Kentucky Speedway races, concerts through the years: A look back in photos (2024)

JULY 13, 1998: Aerial view, looking northeast, of the proposed site for Jerry Carroll's NASACR track in Gallatin County Kentucky with I-71`and the US35 interchange, right.

JULY 15, 1998: Andy Vertrees, left, general manager of the Louisville Motor Speed Way and Jerry Carroll owner of Turfway Park talks with Bill Moss, right, race track designer in a hay fields that will soon be Kentucky Speedway in Sparta Ky.

APRIL 5, 1999: Workers build a concrete form for the continuation of the crash wall of the Kentucky Speedway, under construction off Ky. 35 in Gallatin County. They work for Baker Concrete Construction Inc.

APRIL 20, 1999: Workers prepare a concrete reinforcing rod on the entrance to a large pipe that will serve as a pedestrian walkway under the track at the Kentucky Speedway, under construction in Gallatin County, Ky.

JULY 30, 1999: (L to R) Race car drivers Bobby Unser, Darrell Waltrip and Danny Sullivan talk after a press conference at the construction site of the Kentucky Speedway in Gallatin County Kentucky.

FERUARY 29, 2000: Tony Dunsmore (left) and Russ Keller, who work for Kone Elevator Company, install an escalator that will take fans from the pedestrian tunnel beneath the track to the infield concession and merchandise area at Kentucky Speedway.

FEBRUARY 29, 2000: Skip Stewart (right), an ironworker with Lykins Reinforcing Specialists, maneuvers a structural beam into place on The grandstand tower at Kentucky Speedway. At left in the lift basket is ironworker Jay Infanti.

JUNE 16, 2000: Don and Jodi Ballard from Springfield, Ohio sit at their RV parking spot and watch the Slim Jima Pro Series car take practice laps at the new Kentucky Speedway.

JUNE 16, 2000: Tracey Guthrie helps her daughter Cassidy,4, with her ear protection in the RV area of the Kentucky Speedway.

JUNE 17, 2000: Kentucky State Trooper Jon Allen directs traffic along Rt. 35 outside the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky Saturday afternoon.

JUNE 17, 2000: Rock legend Joe Walsh, formerly of the Eagles and the James Gang, plays an afternoon concert before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Kentucky Speedway.

JUNE 17, 2000: Race fans maneuver the mud as they make their way into the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky Saturday afternoon.

JUNE 17, 2000: Greg Biffle celebrates his win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kroger 225 Saturday evening at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

JUNE 18, 2000: Race fans sit in traffic behind the grandstand at Kentucky Speedway after the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.

JUNE 17, 2000: Traffic is at a standstill on Route 35 Southbound leaving the Kentucky Speedway about 10:30 p.m. Many fans left early during a rain delay hoping to beat the traffic problem, but to no avail. Headlights at the rear are from an exit at the track, Speedway Boulevard.

JUNE 18, 2000: In the end, after a night of fast cars and downpours, the adjoining fields to the Kentucky Speedway were turned into mud pits. Here a tractor pulls a pickup and camper (attached) to a paved roadway.

JUNE 18, 2000: In the end, after a night of fast cars and downpours, the adjoining fields to the Kentucky Speedway were turned into mud pits. Here a tractor pulls a RV to a paved roadway

JULY 2, 2000: Cones setup on KY-35 making five lanes for traffic going to Kentucky Speedway this afternoon for the Kentucky 150 ARCA event.

JULY 2, 2000: NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip is forced to leave the track because of a broken front wheel after his car and Indy driver Stephan Gregoire's car hit during the Celebrity Legends race at the Kentucky Speedway.

JULY 8, 2000: Kid Rock performs for the record crowd at the Kentucky Speedway.

JULY 8, 2000: Crowds cheer for Kid Rock at Kentucky Speedway.

AUGUST 24, 2000: Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell talks with Kentucky Speedway owner Jerry Carroll at the track. Later Senator McConnell took a ride around the track with IRL race car driver Eddie Cheever.

AUGUST 25, 2000: Al Unser, Jr. is fallowed out of turn four by Buddy Lazier during practice at the Kentucky Speedway, the Belterra Resort Indy 300 is on Sunday.

AUGUST 26, 2000: The 67 car of Brian Ross makes heavy contact with the 81 car of John Bornemam in the fourth turn at the Kentucky Speedway during the 27th lap of the Blue Grass Quality Meats 200, both drivers walked away

AUGUST 27, 2000: Car owner and racing legend A. J. Foyt speaks answers a question on pit road before the start of the Beltera Indy 300 at the Kentucky Speedway Sunday. He is the owner of the Harrah's A. J. Foyt Racing team.

Kayla Stewart, left and Cassie Burgin, both of Warsaw, Ky., can't keep their eyes off Clay Walker as he performs at the Country Stampede June 6, 2004, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. The festival concluded Sunday after featuring several country acts and headliners.

Reba McEntire smiles after her first song as she performs at the Country Stampede Sunday, June 6, 2004, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta. The festival concluded Sunday after featuring several country acts and headliners.

MAY 12, 2004: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. looks over his tires in the garage area at Kentucky Speedway after a test session on the track

JUNE 17, 2005: Cincinnati native Jeff Fultz celebrates his victory in The Insight Communications 150 at Kentucky Speedway.

