Road America

Road America
Name	Road America
Location	Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43°49′52″N 88°1′42″W
Capacity	100,000
Broke ground	1955
Opened	1955
Owner	Road America, Inc.
Operator	Road America, Inc.
Architect	Jim Kimberly
Layout1	Grand Prix Circuit
Surface	Asphalt
Length km	6.515
Length mi	4.048
Turns	14
Record time	1:52.530
Record driver	Mario Andretti
Record year	1982
Record class	CART

Road America Road America is a permanent motorsport road course located near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. The circuit opened in 1955 on a site of prewar road races and has hosted a wide range of professional and club events, including IndyCar Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, IMSA SportsCar Championship, SCCA National Championship Runoffs, and historic racing festivals. Its long straights, elevation changes, and 14-turn layout have made the venue a cornerstone of North American road racing, attracting drivers such as A. J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, and Jeff Gordon.

History

The origins trace to pre-World War II road races on public highways near Elkhart Lake, where drivers like Carroll Shelby and teams including Maserati and Ferrari competed before closures prompted construction of a permanent facility. Built in 1955 by Jim Kimberly with support from local entrepreneurs and organizations like the Sports Car Club of America, the circuit replaced hazardous highway events and quickly became a stop on professional calendars such as United States Road Racing Championship and Can-Am. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Road America hosted headline series including USAC Championship Car, Trans-Am Series, SCCA, and Formula Libre events, while attracting manufacturers such as Porsche, Ford Motor Company, Chevrolet, and Toyota for testing and competition. After financial restructurings and the formation of Road America, Inc., the track expanded spectator amenities and secured long-term dates with series like IMSA, IndyCar, and NASCAR into the 21st century.

Track Layout and Facilities

The Grand Prix Circuit is a 4.048-mile, 14-turn asphalt layout with signature sections such as Turn 1 (Kink), Canada Corner, The Carousel, and The Kettle Bottoms (often referred to by competitors and commentators). The facility includes multiple paddocks, garages, a media center used by outlets like Motorsport Network and NBC Sports, and spectator areas with grandstands and camping along straights such as the Front Straight. Technical infrastructure supports series homologation by organizations including FIA classes for historic demonstration and INDYCAR technical inspections. Support amenities comprise timing and scoring towers, medical centers compliant with FIA and INDYCAR standards, and on-site hospitality suites used by manufacturers such as Honda and Chevrolet.

Major Events and Series

Road America hosts marquee events including the annual IndyCar Grand Prix weekend, the Sonsio Grand Prix (IndyCar), the NASCAR Xfinity Series race previously known as the Johnsonville 180, and endurance rounds of the IMSA SportsCar Championship such as the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen-style endurance weekends adapted to the circuit. Historic racing festivals produced by organizations like Hagerty and the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association draw classic entries from Ferrari Owners' Club, Porsche Club of America, and private collectors. National championships such as the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, Trans-Am Series, MotoAmerica motorcycle rounds, and Global MX-5 Cup events have all featured at the venue, alongside support series including USF Pro Championships Presented by Cooper Tires and regional club events under SCCA sanction.

Records and Notable Races

Lap records and benchmark performances include open-wheel times set in CART and IndyCar competition, with notable entries by Mario Andretti, Sebastian Bourdais, and Will Power. Historic endurance and sprint Sundays have produced memorable finishes involving drivers such as Dario Franchitti, Tony Kanaan, and Scott Dixon in championship-deciding battles. Manufacturers achieved milestones here—Porsche endurance victories, Ford and Chevrolet touring-car duels, and breakthrough performances by Honda-powered prototypes. Record attendance figures were registered during marquee weekends featuring crossovers with entertainment acts and partnerships with organizations like Road America Air Show promoters and regional tourism boards.

Operations and Ownership

Operations are managed by Road America, Inc., a privately held company governed by a board that includes local business leaders and motorsport executives. The venue coordinates logistics with sanctioning bodies such as INDYCAR, NASCAR, IMSA, and SCCA to schedule race weekends, testing sessions, and corporate events. Commercial partnerships include sponsorships and hospitality agreements with corporations such as Castrol, Mobil 1, Firestone, and regional tourism agencies, while track rental revenues stem from testing, corporate track days for manufacturers like BMW and Audi, and broadcast rights negotiated with media outlets including NBC Sports and Fox Sports.

Safety and Upgrades

Over decades the circuit has evolved safety features to meet standards set by FIA and INDYCAR, installing expanded runoff areas, upgraded barrier systems by suppliers such as SAFER Barrier technology, and advanced medical response centers. Infrastructure investments included resurfacing projects, paddock expansions, modernized timing systems, and improved spectator ingress and egress to accommodate series requirements from IMSA and NASCAR. Ongoing capital projects emphasize sustainability, with initiatives tied to regional energy providers and local authorities to reduce environmental impact while maintaining compliance with sanctioning-body safety directives.

Category:Motorsport venues in Wisconsin Category:Road courses in the United States