Category: Kansas Speedway

Looking back: 20 years ago at the Kansas Speedway

2001 was the inaugural year for the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Kansas Speedway celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Racing continues with a Cup series race at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kansas Speedway.

Besides adding a major sports entertainment attraction in western Wyandotte County, the Speedway is largely credited with spurring economic development in western Wyandotte County, including The Legends shopping district.

Here are some fan photos by Steve Rupert looking back to the early days, 2001 and the earliest year of the Kansas Speedway.

(Photos copyright by Steve Rupert)

Fans attended seat day, before the Kansas Speedway opened in 2001. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Early racing action at the Kansas Speedway’s first year. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Fans traveled from the grandstands to the infield through a tunnel on seat day, before the Kansas Speedway opened in 2001. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Fireworks went off at the start of racing in 2001 at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
The grandstands were full for racing in 2001 at the Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
A view from the top of the grandstand, looking down, at activity outside the Kansas Speedway grandstand at the Winston Cup race in 2001. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
At the races in 2001 at the Kansas Speedway. Lights were added in 2011. The Hollywood Casino wasn’t built yet, in this photo. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
A midway area outside the Kansas Speedway in its early days. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Grandstands were full at the Winston Cup race in 2001 at the Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
More views of the earliest years of the Kansas Speedway. The Protection One 400, a Winston Cup Series race, was held Sept. 30, 2001, at Kansas Speedway. It was the first Cup race at the Kansas Speedway. The first Cup Series race winner at the Kansas Speedway was Jeff Gordon. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
It was crowded in the concourse of the Kansas Speedway in 2001. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Grandstands were full at the Winston Cup race in 2001 at the Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
At the races in 2001 at the Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Garage area at the Kansas Speedway in its earliest years. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Garage area at the Kansas Speedway in its earliest years. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
A Tuff Truck or monster truck event was held in the Kansas Speedway’s earliest years. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
At the Kansas Speedway garages in the earliest years. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Race officials at the Kansas Speedway in its earliest years. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Indy cars at the Kansas Speedway in its earliest years. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Indy cars inspection at the Kansas Speedway in its earliest years. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
Walking into the Kansas Speedway in its earliest years. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)
At a racetrack barbecue event in the earliest years at Kansas Speedway. (Photo copyright by Steve Rupert)

Gibbs wins Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway

A crash on lap 1 of the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon, May 1, at the Kansas Speedway knocked Bret Holmes (No. 23) and Scott Melton (No. 69) out of the race. Holmes’ vehicle turned sideways and Melton could not avoid it. No injuries were reported. Holmes was last year’s ARCA winner at the Kansas Speedway. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
Bret Holmes’ car (No. 23) turned sideways before being hit by Scott Melton (No. 69) on the first lap of the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon, May 1, at the Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
After colliding, Bret Holmes’ No. 23 car and Scott Melton’s No. 69 car went down the track, next to each other. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
Emergency vehicles responded to the crash of Bret Holmes’ No. 23 car and Scott Melton’s No. 69 car at the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon, May 1, at the Kansas Speedway. No injuries were reported. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
Ty Gibbs, age 18, did a burnout in front of the grandstands after he won the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday, May 1, at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. He blew a tire on the burnout. Gibbs led every lap of the race. Gibbs is a member of the Joe Gibbs Racing team and also a grandson of Joe Gibbs. Second place went to Drew Dollar, followed by Corey Heim, Jack Wood and Derek Griffith. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
Ty Gibbs received his trophy after winning the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon, May 1, at the Kansas Speedway. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
More racing action from the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
More racing action from the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
More racing action from the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
More photos from the Dutch Boy 150 ARCA race on Saturday afternoon at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. The Wise Power 200 Camping World Truck Race will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kansas Speedway. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
The NASCAR Cup Series race, the Buschy McBusch 400, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)
Construction that is occurring west of the Kansas Speedway near 118th and State Avenue is for a new Urban Outfitters warehouse site. (Fan photo copyright 2021 by Steve Rupert)