Heartland Park Topeka
Encyclopedia
Heartland Park Topeka is a multi-purpose motorsports facility located 5 miles (8 km) south of Topeka, Kansas
.
When it opened in 1989
, it was the first brand-new auto racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible configurations (ranging from 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to 2.5 miles (4 km) in length), a ⅜ mile clay oval, off-road course and a ¼ mile drag strip. After several years of neglect, owing to continual financial difficulties, the track surface and other facilities had deteriorated badly and the very survival of the track was in doubt. In 2003, it was bought by Raymond Irwin, former owner (2007) of Blackhawk Farms Raceway
, who has instituted a program of major renovations to the facility.
The drag-strip is used by local clubs and the National Hot Rod Association
. The road-course is mainly used by the SCCA and marque-clubs. The track was the home of both the SCCA's National Championship Runoffs and the The Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships from 2006 to 2008. In the past, it has hosted ARCA, ASA
, IMSA
, AMA
.
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
.
When it opened in 1989
1989 in sports
1989 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
, it was the first brand-new auto racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible configurations (ranging from 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to 2.5 miles (4 km) in length), a ⅜ mile clay oval, off-road course and a ¼ mile drag strip. After several years of neglect, owing to continual financial difficulties, the track surface and other facilities had deteriorated badly and the very survival of the track was in doubt. In 2003, it was bought by Raymond Irwin, former owner (2007) of Blackhawk Farms Raceway
Blackhawk Farms Raceway
Blackhawk Farms is a private circuit racetrack located outside South Beloit, Illinois, on a farm on the border between Wisconsin and Illinois. Blackhawk Farms was established in 1967, about a decade after nearby Road America.-History:...
, who has instituted a program of major renovations to the facility.
The drag-strip is used by local clubs and the National Hot Rod Association
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
. The road-course is mainly used by the SCCA and marque-clubs. The track was the home of both the SCCA's National Championship Runoffs and the The Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships from 2006 to 2008. In the past, it has hosted ARCA, ASA
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
, IMSA
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
, AMA
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
.
Craftsman Truck Series race winners
- 1995 - Ron HornadayRon HornadayRonald Hornaday, Jr. is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is the father of former NASCAR driver Ronnie Hornaday, and son of the late Ron Hornaday, Sr., a two-time Winston West Champion. Adding on to the family legacy, Ron is a four-time champion in the Truck Series, his most recent...
- 1996 - Mike SkinnerMike Skinner (NASCAR)Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
- 1997 - Joe RuttmanJoe RuttmanJoe Ruttman , is an American former racecar driver. He currently lives in Franklin, Tenn. He actively competed in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series and is a 13 time winner in the Truck Series, the seventh most wins by any driver in the Truck...
- 1998 - Stacy ComptonStacy ComptonStacy Compton is a NASCAR team owner and former driver. He currently owns Turn One Racing. He is a former co-owner of Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia in the Craftsman Truck Series, and is a former racing analyst for ESPN full-time...
- 1999 - Mike BlissMike BlissMichael Bliss is a NASCAR driver who has run in all three major series. He currently drives the #19 Chevrolet Impala for TriStar Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He began racing at age 10...