What is the shortest track on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit?

Martinsville Speedway is the shortest track on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit, measuring 0.526 miles per lap. Its compact size and distinctive shape make it one of the most recognizable venues in stock-car racing.

Located in Ridgeway, Virginia, just south of Martinsville, the track is nicknamed “The Paperclip” because its two long straightaways are joined by tight, flat turns. The corners are banked at only 12 degrees, while the straightaways have no banking. Drivers must brake hard entering each turn and accelerate carefully onto the straights.

Henry Clay Earles opened the facility in September 1947 as a dirt oval. Martinsville hosted its first NASCAR Cup-level race in 1949, and the track was paved in 1955. Today, its straights and upper turn lanes use asphalt, while much of the lower corner surface uses concrete.

Fans sometimes confuse shortest track with slowest track, but those are different measurements. Martinsville is the shortest by lap distance; its racing speed depends on car setup, tire grip, traffic, and changing track conditions. It is also the only venue remaining on NASCAR’s schedule from the series’ inaugural 1949 season.