The NASCAR Cup Series head to another new track this weekend. Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, is the sight of this year’s Fourth of July race as Road America returns to the Cup Series schedule. We are sure to see the sparks fly and maybe even some wrecked cars on this Independence Day. What better way to celebrate America’s birthday than by watching cars drive fast around a massive four-mile track?
Road America Overview
Road America opened in 1955. The 4.048-mile track is the longest track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule this season. In perhaps a little-known fact, Road America did host a Cup Series race all the way back in 1956. Tim Flock won that inaugural race. Fast forward to today and that remains the only Cup Series event held at the track so far. In 2010, the NASCAR Xfinity Series began holding an annual race at the track. They have had a one-off race at Road America every year since then. Now, for the foreseeable future at least, the NASCAR Cup Series will be joining them.
The Wisconsin road course contains a whopping 14 turns over a lap length that exceeds four miles. It’s not unusual to see lap times exceed two full minutes when racing at Road America. In fact, the fastest lap ever turned in a race is just 1 minute, 41.874 seconds. Alex Zanardi dropped that time in a 1998 CART race driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Other National Series Events Run at Road America
NASCAR isn’t the only division that runs at Road America. Since 2016, the NTT IndyCar Series has been racing the REV Group Grand Prix here. The IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Series also makes an annual visit to Wisconsin for the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase.
NASCAR Cup Series at Road America | Weekend Racing Schedule
Henry 180
Series: NASCAR Xfinity Series
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2021
Start Time: 2:30 P.M. EST
Coverage: NBC
Distance: 182 miles
Laps: 45
Jockey Made in America 250
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Date: Sunday, July 4, 2021
Start Time: 2:30 P.M. EST
Coverage: NBC
Distance: 250 miles
Laps: 62
