Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Digging into the memory bank again for these…

Capital Speedway, Holts Summit MO (10/22/94): Back in the day Holts Summit was kind of an open wheel hot spot. There are probably some on this board who've been there when it was happening place for sprint cars. By 1994 not so much. It was a NASCAR-sanctioned, dirt stock car track. My only visit to Holts Summit saw just 12 360’s on hand. Most were California cars. By “California cars” I mean “Double X Speedway, California MO cars”. Little Rock’s Rick Logan won. I don’t remember much else. Track closed 20 years ago and is now a housing development, I think.

Thunder Hill Raceway, Mayetta KS (8/20/95): Located north of Topeka in East Jesus somewhere. When the track first opened, they hosted the Jayhawk Nationals. The event was rained out twice in the days leading up to the ’95 Knoxville Nationals. The first time, the pits were just chock full of sprint cars. There must have been 60 cars. Then, of course, it rained. Drove back the next day. Rained again. Rescheduled for the Sunday after Knoxville. Came back and saw Kenny Jacobs win.

Could-a-should-a-would-a: I wish I had seen sprint cars at Macomb IL. The track is long gone. 1/5 mile. They had a 360 show there twenty-some years ago. I heard it was nuts. I also saw mention here of McHenry KY. That’s another one I wish I saw. There was talk just a few years ago that it might reopen.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Was that the time you guys were late to staging and they put him to the tail and he won the race going away? That lit a fire under him.

We were there and it was an awesome drive by Coons!!! Don't get Jerry mad!!! He even jumped the massive cushion in turn four battling for third with I believe Ricky Gaunt or Danny Sheridan and both of them drove back up over the cushion never missing a beat!!! Coons passed Dave Darland with four to go for the lead!!! Bought a Jerry Coons Jr. sweatshirt after that which I will wear. It was great racing!!!!

Bruce and Pat Eckel :22:

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Originally Posted by interpreter66:
World of outlaws show St. Petersburg Florida inside the Thunderdome now called Tropicana Field home of the Tampa Bay rays baseball team.
Nashville fairgrounds speedway (pavement) awol 360 wing sprint cars .(we won )

Man, those races at St. Pete sure got dirty with dust on everything including the seats up in the press box!!!!

Bruce and Pat Eckel :3:

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

My wife and I were fortunate to have attended the last race ever at Ascot. It was a memory that will stay with us for the rest of our lives!!! What a place to see a race and the folks who sat in turn one had to be nuts as they threw them into that turn and the dirt balls flew like buckshot!!!!

Bruce and Pat Eckel :8

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Originally Posted by JJMooney:
RE: Belle-Clair...


Now, hang on. Midgets at Belle-Clair – yes. Plenty of people on this board have been to Belle-Clair for midgets. SPRINT CARS at Belle-Clair? I’m guessing not many have seen that. Sprint cars have only been to Belle-Clair a handful of times. I was there for a few of them:

7/29/99: Winged sprint cars raced at Belle-Clair during the St Clair County Fair on a Thursday night. I didn't even know about this show until the morning of the event. I just happened to hear a radio ad for it. Jerrod Hull won. There may have been 14-15 cars, mostly Farmington regulars and a few Jacksonville cars. Small crowd. This was back when the wooden wall encircled the whole track. As you can imagine, it was interesting, sketchy, scary and entertaining all at the same time.

7/22/04: The All-Star Circuit of Champions had a show at Belle-Clair that ultimately got rained out. They got it hot laps, then they were two cars into qualifications before the skies let loose. The race was never rescheduled.

4/15/16: The WAR series had a show that was the first time ever non-wing sprints were at Belle-Clair. Good field – over 20 cars. Really entertaining feature. Joe B. Miller won. WAR had other shows scheduled at Belle-Clair. 2017 was rained out. I think they did come back in 2018 but not sure if that one ran or was rained out too. I wasn’t there for that one.

