Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway
The Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway was a dirt oval racing track located in Detroit, Michigan. The track was built in 1899 for horse racing,[1] and it was part of the ground purchased to provide a permanent venue for the Michigan State Fair. Joseph Lowthian Hudson donated the land, at Woodward Avenue and what is now 8 Mile Road, to the Michigan State Agricultural Society.[2]
| Drome | |
|---|---|
| Location | Michigan State Fair Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°26′33″N 83°06′40″W |
| Opened | 1899 |
| Major events | AAA/USAC Indy Car Detroit 100 (1949–1953, 1957) NASCAR Grand National Motor City 250 (1951–1952) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 1.6 km (1 mi) |
By 1908, the racetrack, at the east end of the fairground, had a 5,000-seat capacity grandstand. The track originally hosted Thoroughbred flat racing as well as Standardbred harness racing. Later, it was used for auto racing, after the growth of that industry.[3] In 1971 the grandstand was declared unsafe; it was demolished in 2001.[3]
Race winners
AAA/USAC Champ Car race winners
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | September 11 | Tony Bettenhausen | Kurtis | Offenhauser |
| 1950 | September 10 | Henry Banks | Moore | Offenhauser |
| 1951 | September 9 | Paul Russo | Paul Russo/Nichels | Offenhauser |
| 1952 | August 30 | Bill Vukovich | Kuzma | Offenhauser |
| 1953 | July 4 | Rodger Ward | Kurtis | Offenhauser |
| 1957 | September 11 | Jimmy Bryan | Kuzma | Offenhauser |
NASCAR Grand National race winners
| Season | Date | Winning Driver | Chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | August 12 | Tommy Thompson | 1951 Chrysler |
| 1952 | August 12 | Tim Flock | 1951 Hudson |
See also
Michigan portal
Sports portal
References
- Reed, Terry (2005). Indy: The Race And Ritual Of The Indianapolis 500 (Second ed.). Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books. p. 4. ISBN 1-57488-907-9.
Michigan State Fairgrounds 1899.
- Minnis, John; Beaver, Lauren (2010). Michigan State Fair. Images of America. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7385-7789-0.
- Minnis, John; Beaver, Lauren (2010). Michigan State Fair. Images of America. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7385-7789-0.
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