Canfield Speedway
Encyclopedia
Canfield Speedway
Canfield Speedway hosted (major) sanctioned auto racing from 1950 to 1964, but other associations ran until the late 1970s. The track is a half mile dirt oval that was on the NascarNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Grand National Schedule for three years from 1950-1952 hosting one event annually over that time period. The Nascar Grand National and Short Track series competed there as well as ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
and USAC. The Grand National events were 200 laps and 100 miles (160.9 km) long. The Short Track Race was 100 laps and the track was 1/4-mile long making the race 25 miles (40.2 km). The ARCA races were either 100 laps on the 1/4-mile or 200, 250, or 300 laps on the 1/2-mile as the track had two different configurations. Some of the events used the inverted start with the pole qualifier starting last. Both USAC races were 100 laps on the quarter mile configuration. The quickest laps recorded in sanctioned events were just under the 24 second mark with cars averaging 60 mi/h around the speedway on the half mile configuration. On the quarter mile quick time was under 16 seconds and cars averaged 55 mi/h. At some times the track was paved in the quarter mile configuration, but never in the half mile configuration. Attendance varied from 30,000 people for larger events to 10,000 people for ones of less significance. The track is located at the Canfield Fairgrounds
Canfield Fairgrounds
The Canfield Fairgrounds hosts the annual Mahoning County Fair which has been held annually for 163 years. It is located in the city of Canfield, Ohio, USA, which is outside of Youngstown, Ohio. It is noted as one of the largest county fairs in the state of Ohio. The fair was established in 1864...
in Canfield, Ohio, and is still in use today, primarily during the Canfield Fair. The NASCAR pole record is 54.233 mi/h and the race record is 48.057 mph 2:04:51. The record for cautions is 4 and smallest margin of victory 4 feet (1.2 m) and the largest 3 laps. The largest purse was $4350 and the most lead changes was 2.
Table of Nascar Sanctioned Events
| Date | Event Name | Series | Race Winner | Pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1950 | (none) | NASCAR NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr... Grand National |
Bill Rexford Bill Rexford Bill Rexford was a stock car driver in the early 1950s.Born in Conewango Valley, New York, he made his name driving stock cars in the region... |
Jimmy Florian |
| May 30, 1951 | Poor Man's 500 | NASCAR NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr... Grand National |
Marshall Teague Marshall Teague Marshall Teague was an American race car driver.He was nicknamed by NASCAR fans as the "King of the Beach" for his performances at the Daytona Beach Road Course.... |
Bill Rexford Bill Rexford Bill Rexford was a stock car driver in the early 1950s.Born in Conewango Valley, New York, he made his name driving stock cars in the region... |
| September 27, 1951 | ----- | NASCAR Short Track | Lloyd Moore Lloyd Moore Lloyd D. Moore was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver from 1949 to 1955, recording 13 top-5 and 23 top-10 finishes. He was born in Frewsburg, New York, USA. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former NASCAR driver.In 1950, Moore was a teammate of NASCAR champion Bill Rexford... |
Iggy Katona Iggy Katona Egnatius "Iggy" Katona was an American stock car racer from Willis, Michigan. He is most famous for his performance in the ARCA series in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, where he won six championships and a series record 79 races... |
| May 30, 1952 | Poor Man's 500 | NASCAR Grand National | Herb Thomas Herb Thomas Herbert Watson Thomas was a NASCAR pioneer who was one of the series' most successful drivers in the 1950s.-Background:... |
Dick Rathmann Dick Rathmann Dick Rathmann was an American racecar driver.... |
Table of ARCA & USAC Events
| Date | Series | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| May 30, 1953 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| August 8, 1953 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| May 31, 1954 | ARCA Stock Car | Buckie Sager |
| June 26, 1954 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob Pronger |
| July 17, 1954 | ARCA Stock Car | Don Oldenberg |
| August 7, 1954 | ARCA Stock Car | Russ Hepler |
| April 23, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| May 30, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| June 25, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Russ Hepler |
| July 30, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Bill Lutz |
