Contested over 90 laps on the 2.45-mile (3.94 km) road course, it was the 22nd race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

It was long known around the world as the home of the Formula One United States Grand Prix, which it hosted for twenty consecutive years (1961–1980), but the site has been home to road racing of nearly every class, including the World Sportscar Championship, Trans-Am, Can-Am, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the International Motor Sports Association and the IndyCar Series.

The circuit's current layout has more or less been the same since 1971, although a chicane was installed at the uphill Esses in 1975 to slow cars through these corners, where there was a fatality during practice at the 1973 United States Grand Prix.

[12] Trevor Bayne and Chase Elliott reported brake issues during the pace laps prior to the start of the race.

Kyle Busch led the field to the green flag at 3:21 p.m. Erik Jones, running sixth, overshot the entrance to the inner-loop and came to a complete stop, as a driver is required to do in that situation, before continuing on.

During the caution, Dale Earnhardt Jr., who reported on Lap 19 that he was losing power, took his car to the garage and retired from the race with engine issues.

[15] Busch and Brad Keselowski made contact in the inner-loop, sending them both spinning, though both continued on and the race stayed green.

While Truex was conserving his fuel load for the finish, Keselowski reeled him in and powered by his outside on the approach to the inner-loop to retake the lead with 14 to go.

[19] He botched his entry into the inner-loop and locked up entering Turn 10 on the final lap, however, allowing Matt Kenseth to close in on him.