Kentucky Gov Ernie Fletcher stands talking at Kentucky Speedway on July 19, 2005 after unveiling the new state license plate.

AUGUST 12, 2005: IRL driver Danica Patrick pedals a bicycle through the infield at Kentucky Speedway, Sparta, after a press conference.

JULY 8, 2006 A pair of beer cans stuck to his head, Eddie Simpson, of Georgetown, talks with Norman Rassman, of Carrollton, as they tailgate before the Built Ford Tough 225 Craftsman Truck Series Race at Kentucky Speedway, Sparta. "I only stick 'em on my head if there isn't a trash can around," said Simpson, "'Cause I don't litter."

AUGUST 12, 2006: Helio Castroneves gets a congratulatory kiss from his girlfriend, Alietta Vazquez after he won the pole position for the Meijer Indy 300 presented by Coca-Cola and Secret race at Kentucky Speedway.

AUGUST 13, 2006: Gene Simmons, of the rock band Kiss, places a T-shirt on Hayley Apple's head so he can autograph it in the garage area of Kentucky Speedway before the Meijer Indy 300. Simmons is part of an IRL marketing campaign called "I am INDY."

MAY 26, 2007: Angela Lawrence (right), of Hamilton, holds her cousin Gabriel Boggs, 10 months old, outside the garage where her uncle, driver Larry Hibbard, is preparing his car for the Frank Kimmel Enduro National race at Kentucky Speedway.

JUNE 16, 2007: Bobby Hamilton, Jr. #35 and A. J. Frank # 56 collide between turns 3 and 4 in the Meijer 300, presented by Oreo Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway, Sparta.

JULY 14, 2007: Ric Robinson, of Price Hill, prepares to haul in a can of beer tossed to him by a friend as they played cornhole in the parking area at Kentucky Speedway before the NASCAR Craftsman Series Built Ford Tough 225 race.

JULY 26, 2007: ActorJosh Hutcherson, of Union, shakes hands with Indy Racing League driver Dan Wheldon at Kentucky Speedway during media day for the Meijer Indy 300. Hutcherson will be the grand marshal of the race.

JULY 19, 2008: New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, a part owner of a truck running in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway, talks with the driver, Willie Allen on pit road before the start of the race.

JULY 19, 2008: Kyle Busch climbs into his truck to qualify for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Built Ford Tough 225 at Kentucky Speedway, Sparta.

JUNE 13, 2009 Actress and singer-songwriter Hilary Duff reaches out to hug Haley Petrosky, a third grader at Gallatin County Elementary School after a bicycle race to promote the "Blessings in a Backpack" charity at Kentucky Speedway. Duff was at the speedway to serve as grand marshal of the "Meijer 300 presented by Ritz" NASCAR Nationwide Series race.

JUNE 13, 2009: Four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, a part-owner of a Nationwide Series car stands in the pits before the Meijer 300 presented by Ritz at Kentucky Speedway.

JUNE 13, 2009: Safety crew members clean fluid from the track after Mike Bliss slammed into the wall in the front stretch with fewer than 20 laps to go in the Meijer 300 presented by Ritz at Kentucky Speedway.

JULY 31, 2009 IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon (left) and his teammate, Dario Franchitti, who is in second place in the points standings, talk on pit road as they wait for the Kentucky Speedway track to dry for practice for the Meijer Indy 300.

JUNE 12, 2010: Joey Logano celebrates his third consecutive victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway, Sparta.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2010: Cincinnati Bengal receiver Terrell Owens watches the Kentucky Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway, Sparta.

JULY 7, 2011: Tony Stewart (right) talks with a member of his crew in the garage between Sprint Cup Series testing sessions at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta.

JULY 8, 2011: No. 39 Will Kimmel slams into the wall on turn four, above No. 70 David Stremme on lap 54 during the Feed the Children 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Kentucky Speedway.

JULY 9, 2011: Race fans cheer their favorite drivers during the Inaugural Quaker State 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

Drivers lined up to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky Saturday June 30, 2012.

JUNE 30, 2012: Crew members of driver Brad Keselowski (2) Penske Racing Dodge Charger celebrate their win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky.

JUNE 27, 2013: A couple watches the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from the top of the grandstand at Kentucky Speedway as the sun sets

Dale Earnhardt Jr., 88, and Carl Edwards, 99, lead the pack to start the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Quaker State 400, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky Sunday June 30, 2013.

Kentucky Speedway. Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski, in the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, speeds into turn one as drivers go through the Goodyear tire test at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky Wednesday May 21, 2014.

The Quaker State 400 trophy will be awarded at the Kentucky Speedway Saturday, July 9, 2016.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) is introduced to the crowd before the Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts, Saturday, July 9, 2016, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

Fans watch during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 auto race, Saturday, July 8, 2017, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) crosses the finish line in the last lap of regulation in the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on Saturday, July 8, 2017.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver J.J. Yeley (23) is towed off the track during the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Quaker State 400 race, Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (78) celebrates his win of the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Quaker State 400 race, Saturday, July 14, 2018, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

Bill "Seg" Dennison smiles during a commercial break during his radio broadcast before the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Quaker State 400 race, Saturday, July 13, 2019, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (18) jockey for position during the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Quaker State 400 race, Saturday, July 13, 2019, at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky.