MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY - BROOKLYN MI
Also known as Michigan Speedway has hosted NASCAR races since 1969. It is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than 1,400 acres, approximately four miles south of the village of Brooklyn. Groundbreaking took place on September 28, 1967. Over 2.5 million cubic yards of dirt were moved to form the D-shaped oval. The track opened in 1968 with a total capacity of 25,000 seats. The track was originally built and owned by Lawrence H. LoPatin. LoPatin was President of American Raceways and had a controlling interest in Atlanta International Raceway, Trenton Speedway, Texas World Speedway and Riverside International Raceway until the company went
bankrupt in 1971. In 1972, Roger Penske purchased the speedway for an estimated $2 million. During Penske's ownership the track was upgraded several times. From 1996 to 2000, the track was referred to as Michigan Speedway. In 1999, the speedway was purchased by International Speedway Corporation and in 2000 the track was renamed to its original name of Michigan International Speedway. In 2004-2005 Michigan saw the largest renovation project in the history of the facility. The AAA Motorsports Fan Plaza—a reconfiguration of over 26 acres behind the main grandstand; among other major improvements. Michigan was repaved prior to the 2012 season. This marks the first time since
1995 that the oval was resurfaced. In 2021 only one Cup race was ran at Michigan. That race date would be moved to a different track and not known if it will move back. Track records include: Jeff Gordon has the fastest qualifying lap at 206.558 mph. While Indy style race cars had Paul Tracy laid down a lap of 234.949 mpg. David Pearson has the most wins (9) and poles (10). Cale Yarborough has eight wins and Bill Elliott seven. Pearson won seven of eight races from 1972-1975. Elliott won six of his races over an eight race span from 1984-1987. Elliott has the most starts (61) and most laps completed (11,212). As of 2022, Ford products have won 51 of the 104 races contested there. Notable incidents involving NASCAR include: June 1986: Rick Baldwin crashed in turn 2 during Cup qualifying. His window net failed when he
smacked the wall with the driver's side of the car. His head protruded enough out of the window to smack the wall. He sustained massive head injuries and was in a coma for 11 years before dying in 1997. He was 42. August 1992: Clifford Allison, son of retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison, was killed during a practice-run crash for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. August 1994: Ernie Irvan crashed in an early morning practice session. According to drivers on the track, a right front tire deflated, sending Irvan's car into the turn 2 wall at over 170 miles per hour (270 km/h). Emergency workers at the track extricated him from the car, and he was immediately airlifted to Saint Joseph's Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was diagnosed with critical brain and lung injuries and given only a 10% chance of surviving the night. After making a full recovery, Irvan returned to NASCAR in 1995; winning at Michigan in 1997. August 1999: Exactly 5 years after his near fatal accident there, Irvan crashed at Michigan while driving his own #84 Irvan-Simo Federated Auto Parts Pontiac in a practice session for the Busch Series race. Ernie was again airlifted from the track and was diagnosed with a mild head injury and a bruised lung as a result of the accident. Less than two weeks later, Irvan announced his retirement from driving.
Ernie Irvin's comeback win 1997 ----->
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