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There are certain races and tracks that transcend.

Radically different from most of the tracks of its time, Charlotte Motor Speedway was designed to provide maximum exposure for fans. Its double-doglegged configuration allowed anyone on the frontstretch, to see the cars as they exited turn four and entered turn one. The two kinks made the front markedly different from the backstretch and unique created passing opportunities.

Charlotte was the mold from which many of the other so-called “cookie-cutter” tracks was designed—and there is a reason. This track regularly hosted some of the most exiting races of the season. Its uniqueness has been lost with the addition of tracks like Texas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, and Kentucky Speedway, as well as the reconfiguration of Atlanta Motor Speedway from a true oval to its current doglegged version. Auto Club Speedway and Michigan International Speedway can be viewed as slightly longer versions of the same mold.

There another other part of the equation, however, and that is certain races are also iconic. There are weekends that define NASCAR. The Daytona 500, Southern 500, and Brickyard 400 are all events that add to a driver’s greatness. The World 600 belongs to that group.

While NASCAR’s headquarters were based in Daytona Beach, Fla., Charlotte became the emotional center of the sport. Most of the major race teams began within easy driving distance of this city and an abundance of races in the 1970s, 80s, and well into the 90s occurred within a day of this epicenter. As NASCAR expanded from its roots, the Charlotte area remained home for most race teams because the infrastructure was built up there.

Even the fall race is special because this is one of the Chase races in the Contender Round.

Simply put, winning at Charlotte is special.

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