Springport Motor Speedway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Port, Lil MIS. | ||
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| Location | 23845 30 Mile Rd, Springport, Michigan 49284 | |
| Capacity | 6,500 | |
| Owner | Jim Leasure | |
| Broke ground | 1988 | |
| Opened | 1989 | |
| Former Names | Calhoun County Speedway, Michigan Ideal Speedway, Springport Speedway | |
| Major Events | Michigan Cup, Racin' & Rock'n, Old School Champions Race Tour | |
| High banked oval | ||
| Surface | asphalt | |
| Circuit Length | 3/8th mi (0.6 km) | |
| Turns | 4 | |
| Banking | Turns - 18 degrees Frontstretch - 8 degrees Backstretch - 15 degrees |
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Springport Motor Speedway is a 3/8th mile, high-banked, oval short track in Springport, Michigan, and is the sister track to Spartan Speedway located in Lansing, Michigan.
Springport Motor Speedway opened in the fall of 1989 under the name of Michigan Ideal Speedway. Built to replicate the dimensions of Michigan International Speedway, but on a 3/8th mile scale.
Seating 5300 spectators at maximum capacity, the track sits in the countryside of Calhoun County, a 45 minute drive from the Irish Hills and Michigan International Speedway.
The track is owned and operated by Paul Zimmerman and Jim Leasure. Springport Motor Speedway features 3 regular classes of racing (Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Pony Stocks) plus a variety of traveling series making for a 4 or 5 feature show. Traveling series include the Short Track Trucks, Vintage Modifieds (VROA), MCR Dwarf Cars, Mini-Cup Cars and in 2008 two special shows with the Old School Champions Race Tour. Races are held on Saturday Nights between May and September.
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[edit] History
Springport Motor Speedway opened in the fall of 1989 under the name of Michigan Ideal Speedway.
Michigan Ideal Speedway was the dream of Russ Densmore. Densmore owned a local propane company in Springport Michigan, and he was on the fire and safety crew at Michigan International Speedway. In 1988 Russ Densmore was the fire crew chief at Spartan Speedway, a position he had held in previous seasons under the ownership of Paul Zimmerman. After an evening of racing, Densmore and new Spartan owner Russ Cowper (Cowper also owned the Galeburg Speedway) had a conflict over some facit of track operation, Mr. Cowper challenged Densmore "If you think you know so much about running a race track, why don't you go get your own".
Mr. Densmore purchased 68 acre farm & farm house in the extreme North East corner of Calhoun County and build his dream short track and called it Michigan Ideal Speedway.
One of the major contractors/builders was also a local racer named Jim "Barney" Barnhardt. Not only did Barney help build the track, he was the first ever driver to take a race car onto the speedway. He was also the first driver to wreck a car on the speedway.
During the first race on that fall afternoon, Bill Tyler was given the first upside down trophy (it was more of a nose stand in the first turn). He went on to win the sprint feature that day. Other winners from the first race were: Late Models - Joe Dorer and Charlie Evens, Mini Champs - Andy Michner, IMCA Modifieds - Dan Bailey, Factory Stocks - Tim West, Pro Stocks - John Smalley, Ed Santora, and Dick Margo.
No season champions were crowned in 1989 as only one race was held.
In 1990, the first Late Model Champion was Jeff Finley.
In 1998, Russ Densmore sold the track to an ownership group out of Jackson, Michigan headed by Ronnie Johncox. Ronnie Johncox was an Indy Car owner and driver who was participating on the Indy Car Series at the time of purchase.
Johncox operated and promoted the track for two season's until he closed the track after the 2000 season due to financial issues. The track remained closed for the 2001, '02 and '03 race seasons.
In 2003, the track was purchased by Spartan Speedway owners Paul Zimmerman and Jim Leasure, and the track re-opened for the 2004 season as "Calhoun County Speedway".
In 2005, the track started the season as Calhoun County Speedway. During the season the name of the facility was changed to Springport Motor Speedway.
In 2006 the track was promoted by local racing legend Gary Fedewa (along with Spartan Speedway) but again, financial issues closed the track early, in August.
In 2007 Zimmerman/Leasure leased the track to local racer and businessmen Maurice Randall. Randall was formerly a NASCAR and ARCA driver.
[edit] Notable alumni
Bill Elliott, Sarah Fisher, Sarah McCune, Stephen Leicht, Mike Buckley, Kenny Irwin, David Stremme.
[edit] Track Time Line
- 1989 : Track opens under owner Russ Densmore as Michigan Ideal Speedway.
- 1989 : Track announcer is Mick Shuler
- 1991 : Track runs on Sunday Nights for the 1991 season
- 1993 : First Annual Michigan Cup Held
- 1999 : Track sold to ownership group led by Ronnie Johncox and operated as Springport Speedway
- 2001 - 2003 : Track was dormant
- 2003 : Track sold to Paul Zimmerman & Jim Leasure and operated as Calhoun County Speedway
- 2005 : Track operated as Springport Motor Speedway
[edit] Current Special Events
- Michigan Cup
- Racin' & Rock'n
- Old School Racing Champions Tour
[edit] Track Records
- Winged Sprint Car:
- Non Winged Spring Car:
- Super Late Model:
- Late Model:
- Sportsman:
- Modified:
- Outlaw Modified:
- Street Stock:
- RWD Pure Stock:
- FWD Pure Stock:
- Outlaw FWD Pony Stock:
- FWD Pony Stock:
[edit] Track Champions
| Year and Class | Super Late Model | Sportsman/LM/Pro Stk | Street Stock/Iron | Modifieds (IMCA/MMA) | V8 RWD Pure Stock | V6 FWD Pure Stock | 4 Cyl FWD Pony Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | c/n/r | Mike Ammerman | c/n/r | c/n/r | Jon Smith | Russ Potter IV | Dennis O'Neil |
| 2006 | c/n/r | c/n/r | Walt Obrinske | Larry Wallace | Wayne Parkhurst II | Russ Potter IV | Brent McCort |
| 2005 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | T.J. Conroy |
| 2004 | Harry Foote | c/n/r | Jim Butler | Ben Hidy | c/n/r | c/n/r | Kenny Clark |
| 2003 | Track Closed | ||||||
| 2002 | Track Closed | ||||||
| 2001 | Track Closed | ||||||
| 2000 | Brian Huntley | c/n/r | Jeff Houghton | Lanny Clawson | c/n/r | c/n/r | c/n/r |
| 1999 | Tom Hernly Jr | c/n/r | Jeff Houghton | Gary Sherman | c/n/r | c/n/r | c/n/r |
| 1998 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
| 1997 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
| 1996 | John Dunivan | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | |
| 1995 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
| 1994 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
| 1993 | John Dunivon | Jon Nelson | c/n/r | Robert Spurbeck | Mike Logan | c/n/r | c/n/r |
| 1992 | c/n/r | Ron Heeney | Chip Garlock | Dave Mingus | c/n/r | c/n/r | c/n/r |
| 1991 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Doug Drake | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
| 1990 | c/n/r | Jeff Finley | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
| 1989 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed |
- c/n/r : Class Not Run
- ^ : ICAR class rules
[edit] External links
- Springport Motor Speedway Official Site
- Springport Motor Speedway Page at WaterWinterWonderland on [1]
- North American Motorsports Pages: Springport Motor Speedway Page - Track information
- Spartan Speedway, Sister Track
- Michigan Short Track Racing Club
