Dayton Speedway

The Dayton Speedway is a race track in Dayton, Ohio, United States. It has been called the "Fastest 1/2 mile (plus 210 feet) in the world".

The track has held events for NASCAR, AAA, MARC, ARCA, ASA, USAC, etc.

Contents

History

The track was opened in June 1934 as a flat "D shaped" 5/8 mile dirt track. The original track was a "copy" of the ASCOT Speedway.[1]

Timeline - The following is a timeline of events from 1933 to the present: [1]

The first race was won by Ken Fowler of Paterson, New Jersey. Mauri Rose of Dayton, was second.
The turns were "remade" & promised to be the fastest track of its design in the world.
Funk also raised the banking, twice.
May have buried old Trolley cars to help fill the space.
Added an "oil substance" that "made the track as hard as pavement" (on hot days the stuff would get soapy and rain over the cars and drivers).
at night on the East Coast (ASCOT was first in the world).
Reopened after WWII - as an Asphalt Oval.
He cut 6 feet off the banks.
For 3 years, Earl Baltes Ran track (and several other tracks until 1979).
Infield Scoring Stand (Benny Parsons Photo).
Black and White Stripes were used on two high guardrails.
Black and Gold (yellow) stripes were on two high guardrails.
Red White Blue trim was applied to guardrails.
Label "Greater Dayton Speedway" was placed on Infield Scorers Stand.
The surface was repaved twice.
Guardrails and restrooms were a mess.
Guardrails needed to be replaced.
Grandstands needed repair.
One groove left in turns 1+2 and huge potholes in 3+4.
Straights were surprisingly good but banking needed attention.
The Flagman stand floor had rusted out.
The top section of infield scoring stand was gone.
Scales were gone from in front of I.S.S.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Dayton Speedway Lives", 2009, webpage: Dayton Speedway Lives.

References

External links