California State Fairgrounds Race Track

California State Fairgrounds Race Track has been the name of two dirt oval racing tracks located in Sacramento, California. The track was built in 1906 for horse racing on the site of the California Exposition. It was active for auto racing in 1907, 1912, and from 1946 until 1970.[1] The Exposition moved to a new site north of Downtown Sacramento in 1968, and the old fairgrounds were closed and sold for development in 1970. The final day of the track was marred by tragedy when three drivers were killed in the 100-lap super-modified caged sprint car competition.[2]

California State Fairgrounds
LocationSacramento, California
Coordinates38°33′N 121°27′W
Opened1906 (horse racing)
1907 (auto racing)
1968 (new track)
Closed1970 (first track)
Major eventsGolden State 100
AAA/USAC National Championship
Oval
SurfaceRice hulls[1]
Length1 mi (1.6 km)
Road course (1955–1969)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.1 mi (3.4 km)
Turns9

From 1949 to 1970, the track hosted the Golden State 100, a round of the AAA/USAC National Championship. The race was revived at the new Cal Expo site as a USAC Silver Crown race from 1989 until 2000. Motorcycle racing's Sacramento Mile continues to be held at the new California Exposition as part of the AMA Grand National Championship.

A 2.1-mile (3.4-km) road course was laid out in the parking lots surrounding the oval, and used for sports car racing between 1955 and 1969.[3][4] It hosted a SCCA National Sports Car Championship round in 1955.

Golden State 100 winners
Golden State 100
AAA/USAC National Championship
LocationSacramento, California
First race1949
First race1970
Most wins (driver)A. J. Foyt (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)Meskowski & Watson (tied 5)
Circuit information
Length1.6 km (0.99 mi)
YearDateDriverCar
1949 October 30 Fred AgabashianKurtis-Offy
1950 October 15 Duke DinsmoreKurtis-Offy
1951–1952: not held
1953 October 25 Jimmy BryanKurtis-Offy
1954 October 17 Jimmy BryanKuzma-Offy
1955 October 16 Jimmy BryanKuzma-Offy
1956 October 21 Jud LarsonWatson-Offy
1957 October 21 Rodger WardLesovsky-Offy
1958 October 26 Johnny ThomsonKuzma-Offy
1959 October 25 Jim HurtubiseKuzma-Offy
1960 October 30 A. J. FoytMeskowski-Offy
1961 October 29 Rodger WardWatson-Offy
1962 October 28 A. J. FoytMeskowski-Offy
1963 October 27 Rodger WardWatson-Offy
1964 October 25 A. J. FoytMeskowski-Offy
1965 October 24 Don BransonWatson-Offy
1966 October 23 Dick AtkinsWatson-Offy
1967 October 1 A. J. FoytMeskowski-Offy
1968 September 29 A. J. FoytMeskowski-Offy
1969 September 28 Al UnserKing-Ford
1970 October 4 Al UnserKing-Ford
[5][6]

The race was revived in 1989 at the new Cal Expo mile track as a USAC Silver Crown event.

YearDateDriver
1989 June 4 George Snider[7]
1990 June 3 Jimmy Sills[8]
1991–1992: not held
1993 October 9 Jimmy Sills[9]
1994 October 8 Jimmy Sills[10]
1995 October 7 Donnie Beechler[11]
1996 October 12 Donnie Beechler[12]
1997 October 11 Dave Darland[13]
1998 October 10 J. J. Yeley[14]
1999 October 9 Jimmy Sills[15]
2000 October 7 Dave Darland[16]

References
  1. Galpin, Darren. "Sacramento". The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  2. "3 Racing Drivers Killed in Calif.", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 26, 1970, p1
  3. di Carli, Guido. "Sacramento Fairgrounds". Circuiti Nel Mondo. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  4. McPartland, Tam. "Sacramento Fairgrounds Racecourse". Tam's Old Race Car Site. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  5. "California State Fairgrounds". Champ Car Stats. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  6. "California State Fairgrounds". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. "Golden State 100 worth the wait for Snider". The Sacramento Bee. June 5, 1989. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  8. "Sills races to win at Cal Expo". The Sacramento Bee. June 4, 1990. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  9. "Placerville's Sills wins USAC race". The Sacramento Bee. October 10, 1993. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  10. "Three in a row for Sills". The Sacramento Bee. October 9, 1994. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  11. "Nalbandian out..." The Fresno Bee. October 10, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  12. "Beechler squeezes into Silver Crown 100 win". The Sacramento Bee. October 13, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  13. "Darland wins; his series lead grows". The Sacramento Bee. October 12, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  14. "Yeley, Tiner win races at Cal Expo". The Sacramento Bee. October 11, 1998. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  15. "Sills wins Silver Crown 100". The Sacramento Bee. October 11, 1999. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  16. "Sacramento Results". Motorsport.com. October 7, 2000. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
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