Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway
The Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway was a dirt oval racing track located in Detroit, Michigan. The track was built in 1899 for horse racing, 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.
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. In 1971 the grandstand was declared unsafe; it was demolished in 2001.
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
- ^ Reed, Terry (2005). Indy: The Race And Ritual Of The Indianapolis 500 (Second ed.). Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books. p. 4. ISBN 1-57488-907-9.
Michigan State Fairgrounds 1899.
- ^ Minnis, John; Beaver, Lauren (2010). Michigan State Fair. Images of America. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7385-7789-0.
- ^ Minnis, John; Beaver, Lauren (2010). Michigan State Fair. Images of America. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7385-7789-0.