The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule has already had its share of changes. Atlanta’s second race was taken out of the playoff stretch, Richmond lost a date to make room for the long-awaited Mexico City event and now Kansas Speedway may be next.
Though once a model for how the Next Gen car could deliver great racing on 1.5-mile tracks, Kansas is slipping in both show and support. And industry insiders are starting to take notice.
Kansas Speedway’s recent history is complicated. For years it struggled with underwhelming racing due to aero-dependent rules and limited side-by-side action. That changed in 2022 when the Next Gen car started to shine on intermediate tracks.
Memorable moments followed. Kurt Busch won his final Cup Series race there and Kyle Larson edged Chris Buescher in 2023’s closest finish in series history. But in 2025, the magic flatlined.
This year’s AdventHealth 400 was marred by tire issues, pit road mistakes and, most notably, empty grandstands. It didn’t match its predecessors in drama or attendance. And that’s a problem for NASCAR when they’re prioritizing full seats and competitive product.
On the latest episode of Door, Bumper, Clear, motorsports journalist Kelly Crandall talked about the growing chatter around Kansas. She said with so many venues rumored for future races (from San Diego to Canada), not every idea can fit on a 36-race schedule.
To make room for new events, struggling tracks will have to give way. “I think Kansas” she said. “Kansas seems to be the one that now gets talked about as like, could that be on the chopping block?”
She mentioned Kansas specifically as one track that’s now coming up in those conversations. Spotter Freddie Kraft agreed, saying the 2025 Kansas race “wasn’t as good as years past.” He also warned that as teams get better and more uniform with the car, “the box is going to get smaller” and it will be harder for drivers to pass and for races to be exciting.
If Kansas is on the list, it wouldn’t be the first. NASCAR has already cut races from Texas Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Dover Motor Speedway. All of which had similar issues with racing or attendance.
They’ve said popularity won’t save a track if the on-track product doesn’t deliver. So, Kansas is in trouble especially as NASCAR is looking at markets with new energy and untapped potential.
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