efforts to be a test bed for various R&D opportunities, while allowing the racetrack to host karting and car club activities.
With paving complete, a few small projects remain to round out all the track work, including landscape restoration, reinstallation of the NASCAR scoring loops and painting the start-finish line. This is the fourth repave in the track's history. The track was built in 1968, and repaved in 1977, 1986 and 1995. During the latest project, 22,000 tons of asphalt was placed on the surface, enough to construct about 5 ½ miles of a two-lane county road.
Renewals for 2012 are under way. Guests have until Nov. 18 to ensure they get the best pricing for next season and automatically entered for a trip to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas on Dec. 2. New guests can place a $10 refundable deposit to take advantage of the best pricing for 2012 by calling 800.354.1010.

GRAND-AM RETURNS TO HOMESTEAD

GRAND-AM ROLEX RACING SPORTS CAR SERIES RETURNS TO HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY IN 2012: GRAND PRIX OF MIAMI SET FOR APRIL 27-29

Homestead-Miami Speedway continues rich history of sports car racing

MIAMI— Next spring, Homestead-Miami Speedway will serve as host to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ Grand Prix of Miami, with the Daytona Prototypes and Grand Touring classes both set to run in South Florida in April. The Grand Prix of Miami will take center stage as Race 3 of the 2012 campaign on the 2.3-mile road course.

“Miami has a stellar sports car-racing tradition, and this is America’s most competitive road-racing series,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matt Becherer. “The Grand Prix of Miami Weekend is a very unique opportunity to get up close with the best sports car drivers in the world. And rest assured that we’ll continue our tradition of unparalleled fan amenities, as we welcome fans into the infield and on to Pit Road; feature driver meet-and-greets and autograph sessions; and continue our policy of admitting all kids 12 and under FREE of charge.”

GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series competitors will compete for an exciting new three-race endurance championship, highlighting the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series schedule announced today.

The inaugural North American Endurance Championship will feature the 50th anniversary running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 28-29, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 29-July 1 and GRAND-AM’s three-hour debut race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Super Weekend at the Brickyard on July 27.

The 13-race schedule also includes GRAND-AM’s first visit to Detroit – the automotive capital of the world – with the Chevrolet Detroit Sports Car Challenge at Belle Isle on June 2, and the return to many of North America’s premier circuits, including Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal; Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio; Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala.; Homestead-Miami Speedway; New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J.; and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

“This is without doubt the strongest schedule in GRAND-AM history,” said GRAND-AM President Tom Bledsoe. “Highlights are everywhere you look …new races, new places – and a new three-race championship. We’re going to be making a lot of sports car history in 2012.”

The North American Endurance Championship will be open to competitors in both the Daytona Prototype and production-based GT classes. The championship’s point structure and purse will be announced in the near future. Awards for the series will be awarded at dusk on the Victory Podium at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, following the historic race on the 2.605-mile road course.

In addition to featuring GRAND-AM’s solid lineup in both classes, several top teams have indicated they will field additional cars with all-star drivers to compete in the three endurance races.

“I think the North American Endurance Championship adds more excitement to an already exciting schedule,” said four-time Rolex Series Daytona Prototype champion Scott Pruett. “The Rolex 24 is clearly the highlight of our season, and I’m very excited with the addition of Indianapolis. The new championship gives further emphasis on our three endurance races.”

The Rolex Series will also run with the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen International, and with the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Road America and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Two Rolex Series events will be in companion with IndyCar, at Detroit and Barber.

Following the season-opening events at Daytona and Barber, the Rolex Series moves to Homestead-Miami Speedway, followed by a visit to New Jersey Motorsports Park. Following the Detroit Belle Isle race, the series returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Cars on June 9. In addition, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s event shifts to September.

The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will run in conjunction with the Rolex Series at 10 of the 13 weekends, including Indianapolis.

The potential season-ending events for both series are still to be announced.

The Grand Prix of Miami debuted in the spring of 1983 and was long a fixture as the second major sports car event of the season following the Rolex 24 At Daytona (again the case in 2011). The event was held in Miami’s Bayfront Park before moving to Homestead-Miami Speedway in 1995. GRAND-AM began sanctioning the event in 2000.

Drivers who have competed in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series include NASCAR Champions Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch; IndyCar Champions Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon; South Florida-residents Juan Pablo Montoya (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star) and Helio Castroneves (three-time Indy 500 winner); and “Grey’s Anatomy” star Patrick Dempsey.

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas—who won the 2011 GRAND-AM Championship—will look to pick up where Ganassi’s IndyCar team left off when Dario Franchitti netted his fourth IndyCar Championship in October.

About Homestead-Miami Speedway: The Speedway has been open since 1995 following an initiative to spur economic recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew.  The 640-acre facility is active more than 280 days per year and hosts NASCAR’s Championship Races during Ford Championship Weekend (November 18-20, 2011).  The Sprint Cup Championship Ford 400 is broadcast live on TV and radio to 175 countries and into 24 languages.  Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring a 1.5-mile oval and 2.21-mile road course, generates more than $250 million annually for the region.  Tickets start at just $55 for the Ford 400 (Sunday, November 20) – NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series Championship.  For more information, please visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com  or call 866.409.RACE.