The ground off the edge of the track is generally smooth, except for the somewhat rutted runoff areas at the exit of Turns 2 and 3, curbs on the outsides of the exits of Turns 4 through 8, and ditches and low (2- to 3-foot) banks six or eight feet off the right-hand edge of the track coming into Turns 4 and 7. The Drag Strip section has been completely replaced and is now one of the flattest and fastest pieces of pavement on the planet. The entire track is extremely smooth, except for the straight from Turn 9 into Turn 10 which remains somewhat abrasive. The track is otherwise remarkably free of other bumps, frost heaves, holes, and pavement flaws.

What follows is a generic description of the track, describing its features without defining speeds, gears, or shift points -- all of which will vary widely from vehicle type to vehicle type.

Most of the turns at Brainerd are sufficiently well separated by straight segments that they may be treated as isolated turns. Only Turns 7 and 8 must be considered as a set of clustered turns (where your line through or out of a turn must be modified to accomodate the requirements of the next turn or the one after it)

The starter's stand is about halfway down the drag strip and is clearly visible from the last turn. The front straight is extremely wide and leads into the narrower but very high-speed banked right-hand 60-degree Turn 1 which is intended be taken flat out by all vehicles. You can go through Turn 1 pretty much anywhere on the width of the track, although you will scrub off less speed if you are alone and can take the 'classic' maximum-radius line through the corner. Following Turn 1 is a straight long enough for you to regain most or all of the speed you scrubbed off in Turn 1. Turn 2 is a flat (but wider radius than Turn 1) very high-speed right-hand 80-degree sweeper that can be taken flat out by many vehicles. The track is widened at the exit of Turn 2 but only for a short distance. There is a long, generally flat runoff area at the exit of 2, with a robust tire wall just short of the trees. Following Turn 2 is another straight, again long enough for you to regain much of the speed you scrubbed off there.