OK, thats cool... talk about jet fighters in a HS gym! :23:

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Originally Posted by revjimk:
C'mon, plenty of us have been there, even tho I live probably 900 miles away..... cool track! :)
& I have to thank good ole Funkmeister again for recommending it! POWRI midgets, perfect for a tiny track :6:
I got there by an interesting route, too..... after seeing a race at Farmington, MO. the nite before, I was wondering if there was a smaller bridge or ferry across the mighty Mississippi, had crossed on I-70 many times before. So I did some research (Old school MAP!) & talked to my "seat neighbor" at Farmington, & took the St. Genevieve Ferry to Illinois, then North up along the river, where I also got to tour an old French fort from back in the 1800s (1700s?) I was the only car on the ferry, which was a barge pulled by a tugboat, capable of holding 9 cars! Pretty "down home" too.... sign said "Flash your lights" or "Honk horn"? if the Ferry is on the other side. Maybe I can figure out how to post a photo...:31:

This is the fort... 1753! Thanks to Luckybuck97 who sent this to me:http://www.fortdechartres.us/

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Originally Posted by JJMooney:
Thunder Hill Raceway, Mayetta KS (8/20/95): Located north of Topeka in East Jesus somewhere. When the track first opened, they hosted the Jayhawk Nationals. The event was rained out twice in the days leading up to the ’95 Knoxville Nationals. The first time, the pits were just chock full of sprint cars. There must have been 60 cars. Then, of course, it rained. Drove back the next day. Rained again. Rescheduled for the Sunday after Knoxville. Came back and saw Kenny Jacobs win.

I went to Thunder Hill a couple times after Knoxville,and they had "Thunder through the Plains" All Stars and NCRA co sanctioned. The first trip there after we found the place they raced,and had a bunch of cars. cant remember who won though Track sort of reminded me of Lincoln Speedway in Pa.

2nd time there I was supposed to meet up with "Car Wash Mike" RIP and Rich Wiseman aka YZman from California. They were supposed to go to Husets with me after Knoxville and backed out because they saw rain in the forecast. They were going to catch a ride to Thunder Hill with a friend from California,and I was going to pick the up there and go to Lincoln Nebraska where they were flying out of the next day.

Husets ran and after the races I was talking to Peter Murphy and other local South Dakota friends when they told e to run and get out of there. I barely got to my van and it poured like I have never seen before. I remember driving on I-90 about 20 mph and couldnt see a thing as it was so much rain and pitch black out too. It finally slowed down and I found a place to crash out for the night before venturing to Thunder Hill.

I get to Thunder Hill,and the sun is shining, but they have cancelled. Oh great what do I do now? Way before my cell phone days,and I gave them my word I'd be there. Transporters and fans came in all afternoon only to find out it had rained out. One of the transporters had a guy with an Aussie accent,so I asked where he was from. Sydney. Did he crew on a car there? Yes he crewed for Bob Jackson. I says,thats Gilbert Kennedy's car,the Sydney Courier Express car. He asks if I know Gilbert,and I said yes,he was over here a few years ago and he went racing with me while he was here. Then the guy says "Ohhh I have heard all about you,you're Andrew arent you"? Yeah thats me. Small world at times...

YZ and Car Wash showed up a bit later,and they rode to Lincoln with me. Good thing they did as the Thunder schedule had changed a bit from what I originally had planned and a date had changed.YZ called a friend of his in California, found the schedule online,and the next Thunder race was now in Wakeeny, Kansas,which was the furthest track I had driven to when living in Maine.

Originally Posted by JJMooney:
Digging into the memory bank again for these…

Capital Speedway, Holts Summit MO (10/22/94): Back in the day Holts Summit was kind of an open wheel hot spot. There are probably some on this board who've been there when it was happening place for sprint cars. By 1994 not so much. It was a NASCAR-sanctioned, dirt stock car track. My only visit to Holts Summit saw just 12 360’s on hand. Most were California cars. By “California cars” I mean “Double X Speedway, California MO cars”. Little Rock’s Rick Logan won. I don’t remember much else. Track closed 20 years ago and is now a housing development, I think.

