Charlotte Motor Speedway: A Rich History of Speed, Innovation, and Iconic Races

A cathedral of speed that offers a wide variety of motorsport

Located in Concord, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte, Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of the most revered venues in motorsports. This 1.5-mile quad-oval intermediate speedway has been at the heart of NASCAR and other major racing series for decades, hosting legendary races, pioneering track innovations, and thrilling fans with high-speed action.

A Historic Legacy: Home of NASCAR's Longest Race

Charlotte Motor Speedway was built in 1959 by Bruton Smith and Curtis Turner, visionaries who sought to bring high-quality stock car racing to the Southeast. It made history on June 19, 1960, when it hosted the first-ever 600-mile NASCAR race, now known as the Coca-Cola 600. This grueling endurance event remains a crown jewel of the NASCAR schedule, testing the limits of drivers and machines. Joe Lee Johnson took the inaugural victory, etching his name into racing history.

Over the years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has been a key testing ground for NASCAR innovations, from track surfaces to lighting. In 1992, it became the first superspeedway to install permanent lights, paving the way for NASCAR’s wildly popular night races.

Track Layouts and Features

Charlotte Motor Speedway is designed for high-speed action and intense competition. Its quad-oval layout features four turns banked at 24 degrees, allowing for side-by-side racing and strategic drafting. But the facility offers more than just its iconic oval.

• Roval (Road Course-Oval Hybrid) – In 2018, Charlotte introduced the Roval, a 2.28-mile road course incorporating portions of the oval with an infield road course. This configuration provides a unique challenge, blending high-speed oval racing with tight technical turns.
• Dirt and Clay Tracks – Beyond its paved surfaces, the speedway complex includes a dirt track that hosts events like the World of Outlaws sprint car series and a clay oval used for grassroots racing.
• ZMAX Dragway – This state-of-the-art four-lane dragstrip hosts NHRA events, making Charlotte one of the few venues to offer elite drag racing alongside stock car and road racing.

The grandstand capacity of 95,000 ensures that thousands of passionate fans can experience the high-octane action live.

A Versatile Racing Venue

Charlotte Motor Speedway has hosted some of the most prestigious racing series in motorsports, including:

• NASCAR Cup Series – Featuring the Coca-Cola 600 and the Bank of America Roval 400, two of the most anticipated races of the season.
• NASCAR Xfinity Series & Craftsman Truck Series – Developing future stars of stock car racing.
• IMSA SportsCar Championship – Showcasing elite endurance racing with high-performance prototypes and GT cars.
• Indy Racing League (IRL) – Open-wheel competition has also graced the Charlotte asphalt.
• IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge (Starting in 2025) – Bringing the latest Ford Mustang racing series to the track, expanding its sports car legacy.

A Destination for Racing Fans

Charlotte Motor Speedway isn’t just a race track—it’s a motorsports hub where fans can enjoy a full spectrum of racing disciplines. Whether it's stock cars thundering around the quad-oval, sports cars maneuvering the Roval, or dragsters launching down ZMAX Dragway, the facility is a true cathedral of speed.

With decades of history, legendary races, and ongoing innovation, Charlotte Motor Speedway continues to be one of the most important and exciting venues in American motorsports. As it welcomes the IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge in 2025, the track’s legacy of speed and competition will only grow stronger.