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About Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway boasts a
proud 40-year history of hosting America's best racing action on its 1,400-plus
acres in the scenic Irish Hills. With 18 degree banking and 73-foot wide
sweeping turns, Michigan International Speedway provides drivers with three and
four grooves to run around the two-mile speedway.
When Michigan International Speedway opened in 1968, the 12,000-seat center
grandstand stood overlooking the new two-mile oval, a symbol of a new era for
the Irish Hills area. With smaller grandstands on each side, the track proudly
boasted 25,000 seats.
No one at the time suspected it was the start of something much, much bigger.
Since its opening, the success of the speedway and the growth of motorsports has
made Michigan International Speedway the largest sports arena in Michigan. The
center grandstand was extended in 1985, in 1989, and again in 1990 to seat over
27,000. In 1999, a 28,000-seat, 10-1/2-story high structure was added to the
center grandstand, increasing the number of seats to 55,000-more than four times
its original size.
In 1990, the first of two of the seven grandstands in turn one were erected, and
in 1992, the first North Concourse grandstands (turn four) were built. By 1997,
the eighth North Concourse grandstand was built in turn three.
Over the last decade, Michigan International Speedway has increased its reserved
seating capacity by 80,000, and since 1985, the Speedway has increased its
seating by nearly five times.
In 2004, the track added the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) walls to
the track to make it safer for all drivers competing at MIS.
In 2005, MIS took on the largest renovation in its storied history by adding 870
additional seats with a new Club Level seating area called the Champions Club.
The renovation project included a reconfiguration of the frontstretch area,
which added new ticket gates, vendor and display areas, several new concession
stands, and a new skylounge structure high above the main grandstand near the
start/finish line. The skylounge area holds 16 suites, press box, timing &
scoring area, television and radio broadcast area, and race control for use by
the sanctioning bodies.
The 2008 season will feature a new scoreboard, improved turn one seating, 300 new campsites in the Graves Farm Campground with electric hookups and new way-finding signage around the MIS property.
After more than 40 years of improvements and updates, Michigan International
Speedway is still considered one of the country's premier racing facilities.
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