Thunder Hill Raceway, Mayetta KS (8/20/95): Located north of Topeka in East Jesus somewhere. When the track first opened, they hosted the Jayhawk Nationals. The event was rained out twice in the days leading up to the ’95 Knoxville Nationals. The first time, the pits were just chock full of sprint cars. There must have been 60 cars. Then, of course, it rained. Drove back the next day. Rained again. Rescheduled for the Sunday after Knoxville. Came back and saw Kenny Jacobs win.

Could-a-should-a-would-a: I wish I had seen sprint cars at Macomb IL. The track is long gone. 1/5 mile. They had a 360 show there twenty-some years ago. I heard it was nuts. I also saw mention here of McHenry KY. That’s another one I wish I saw. There was talk just a few years ago that it might reopen.

I went Sunday the day after the Knoxville Nationals to Mayetta (Thunder Hill) for the Jayhawk Nationals. I can’t remember what year that would’ve been, but they raced that night.
I thought Mayetta Ks resembled Spoon River or KC (Atomic) a bit.
I was told Thunder Hill (Mayetta) was located on an Indian reservation. All I know is I was met in the parking lot by a guy parking cars while he was on horseback.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Went to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa back in the late 80's for a Silver Crown show and I think a wing race the next night. It was a half mile and they tore it down soon after. I think maybe won by Larry Rice or Jack Hewitt.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Originally Posted by spankytoo:
I can't believe that 10 pages in and no one mentioned Manzanita

I got there twice before it closed. I forgot one other Santa Fe first over night trip with my future wife and first WOO race 1981.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Firebird Raceway, Chandler AZ. WoO late 80's. Show Low, AZ. NMMRA 2018? Tiny track, 1 pushtruck, (teams were pushing off w/ 4 wheelers) no wrecker. They used a big forklift from the neighboring brickyard to remove disabled cars.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

The Historic Rockford Speedway in Loves Park IL. Must See Sprints have made a number of appearances. They WILL be back on Saturday July 1st for the Star Spangled Spectacular!!! They put on a GREAT show. A true Must See event!

https://msrxtreme.com/wp-content/upl...2-schedule.pdf

Originally Posted by erich45:
Firebird Raceway, Chandler AZ. WoO late 80's. Show Low, AZ. NMMRA 2018? Tiny track, 1 pushtruck, (teams were pushing off w/ 4 wheelers) no wrecker. They used a big forklift from the neighboring brickyard to remove disabled cars.

Been to both also.

Bruce & Pat Eckel

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

If my memory fades me on a few of the tidbits , feel free to correct me

Being young and relatively new to the sport of dirt racing (started going about 10 years go this year ) my experiences at sprint car races have been concentrated to the mainstays of today . However I can distinctly remember a few races that haven't happened since for a variety of reasons

5-2-14
USCS Sprint Cars at 411 Motor Speedway , Seymour TN

Danny Smith was in attendance and a good field of sprint cars was on hand as well. Maybe 20+? Morgan Turpen had one of the worst wrecks I've ever seen since , flipped and was hit mid air by Lance Moss . I think she was injured but cant remember exactly , Terry Gray picked up the win

8-13-17
Great Lakes Dirt Nationals . FAST , BOSS & FAST 305 Sprints at Mansfield Motor Speedway , Mansfield OH

My all time favorite dirt track was Mansfield . Prefect size at 4/10ths of a mile for fantastic racing anytime I went . Over 120 Sprints in the pits with a who's who at that . Jimmy Seger , Dylan Cisney , Mike Wagner , Scotty Theil , Caleb Helms , Logan Wagner , Rob Chaney, Sye Lynch & Brock Zearfoss. Race ended at 4am due to two separate massive wrecks in the 410 Feature . Cottle & Dustin Smith won the BOSS Features , Armstrong the 410 and Stroup the 305. Was also in attendance for the 2018 100K to Win SCWC that Tim Shaffer won after a failed dive bomb by Ruetzel . Breaks my heart to see the state it is in now.

