We found out the locations of the SMX Playoff rounds at Anaheim 1, and now we are getting a look at the track maps for those post-season rounds. They are two repeat locations from last year, with St. Louis being the new location this year. Although it’s new to the post-season, St. Louis has been hosting Supercross races for a long time in the same location. We’ve posted all the track images here for you to review and a few of the things that we noticed about each one.
For comparison, you can look at our track map coverage from the 2024 post-season here.
Playoff 1 at ZMAX Dragway Charlotte
The post-season SMX series returns to ZMAX in Charlotte for the third year in a row and has been the opening playoff round so far in the history of SMX playoffs. The racing has been good at ZMAX, and this year’s track layout offers a few new twists. First, the start will be a split start again this year at ZMAX, but the layout is much different. The gates will be split evenly but facing different directions on the far side of the track, with them doing a 180 turn and then meeting back up in the middle before a short straight and a 90-degree left. That merge section and left-hander is going to be a place to watch for action as the intensity will spike there on the starts. The large sand sweeper in front of the starting tower is back this year, it was a spot that provided some great action last year also. The other notable thing is the massive rhythm section that runs the full length of the stadium down the near side of the map before exiting out into the outdoor section out back.
Playoff 2 at Dome of the Americas, St. Louis
There is no map to compare to in the past other than Supercross layouts for The Dome. For starters, we will get a traditional Supercross-style start into a left-hand turn. There are a couple of sand sections in the layout, but the most interesting part is not included in the maps yet. In this map, the track will have the motocross style section outside of the stadium floor; it will connect through a tunnel into the connected convention area that has been used for fan fest in the past. You can see to the right side of the start that there are lanes that enter and leave the stadium floor. We just do not have an idea of what that other part of the track will look like yet. I’m anxious to see what they have cooked up for that hidden part of the layout and what viewing will be like for fans. As it won’t be easy to get back and forth between the two areas as it was a long hike to the Fan Fest in St. Louis from the seats.
Final at The Strip in Las Vegas
This year, the Final round returns to Las Vegas and The Strip at LV Motor Speedway. There are a lot of similarities in the layout, but the biggest change that sticks out at the start. The start will not be a split start, and it has been moved from the central location to the far end of the strip. The far back section before the finish line looks very similar to last year, and the overall path that the track weaves through the strip is about the same. The direction of racing appears to be the opposite of last year, and while the fans might not be excited about the start being far away, they will be rewarded as the pack enters the stadium, all bunched up for that first lap excitement. This is the reverse of last year as, after the start, they immediately left and went into the back sections to not be seen again till they re-entered by the finish side of the track. I think this flow direction is going to be better on early laps for the fans.
