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In 1996, International Speedway Corporation began exploring the idea of building a track in the Midwest. Bonds were sold in 1998 and construction on the 1.5-mile tri-oval began a year later.
Tickets for the 2001 season went on sale on Aug. 17, 2000, and within a week, nearly 80 percent of the season tickets had been sold. Paving on the track begin in September of that year and construction was completed in the spring of 2001.
Jeff Gordon won the first two Cup events there, starting with the inaugural race on Sept. 29, 2001.