5-24-20
410 & 305 Sprints at Roaring Knob Motorsports Park , Markleysburg PA

During the strange time where racing was banned in Ohio and PA due to restrictions , RKMP defied the government and ran a race . State Troopers were called to the track during the event to attempt to arrest the owner but were denied. The 5 hour drive there was worth it for who was in the pits . A few cars from Michigan , Indiana , Ohio and PA . Heck , even some Wayne County Speedway Locals Chris & Jamie Meyers made the trek just to race . Place was a absolute dump . Rocks the size of boulders being picked up right before hot laps , wood poled chicken wire fencing , spoiled lukewarm hot dogs at concessions & a wasp infestation in the " grand stands ". Sye Lynch won the feature for the 410 and riled up the crowd with his two cents about the government's rules and regulations at the time . Cannot remember who won the 305 Feature . Got the chance to get acquainted with Saban Bibent at the event.

6-27-20
ASCoC at Volunteer Speedway , Bulls Gap TN

The same crazy 2020 year found me in TN at Volunteer Speedway for 410s . Spent the evening in the infield . Saw Lance Moss destroy a car by bouncing into three , place is so banked you strained your neck looking at the action . Ruetzel won the A Main and Saturdays Portion was rained out . 16 cars in attendence , so little that even Steve Surniak showed up !

Word of Advice , always take a chance on a racetrack running something special because you will never know when the track will close.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Vollenteer410 wrote
8-13-17
Great Lakes Dirt Nationals . FAST , BOSS & FAST 305 Sprints at Mansfield Motor Speedway , Mansfield OH

My all time favorite dirt track was Mansfield . Prefect size at 4/10ths of a mile for fantastic racing anytime I went . Over 120 Sprints in the pits with a who's who at that . Jimmy Seger , Dylan Cisney , Mike Wagner , Scotty Theil , Caleb Helms , Logan Wagner , Rob Chaney, Sye Lynch & Brock Zearfoss. Race ended at 4am due to two separate massive wrecks in the 410 Feature . Cottle & Dustin Smith won the BOSS Features , Armstrong the 410 and Stroup the 305

End

While I enjoyed the Boss Races and the facilites. The whole show was a cluster bleep. spreading each car out like the feature for hotlaps and heats and consis etc. It was ten minutes between each heat. Boss ran second feature about two am. Was going to watch all star race but two massive wrecks in the first five laps or so. I had to get on the road. Seen the sun come up as I pulled in.

Wish they could have made that place work.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

Nice thread..always enjoyed seeing "new" places..still do.

Windber Stadium, Windber, PA. Saw a KARS 358 sprint show there, race track was built around the HS football field. Cool place that had a long history, but the racetrack has been gone for quite some time now.

Challenger raceway, Indiana, PA. Saw a 410 show there during their Fall Fest..huge event, close to 80 LM's as well. Mike Wagner won the sprint show. Really cool track built way up on a hill.

Thunder Valley, Central City, PA. Close to where flight 93 went down, gorgeous facility/track built out in the middle of nowhere, saw a LM show there.

Re: Something different. Sprint races at tracks most never
 

As my memory comes back to me, Baer Field Raceway.

The late SOD series ran there once. I was there with a couple of my STAC buddies. Windy as all hell, but luckily at our backs. We pulled out all the stops and grilled hot dogs that night.

They laid down a dirt track inside the paved oval. Kind of like what Plymouth did a few times before they just dirted over the asphalt oval (and subsequently un-dirted it). The track was maybe...... MAYBE a 1/6 oval.

Shawn Valenti won that night. Maybe nine cars total? Joe Swanson was runner up. Only time for me ever at Baer Field Raceway. Despite the car count the show ran way long. They only had one wrecker. And an UNDERCARD of stocks! 5/21/17 was the date.

R.I.P. SOD.

R.I.P. Baer Field.