Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway
| Drome | |
|---|---|
| Location | Grand National Motor City 250 (1951–1952) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 1.6 km (1 miles) |
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]
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
References
- ISBN 1-57488-907-9.
Michigan State Fairgrounds 1899.
- ISBN 978-0-7385-7789-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7385-7789-0.