Michigan International Speedway

A huge facility with a sweeping frontstretch, Michigan can lull a driver into a false sense of security before disaster strikes.

A wide "D" shaped oval that measures two miles around, Michigan International Speedway is the place to go for side-by-side high speed racing. Michigan International Speedway is situated on a 1,200-acre tract of land in the Irish Hills of southeastern Michigan, near the intersection of Highways 12 and 50 south of Jackson, about 75 miles southwest of downtown Detroit. MIS features 18-degree banking in the four turns and 12-degree banking on the frontstretch.

The banking and the wide racing groove (or variety of grooves) allow for three-wide and occasionally four-wide racing. Current qualifying speeds at Michigan, which is not a restrictor-plate track, are comparable to those at Daytona and Talladega, where carburetors are restricted to reduce horsepower. Dale Earnhardt Jr. holds the MIS qualifying record at 191.149 mph, his polewinning speed for Pepsi 400 in August of 2000.

Now owned by International Speedway Corporation-after its tenure in the hands of Penske Motorsports-Michigan hosts two 400-mile Nextel Cup events each year, in June and August. David Pearson heads the all-time victory list at Michigan with nine. Bill Elliott leads active drivers with seven wins. Designed by Charles Moneypenny, who also designed Daytona International Speedway, Michigan opened in 1968. Cale Yarborough recorded the first of his eight victories at Michigan in the inaugural Winston Cup race, the Motor State 500 on June 15, 1969.

The original layout at MIS included an interior and exterior road course designed by Formula One star Stirling Moss. Neither course has seen competition since 1984, but law enforcement agencies occasionally use them for passenger car testing.

Drafting, speed and competition have made the Michigan track among the most popular stops on the tour.

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