Kansas is what some derisively call a cookie cutter track: it’s a 1.5 mile tri-oval with 15 degrees of bank in the corners, 10.4 in the tri-oval, and 5 down the backstretch.

The track Kansas most resembles is Chicago, and although the speeds here tend to be a bit slower than in the windy city, it still puts a lot of pressure on that old right front, and sometimes guys have trouble with their tires. Hopefully not though, because if you do lose a right front heading into a corner, you will hit the wall hard.

Kansas requires a good motor and lots of downforce. Look for the action coming out of the corners, when drivers try to grab the ideal line as the groove moves up against the wall. Track position and fuel mileage are usually important, as the top spot will yield the most aerodynamic downforce and help a driver get through the corners in good shape. Look for crew chiefs to make a lot of adjustments to stay on top of the track, which tends to tighten as the race progresses.

When you walk into the Kansas Speedway you might think you’re in Chicago because the two tracks look very similar. Kansas may not be quite as fast, but it still requires the same key element as it’s sister facility in the windy city, downforce. Time will tell if the second groove gets nice and wide. Fuel mileage can be a big factor here.