NASCAR Cup Series Returns to Road America after Almost 65 Years

Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (Photo credit: YouTube/Google Earth)

The NASCAR is returning to the Road America road course for the second ever Cup Series race at the track after nearly 65 years on the Fourth of July!

That’s right, NASCAR’s top division has raced at Road America once before, August 12, 1956. Obviously the cars and drivers were very different at that first race. That means once again this year the drivers and teams will be starting from scratch for another race.

Here is the data for the track and the Jockey Made in America 250 Presented by Kwik Trip.

Road America Data
Track Size: 4.048-miles
Track Type: Multi-Elevational Road Course
Number of Turns: 14

Jockey Made in America 250 Presented by Kwik Trip Data
Season Race #: 20 of 36 (07-04-21)
Race Length
: 62 laps / 250.0 miles
Stage 1 Length: 14 laps
Stage 2 Length: 15 laps
Final Stage Length: 33 laps

While none of the active drivers have raced Road America in a Cup Car, some have experience on the road course in the Xfinity Series. That experience could give them an advantage in this weekend’s race.

There are only seven races (counting this weekend) before the post0-season begins. There are drivers that are locked in. There are drivers that could make it on points if there are not five new 2021 winners in the remaining regular season races. There are drivers who can only make the Playoffs by winning one of the remaining races before the post season.

Road courses are always a wild card where anybody with the right strategy, a decent car and a little luck can find themselves in Victory Lane. Factor in that this weekend’s road course is basically a new experience for everybody and the “who knows what will happen” statement is more accurate than ever.

We will all have to watch a see what unfolds in the Jockey Made in America 250 Presented by Kwik Trip at Road America Sunday, July 4th starting at 1:30 p.m. central time (2:30 p.m. eastern time) as we celebrate the birth of this Great Nation!

By: Buck Stevens
Buck Stevens

2021 Playoff Outlook heading to Road America
2021 Playoff Outlook heading to Road America (Photo credit: Buck Stevens)