New Hampshire International Speedway

Nestled in Loudon, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Motor Speedway stands as New England's largest sporting venue and premier motorsports facility. The speedway opened on June 5, 1990, and has become a cornerstone of American racing culture. Located approximately one hour north of Boston, this 1,200-acre complex provides easy access to motorsports fans throughout the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. The facility sits within 200 miles of nearly 18 million people, making it a highly accessible destination for racing enthusiasts.

Track Configuration and Technical Specifications

The main attraction is the 1.058-mile oval track, widely known as "The Magic Mile." This asphalt and granite surface features a progressive banking system installed during a 2002 reconfiguration. The turns now range from 2 to 7 degrees of banking, while the straightaways maintain 1 degree of banking. This relatively flat configuration creates unique racing challenges that require drivers to master specific braking and acceleration techniques. NASCAR officially uses the 1.058-mile measurement, though some sanctioning bodies like the IndyCar Series previously used a slightly different distance of 1.025 miles. The facility also houses a 1.6-mile road course with 12 technical turns. This road course combines sections of the oval track with dedicated road course portions and serves motorcycle racing, club events, and track days. Additional facilities include a 0.25-mile mini-oval and a 0.25-mile dirt flat track. This variety of racing surfaces makes the speedway a versatile venue capable of hosting diverse motorsports events throughout the year.

Historical Development

The speedway's roots trace back to Bryar Motorsports Park, established in 1965 on this same land. The original facility featured a road course and hosted events like the Laconia Classic, now known as the Loudon Classic. The current oval configuration was completed in 1990 and underwent its significant reconfiguration with progressive banking in 2002. Speedway Motorsports, LLC (SMI) purchased the facility on November 2, 2007, from Bob and Gary Bahre. This ownership change brought a name modification from New Hampshire International Speedway to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Racing Heritage and Current Events

The first NASCAR-sanctioned event was a NASCAR Xfinity Series race held on July 15, 1990, with Tommy Ellis taking the checkered flag. The NASCAR Cup Series debuted at the track on July 11, 1993, when Rusty Wallace claimed victory. From 1997 to 2017, the speedway hosted two Cup Series races annually. Currently, the track hosts the Mobil 1 301 Cup Series race (formerly Ambetter 301) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, which in 2026 will be the Team EJP 175 regular season finale. The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has held at least one race annually since 1990, and this event ranks among the most prestigious on the Modified Tour calendar. The speedway previously hosted IndyCar Series races but these are no longer part of the current schedule. Beyond NASCAR, the facility hosts events from the American-Canadian Tour, Pro All Star Series, U.S. Legend Cars International, and Northeast Motorcycle Road Racing. Amateur series including the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), U.S. Classic Racing Association, and World Karting Association also utilize the facility. Racing schools such as the NASCAR Racing Experience and Penguin Roadracing School operate throughout the year. The Loudon Classic, America's longest-running motorcycle race that began in 1965, predates the speedway itself and continues as a signature event.

Spectator Experience

With a seating capacity of 44,000 as of 2024, the speedway creates an intimate racing atmosphere where fans can view most of the track from any seat. The track's relatively flat design allows spectators to see across the infield to the opposite side of the circuit, providing excellent visibility of racing action and strategy development throughout events.