Owosso Speedway
Encyclopedia
Owosso Speedway is a 3/8 (.375) mile, progressively banked oval short track
located east of Ovid, Michigan
, between Ovid and Owosso
, further east.
. These soldiers were housed on the Speedway facilities and were allowed out into the community to do small jobs for the locals.
- The track resumed racing in 1946 with a brand-new high banked 1/2 (.500) mile asphalt oval sharing a front stretch with the 1/4 mile. In 1953 the 1/4 mile was paved, while the 1/2 mile remained a dirt track. In 1960 the 1/2 mile would go dormant, as it was closed because the track was allegedly too fast to be insured.
- The 1/2 mile would be resurrected in 1963 and the facility would continue on that way until 1972 when the big track was paved to go along with the already paved little track.
- In 1983 the track was converted over to dirt, for the first time since 1952 the two tracks were both dirt. The Speedway would close in 1988-1989 when the Simko family converted the 1/2 and 1/4 mile tracks over to the current 3/8 mile oval.
The Speedway also features special events for the Super Late Models.
Short track motor racing
In North American auto racing, particularly with regard to NASCAR, a short track is a racetrack of less than one mile in length. Short track racing, often associated with fairgrounds and similar venues, is where stock car racing first got off the back roads and into organized and regulated...
located east of Ovid, Michigan
Ovid, Michigan
Ovid is a village in Clinton and Shiawassee counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. Nearly all of the village is located within Ovid Township in Clinton County. The population was 1,514 at the 2000 census.The village is on M-21, about east of St...
, between Ovid and Owosso
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso is a city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,713 at the 2000 census. The city is located on the eastern side of Owosso Township, but is politically independent...
, further east.
Track History
In 1939 the Owosso Speedway opened as a 1/4 (.250) mile dirt oval. The track would operate until 1944 when it closed to serve as a POW Camp for captured German soldiers from World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. These soldiers were housed on the Speedway facilities and were allowed out into the community to do small jobs for the locals.
- The track resumed racing in 1946 with a brand-new high banked 1/2 (.500) mile asphalt oval sharing a front stretch with the 1/4 mile. In 1953 the 1/4 mile was paved, while the 1/2 mile remained a dirt track. In 1960 the 1/2 mile would go dormant, as it was closed because the track was allegedly too fast to be insured.
- The 1/2 mile would be resurrected in 1963 and the facility would continue on that way until 1972 when the big track was paved to go along with the already paved little track.
- In 1983 the track was converted over to dirt, for the first time since 1952 the two tracks were both dirt. The Speedway would close in 1988-1989 when the Simko family converted the 1/2 and 1/4 mile tracks over to the current 3/8 mile oval.
Notable alumni
- Benny ParsonsBenny ParsonsBenjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
– 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion - Tom Maier – Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame Driver
- Brad KeselowskiBrad KeselowskiBradley Robert Keselowski is an American auto racing driver currently competing in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger in the Sprint Cup Series and the #22 Discount Tire Company/Ruby Tuesday Dodge Challenger in the Nationwide Series for Penske Racing...
= Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver
Current operations
The Owosso Speedway currently races Saturday night from early-May through September. The co-headlining classes at the facility are the Pro Late Models and Modifieds, which race on an alternating bi-weekly schedule. Pro Stocks, Pure Stocks and Sport Stocks also are regular divisionsThe Speedway also features special events for the Super Late Models.
External links
- Owosso Speedway official site
- Owosso Speedway page at Water Winter Wonderland.