| August 20, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| September 17, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Mike Klapak |
| October 1, 1955 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| May 30, 1956 | ARCA Stock Car | Darel Dieringer |
| June 23, 1956 | ARCA Stock Car | Russ Hepler |
| July 14, 1956 | ARCA Stock Car | Jack Farris |
| August 11, 1956 | ARCA Stock Car | Jim Romine |
| September 22, 1956 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| April 20, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Jack Farris |
| April 27, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Iggy Katona |
| May 30, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Jack Farris |
| July 4, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Jack Farris |
| July 27, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| August 17, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Nelson Stacy |
| September 21, 1957 | ARCA Stock Car | Roy Gemberling |
| April 26, 1958 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| May 30, 1958 | ARCA Stock Car | Les Snow |
| June 24, 1958 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| July 4, 1958 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| April 25, 1959 | ARCA Stock Car | Nelson Stacy |
| May 30, 1959 | ARCA Stock Car | Don White |
| July 4, 1959 | ARCA Stock Car | Bill Forney |
| August 1, 1959 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| August 14, 1959 | USAC Midget | Eddie Johnson |
| September 26, 1959 | ARCA Stock Car | Bob James |
| July 2, 1960 | ARCA Stock Car | Paul Parks |
| July 30, 1960 | ARCA Stock Car | Nelson Stacy |
| August 3, 1960 | USAC Midget | Bob McLean |
| September 18, 1960 | ARCA Stock Car | Nelson Stacy |
| May 30, 1961 | ARCA Stock Car | Harold Smith |
| September 17, 1961 | ARCA Stock Car | Kenny Reeder |
| April 21, 1962 | ARCA Stock Car | Dick Freeman |
| May 30, 1962 | ARCA Stock Car | Harold Smith |
| May 30, 1963 | ARCA Stock Car | Jack Bowsher |
| May 29, 1964 | ARCA Stock Car | Earl Balmer |
1950 Race #5 Top 5 Results for First Race
| 1. Bill Rexford | 200 Laps | $1,470 | 80 Led |
| 2. Glenn Dunnaway Glenn Dunnaway Henry Glenn Dunaway was an American auto racer noted for initially winning, and then being disqualified from, what is today recognized as NASCAR's first-ever race. He lived in Gastonia, North Carolina.-1949:... |
198 | $750 |
| 3. Lloyd Moore Lloyd Moore Lloyd D. Moore was a NASCAR Grand National Series driver from 1949 to 1955, recording 13 top-5 and 23 top-10 finishes. He was born in Frewsburg, New York, USA. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living former NASCAR driver.In 1950, Moore was a teammate of NASCAR champion Bill Rexford... |
198 | $500 |
| 4. Lee Petty Lee Petty Lee Arnold Petty was an American stock car driver in the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR, and one of its first superstars. He was born near Randleman, North Carolina.-Career:... |
195 | $400 |
| 5. Bill Blair Bill Blair (NASCAR) Bill Blair was an American stock car driver in the 1940s and the 1950s. He was one of the pioneers of NASCAR.-Wins:... |
195 | $300 |
Bill Rexford
Bill RexfordBill Rexford
Bill Rexford was a stock car driver in the early 1950s.Born in Conewango Valley, New York, he made his name driving stock cars in the region...
won the inaugural event (later known as the Poor Man's 500) and went on to take the Grand National Championship that year in 1950. He was the youngest diver to win the championship in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. He was aided to the championship when Lee Petty was stripped of some points for racing in non-NASCAR sanctioned events. His only lead lap finish in his career was at Canfield Speedway (when he won). His only career pole came at Canfield Speedway the following year in 1951. He was the 1st of 6 drivers to win a championship without winning a pole in that season. He is 1 of 4 drivers to win a championship with only 1 win that season (nobody has won with 0 wins). In the three grand national races only 4 cars combined finished on the lead lap.
Sources
- http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=104
- http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks?id=113
- http://www.racing-reference.info/trackdet?trk=113&series=W&show=1
- http://jacobsusa.com/cjsspeed/nascar/tracks/canfield_speedway.shtml
- http://www.nascar.com/
- http://community.nascar.com/blogs/14457
- http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Bill_Rexford.htm
- http://www.legendsofnascar.com/Jimmy_Florian.htm
- http://www.race-database.com/track/track.php?track_id=Canfield
- http://www.jayski.com/pages/tracks/bgntracks.htm
- http://www.jayski.com/stats/winbynum.htm
- The Stock Car Racing Encyclodepia,
- Canfield Speedway: A Photo Journey 1946-1973