Turn 3 at Kentucky Speedway is fast becoming the track’s trademark turn. With increased banking coming out of Turn 2, drivers carry more speed down the backstretch and make going 3-4 wide into Turn 3 that much more challenging.
“Corners that come to mind when you start thinking tricky corners are the first quarter at Darlington, the tunnel turn at Pocono and now Turn 3 here,” NBC analyst Kyle Petty said during Kentucky Speedway’s media day Tuesday at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse in Cincinnati.
RELATED: New surface, no problem for Keselowski
“When you see that many accidents, these aren’t amateur drivers. I think it went from being the bumpiness of the race track of what defined Kentucky to the new configuration of 1-2 and going into Turn 3. I think it speaks volumes of Kentucky when you say you’ve got to be a driver to go there.”
Kentucky left drivers battered — and even with a few nosebleeds — following the Monster Energy Cup’s first five visits starting in 2011. Though the racing surface is now smooth, it still leaves some bruised egos.
"If we look at the guys who have won here like Kyle Busch and Brad (Keselowski), they're drivers' drivers," Petty said. "They don't point and steer. They drive sideways. They drive backwards. They drive any way they can to get it done. I think it's beginning to get that reputation."
Here are five things to know from Kentucky Speedway’s media day:
The stage is set: NASCAR has tweaked its scoring system with races now divided into three stages, with drivers able to earn bonus points by finishing among the top 10 in each stage.
Officials anticipate the new rule will encourage aggressive racing and strategy. Fan reaction has been mixed.
“I’m not going to say to anybody out there, ‘You’re going to like it.’ You have to form your own opinions,” Petty said. “Some people are going to love it, some people are going to hate it. But you gotta give NASCAR credit to sit down in the off-season, to take a blank sheet of paper, and to try to come up with a system that makes it more interesting. … At least they’re trying something.
“I think we’re going to see every lap counts and every position counts. I do believe for the casual fan it’ll make it interesting having it in segments. For the traditional fan, it’s going to be interesting because you’re seeing something you’ve never seen before.”
Fresh faces: NASCAR will enter the season without Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards. Both retired after last season. They join Jeff Gordon, who retired two seasons ago, as stars who retired in their early 40s or late 30s. Will more drivers follow?
“If you go back to Dale Earnhardt and Terry Labonte and guys like that, guys really didn’t get really good Cup rides until their late 20s or early 30s,” Petty said. “Now we’re into a realm where guys start at 15 or 16 years old and get rides in Trucks or Xfinity or Hooters Pro Cup. … Guys didn’t retire until their 50s. Now we’re seeing late 30s to early 40s. … Is this a trend? I don’t know. It gives a nod in that direction, anyhow.”
Daytona or bust: The last two Daytona 500s have produced first-time winners in Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano. The previous three saw repeat wins from Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth. How will the Great American Race shake out Feb. 26?
“You never know at Daytona. Last year with Denny Hamlin and the move he made on the last lap — everything that happens in that last quarter mile — you have to step back and say, ‘Who predicted that?’” Petty said. “When you go there it’s almost always like musical chairs. Whoever gets shuffled to the front is the guy that wins the race. But you have to put yourself in position to get shuffled to the front with 20 laps left.”
The King and I: Among the highlights at Kentucky Speedway this season is a birthday party for eight-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty, who turns 80 on July 1. Kentucky Speedway's Monster Energy Cup race is July 8.
Spectators can join the VIP celebration for $180, which includes a race-day ticket and other perks. For more information visit kentuckyspeedway.com. Tickets are limited.
“We’ve had him on a diet because he’s going to be eating cake all year long,” quipped Kyle, his son.
New at Kentucky: There are changes at the speedway, just nothing as drastic as the repaving and rebanking overhaul entering the 2016 season.
The grandstands are designated as non-smoking. Speedway officials asked spectators not to smoke in the stands in previous seasons, and now they will be enforcing it. Spectators are still allowed to smoke on speedway property, though.
In a ticket policy change, kids 12-under now are admitted free for every race but the Monster Energy Cup event. Those tickets are $10.
About the Author