Gone But Not Forgotten NASCAR Tracks: Part 3 Kenny Wallace won the 1991 Spring 200 short track race at Volusia County Speedway, west of Ormond Beach. (Photo: ISC Archives) Print Email Share See Also: Part 1 and 2 Our third installment in a look back at tracks that made their mark in the NASCAR world but our no longer part of the scene. ISC ArchivesLakewood Speedway NASCAR racing in the state of Georgia has a rich history and Lakewood is part of the Peach State’s legacy. The one-mile dirt oval was originally built as a horse racing venue in 1917. Stock cars competed at the track as well around the unique layout that circled a lake in the infield. In 1951 Tim Flock won the first NASCAR Grand National event held at Lakewood with Herb Thomas, Buck Baker, Curtis Turner, Junior Johnson and Johnny Beauchamp also tasting victory over the years. Lee Petty won the final Grand National race held at Lakewood in 1959 but only after protesting his son Richard who had crossed the finish line first. Over the years NASCAR’s Convertible Series and Late Model Sportsman Series also competed at Lakewood, which officially closed in 1979. Milwaukee Mile The legendary Wisconsin track holds the distinction as the oldest operating track in the world hosting at least one auto race every year since 1903 with the exception of during the World War II years. Housed at the Wisconsin State Fairgrounds “The Mile” has seen some of the sport’s most famous names competed at the historic facility. NASCAR made its first foray to Milwaukee in 1984 when the then Busch Series competed in a race won by Sam Ard. The series came back in 1985 but it did not return again until the 1993 season when Steve Grissom was victorious. The Camping World Truck Series began racing at Milwaukee in its debut season with Mike Skinner winning in 1995. Both divisions competed annually at Milwaukee until promotional issues ended NASCAR’s involvement at the track, which is still in operation and hosts an IndyCar Series weekend. ISC ArchivesHeartland Park Topeka When the Kansas venue opened its gates in 1989 it was the first brand new auto racing facility built in the United States in 20 years. The multi-purpose facility included a drag strip and twisting road course that hosted the Camping World Truck Series for five years starting in 1995 when Ron Hornaday was victorious. The race was also memorable as the field included team owner Rick Hendrick, who started 16th and finished 23rd that afternoon. Mike Skinner, Joe Ruttman, Stacy Compton and Mike Bliss all took checkered flags at Heartland Park in the series’ run at the track. Sports car and drag racing continue today at Heartland Park. Volusia County Speedway The popular central Florida short track played host to the then NASCAR Busch Series for four seasons. Rob Moroso won the debut event held in 1989 with Tommy Houston, Kenny Wallace and Steve Grissom also putting their names in the record book as winners. The Barberville, Florida facility is now known as Volusia Speedway Park and operates as a dirt track hosting Sprint Car, Late Model and Modified racing every February during Speedweeks. Memphis Motorsports Park Just south of Memphis in Millington, Tennessee sits what began its life at Memphis Motorsports Park. The facility opened in 1987 with a drag strip and road course but was expanded in 1998 with a ¾-mile paved oval track. Memphis was a regular stop on both the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. The Truck Series raced at Memphis from 1998 through 2009 with Ron Hornaday winning the inaugural event as well as the final two races held at the track, Jeff Green took the Xfinity Series debut in 1999 and Brad Keselowski was victorious in the last series race a decade later. The venue is now known at Memphis Int’l Raceway and hosts a variety of racing on the drag strip, road course, large oval and a new dirt short track that was added.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 00:44:22 +0000
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