Jukasa Motor Speedway

The Jukasa Motor Speedway, formerly known as Cayuga Speedway and the Cayuga 2000 Speedway, is a auto racing track located near Cayuga in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada.

Famous stock car drivers including Matt Kenseth, Bobby Allison, Benny Parsons, Don Biederman and Dick Trickle have participated in racing events at Jukasa Motor Speedway on a professional level.^[1]

History

Racing

Cayuga International Speedway opened in 1966 as a 1/2 mile "D"-shaped dirt oval, by an owners group consisting of Frank Mashell, Wayne Conroy, Milton Chesterman, and Jack Greenaigh, but was given up to the tracks largest creditor Bob Slack of Slack Lumber after the end of the 1966 season. After the 1967 season Slack made the decision to pave the track because according to his grandson Roger Slack, the high maintenance of preparing the dirt for weekly racing. Cayuga International Speedway was also increased slightly in size to 5/8 of a mile when it was paved but it was still a "D"-shape, the back stretch maintaining a slight but noticeable curve. A smaller flat oval was built inside the track that was used to race some race divisions like mini stocks and Can-Am TQ (three quarter) midgets. The smaller oval used part of the big tracks front straight away and the same start finish line. It also doubled as the pit road for long events that required teams to make pit stops. The small track was removed in the early 1980's so that a straight pit lane could be built, and the infield pit area benefited by gaining some space. The track has held a variety of different racing groups including the American Speed Association, CASCAR, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the American Canadian Tour, NASCAR Busch North, Hooters Pro-Cup, USAC, International Supermodified Association (ISMA), DIRT Modifieds and the ARCA RE/MAX Series (which is considered to be one of the developmental milestones to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series). Set on 300 acres (120 hectares) of land, Cayuga offered campgrounds with electricity, concession booths, and free parking.

In 2002 track owners Bob and Leone Slack were inducted to the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame for there dedication to the Speedway.

On June 8, 2006, a group of developers from Toronto purchased the ⅝ mile track from Bob and Leone Slack and made improvements for the 2007 season, hoping to attract NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly called the Busch Series) to have a race at Cayuga Speedway. Instead, the race went to Montreal (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve) due to its larger population and recognition in the international community.^[2] Cooper Construction of Oakville was announced as the vendor to re-build the track. Cayuga International Speedway Park hosted the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race in series history on May 26, 2007.

The final NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race to be held here was the 2008 Coke Zero 200.

The last race held at the speedway was in July 2009 featuring the ISMA Supermodifieds; which was won by Mark Sammut of London, Ontario. This event would earn Sammut his first ISMA win. Along with the ISMA Supermodified racing action were the Canadian Vintage Modifieds; which was won by Phil Shaw of Orangeville, Ontario.

It was announced in December 2016 that the track would reopen on August 26th and 27th, 2017. Renamed Jukasa Motor Speedway, the APC United Late Model Series will headline its opening weekend.^[3][4]

Music

Concerts were held occasionally at Cayuga Speedway; usually conforming with either the country or the heavy metal genre.

Present condition

In March 2014, photos surfaced on the Lost Speedway's Facebook page showing the speedway in a state of severe disrepair.^[5] As of mid May 2014, there is word that the track has been sold. Local business men Ken Hill Jerry Montour of Six Nations are parterns in the rebirth of the track as Jukasa Motor Speedway. Pictures surfaced on Facebook as of Sept 9th 2014 showing sand blasting being done to the walls taking off old paint, leading to believe there will be racing again.

A November 2014 update^[6] shows the old asphalt being removed.

December 2014 update^[7] removing almost two feet of material, down to the clay base. The old material, which was causing water seepage issues, is being replaced with new, 2-inch rock, which will improve drainage

A November 2015 update from^[8] Inside Track Motorsports News reports that two workers and some equipment were on the site, but there were still piles of gravel and dirt visible and the base level of asphalt had not been laid down. To the eye, the site looks virtually unchanged since a flurry of construction activity late in 2014. While at the track, they were told there were 'no plans to pave this year.'

November 1st 2016 Paving has started. Prior to this new walls were poured, plans for the track are the same size but with progressive banking in the corners.

Alex Nagy has been named General Manager of Jukasa Motor Speedway, and has begun promoting the facility, most notably at the Toronto Motorama car show held March 10, 11 &12 at the International Centre on Airport road Malton, Ontario near Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Nagy was formerly the head of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (now Pintys).

References

External links

https://www.jukasamotorspeedway.com

• Jukasa Motor Speedway Official Facebook page
• Canadian Racing Archives Project
• CanadianRacingOnline