The Dayton Speedway is a race track

Race track

A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...

 in Dayton

Dayton, Ohio

Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...

, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.
It has been called the "Fastest 1/2 mile (plus 210 feet) in the world".

The track has held events for 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...

, AAA, MARC, 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...

, ASA, USAC, etc.

History

The track was opened in June 1934 as a flat "D shaped" 5/8 mile dirt track. The original track was a "copy" of the ASCOT Speedway.


Timeline - The following is a timeline of events from 1933 to the present:

• 1933 - A "Kids Race" was held in September 1933.
• 1934 - The Official opening of the track was Sunday, June 3, 1934.

The first race was won by Ken Fowler of Paterson, New Jersey. Mauri Rose of Dayton, was second.

• 1934-1935 - The Speedway Manager was Paul Ackerman.
• 1936 - On June 4, 1936, the entire track was revamped and tons of asphalt
  Asphalt
  Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
  
   were added.

The turns were "remade" & promised to be the fastest track of its design in the world.

• 1937 - Track was purchased by Frank Funk.
• 1939 - The track was converted to a high-banked 1/2 mile.

Funk also raised the banking, twice.

May have buried old Trolley cars to help fill the space.

Added an "oil substance" that "made the track as hard as pavement" (on hot days the stuff would get soapy and rain over the cars and drivers).

• late 1930s - 1970 - Covered grandstands are added.

• 1940's - Billboards on the backstretch begin to be displayed.
• 1941-1945 - Closed during WWII
  World 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...
  
  .
• 1946 - Reopened Friday June 29, 1946, with the first “Big Car” race ever held

at night on the East Coast (ASCOT was first in the world).

Reopened after WWII - as an Asphalt Oval.

• 1947-1954 - The track infield was 1/4 mile.
• 1949 - Sold in 1949.
• 1949-1958 - It had a single white guardrail.
• 1949?-1954? - The track had a wooden scoring / announcers stand.

• 1950 - It had a single "Strap" Guardrail (from 1950 Sprint Car Start on Home Page).
• 1951/52 - Track was converted to (corrugated/extruded) rounded guardrails.
• 1953 - First Dayton 500 was won by Iggy Katona.
• 1954 - Track site was used for a concert by "The Drifters
  The Drifters
  The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
  
  " (August 7, 1954).
• 1955 - The infield track was 3/8 mile.
• 1955 - Jim Romine Olds photo shows bridge (No bridge after 1955?)

• 1960's - Harlan Fengler
  Harlan Fengler
  Harlan Fengler was an American racecar driver. Fengler acted as Chief Steward of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1958 until 1974.-Indy 500 results:...
  
  Era (chief steward of the Indy 500)

He cut 6 feet off the banks.

For 3 years, Earl Baltes Ran track (and several other tracks until 1979).

• 1969 - Black and White Stripe were used on two High Guardrails.

Infield Scoring Stand (Benny Parsons Photo).

• 1970 - Covered Grandstands in my photos.

Black and White Stripes were used on two high guardrails.

• 1971-1974 - Closed, but some used the track for testing.
• 1975 - A new grandstand was built with new owner

Black and Gold (yellow) stripes were on two high guardrails.

• 1976-1978 - Closed, but some used the track for testing.
• 1979 - Don Thompson Era

Red White Blue trim was applied to guardrails.

Label "Greater Dayton Speedway" was placed on Infield Scorers Stand.

The surface was repaved twice.

• 1982 - Front of the Concession Stand near turn one nearly collapsed between races one Sunday.

Guardrails and restrooms were a mess.

• 1982 - At end of season, closed, due to no liability insurance.
• 1984 - Still for sale.

Guardrails needed to be replaced.

Grandstands needed repair.

One groove left in turns 1+2 and huge potholes in 3+4.

Straights were surprisingly good but banking needed attention.

• 1986 - Still for sale.

The Flagman stand floor had rusted out.

The top section of infield scoring stand was gone.

Scales were gone from in front of I.S.S.

External links

• Dayton Speedway Lives - website for regular updates and photos.