Speedway 5000

The Speedway 5000 2026 is a high-energy athletic event held at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee. Scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 9:00 AM CDT, this race offers a rare opportunity for runners and walkers to compete on the same 1.33-mile D-shaped concrete oval where NASCAR’s top drivers race. The event is designed for speed and accessibility, featuring a smooth, all-concrete surface with 14-degree banking in the turns, providing a unique "stadium" feel for participants.

The Speedway 5000 is uniquely integrated with the NASCAR Cup Series weekend. Participants can choose between a full 5K, a single 1-lap dash, or a dedicated Kids' Run. A standout feature of the 2026 event is the "Ticket Bundle" option, which pairs race registration with a digital ticket to the Cracker Barrel 400 (scheduled for May 31, 2026). This allows fans to run the track in early May and return at the end of the month to watch professionals like Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano tackle the same concrete surface.

Lebanon is the county seat of Wilson County, part of the rapidly expanding Nashville metropolitan area. As of 2026, the region continues to experience significant growth, with Lebanon's population estimated at over 45,000 residents. The demographic profile of Lebanon is approximately 75% White (non-Hispanic), 12% Black or African American, and 8% Hispanic or Latino. The area is known for its blend of rural Tennessee charm and high-tech industrial growth, being home to major logistics hubs and the corporate headquarters of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

The culture in Middle Tennessee is deeply rooted in both country music and motorsports. The Nashville Superspeedway, which "came back from the dead" in 2021 after a decade-long hiatus, is now a premier destination that embodies the region's resilient spirit. The Speedway 5000 taps into this "Music City" energy, offering a festive environment where local families and die-hard racing fans converge. Lebanon residents take great pride in hosting NASCAR's only all-concrete superspeedway, viewing it as a cornerstone of local identity and economic vitality.

A central mission of the Speedway 5000 is supporting Speedway Children’s Charities (SCC). A portion of every registration fee is donated to the Nashville Chapter of SCC, which provides grants to local non-profits focused on critical needs such as child sex trafficking prevention, homelessness, and food security. In 2025, the Nashville Chapter distributed over $240,000 to middle Tennessee organizations, highlighting the tangible social impact that participants have by simply "beating the concrete."

The participant experience is heightened by the venue’s professional amenities. Runners utilize the same pit road and victory lane areas used by Cup Series teams. With wide turns and smooth pavement, the course is often cited as a prime location for achieving a 5K personal record. For those opting for the ticket bundle, the 2026 race serves as the ultimate kickoff to "NASCAR Month" in Tennessee, uniting the community through fitness, philanthropy, and the shared thrill of high-speed racing.