Selinsgrove Speedway

The frontstretch

Selinsgrove Speedway is one-half mile (0.8 km) dirt racetrack in Penn Township just south of Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It hosts Road-Runner, Pro Stock, Late Model, and Sprint Car racing every Saturday night. It also hosts Go-kart and Micro Sprint races every Friday night on its in-field track, the one-fifth mile (0.3 km) Selinsgrove Raceway Park.

History

Selinsgrove Speedway was built in 1945 under the supervision of Joie Chitwood, a Hollywood stunt man and race car driver from Denison, Texas.[1] The land had previously been a family farm owned by the Allison and Davis families of Snyder County. They sold it to the Dauntless Hook and Ladder Volunteer Fire Department of Selinsgrove in 1941 as a permanent home for the fire company's annual carnival. The first race was held on July 20, 1946 as an American Automobile Association sanctioned event promoted by Sam Nunis. The winner was Bill Holland, who would go on to win the Indianapolis 500 in 1949. Placing second was Red Byron, who won the first NASCAR-sanctioned race ever, held on February 15, 1948 at the Daytona Beach Road Course and would go on to become the first champion of the NASCAR's Strictly Stock division, now known as the Sprint Cup Series.[1]

The grandstand at Selinsgrove Speedway was constructed in 1948. Still standing as of 2012, the grandstands were built from 175,000 board feet (400 m³) of lumber with a capacity of 5,500 spectators. Lights for night racing were added in 1953.

Another view of Selinsgrove Speedway

Selinsgrove Speedway began hosting weekly events in 1950, under the promotion of George "Buster" Keller. Weekly racing continued until 1959, when the action at the track slowed to occasional races. In 1963, weekly racing resumed once again. Chris Economaki, a pioneer of motorsports writing, served as the track announcer during the early 1950s.[1] The track continued to expand its operation over the years and was managed by several promoters.

As of 2012, Selinsgrove Speedway is owned by the Selinsgrove Fair Association, with Charlie Paige as the promoter. Paige has directed improvements and expansion at Selinsgrove Speedway. New concession stands have been built, as have new restrooms and V.I.P. facilities. The smaller Selinsgrove Raceway Park was built in the infield in 2001 and the backstretch and turns 1 and 3 were widened in 2006.

Selinsgrove Open

The track started the sprint car racing special event in 1983.[2] The event was won by 1984 track champion Maynard Yingst.[2] Yingst won the event in 1984 and 1985 before becoming the national championship winning Funny Car crew chief for 1989 NHRA driver Bruce Larson.[2] Several national sprint car drivers have won the event, including Dave Blaney, Sammy Swindell, and Greg Hodnett.

Racing Series

The following racing series have run events at Selinsgrove Speedway since 1946.
  • National Sprint Tour (NST)
  • Penn-Jersey Sprint Association
  • Penn-Mar Racing Association Stock Cars
  • SCODA Sports Stock Cars
  • Super Midget Racing Club (SMRC)
  • Super Sportsman
  • Tri County Stockcars
  • United Racing Club (URC) Limited Sprints
  • United Sprint Association
  • World of Outlaws

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dave Herrold. ""The Story" - The History of Selinsgrove Speedway". Selinsgrove Speedway. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Selinsgrove Open September 14th preview". Motorsport.com. 2002-09-10. Retrieved 2008-08-21.

Coordinates: 40°47′14″N 76°52′13″W / 40.78722°N 76.87028°W / 40.78722; -76.87028

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