Quaker State 400 by Advance Auto Parts

That huge sigh at the end of the Coke Zero 400 was the collective breath of millions of fantasy NASCAR players who survived back-to-back wild card races.

Now it’s time to get back to racing and a cookie never tasted so sweet.

Along with Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway is one of the similarly-configured, 1.5-mile tracks. But instead of decrying the lack of originality in a course that looks like so many others, now is the time to appreciate what one has.

The last time NASCAR hosted a Cup race on this track type was the Coke 600 in May and another will not be held until the Chase begins in September at Chicagoland. That is, unless one counts the two-mile Michigan International Speedway as part of this course type because the FireKeepers Casino 400 was run three weeks ago with that track’s second race coming up in August.

Considering that the similarly-configured, 1.5- and two-mile tracks make up more than a third of the schedule, this is remarkable. One reason for the break from cookies is that NASCAR will get their sustenance from flat bread instead. After Kentucky, the series rolls into New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway for three straight weeks of flat track racing.

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