Dixie motor speedway
Encyclopedia
Dixie Motor Speedway is a 4/10 (.400) mile, progressively banked, D-shaped oval short track
, with an adjoining 1/3 (.333) mile as well as a Figure 8 course located near Birch Run, Michigan
.
The track would experience consistent growth over the decades, under the ownership of the Doering and Scrivo families, with a Figure 8 course being built through the in-field pit area, moving that area to outside of the 1/3 mile oval.
The Kern family would take ownership in 1996 and the Speedway would see its greatest period of growth. A luxury VIP box was built at the top of the main grandstands, new bathrooms were installed, brand new stadium quality lights were installed to replace to outdated system previously there, a new tech barn was built in the pits and the most noticeable addition was the building of a progressively banked 4/10s mile oval.
At the conclusion of the 2008 season, the Kern family announced their intentions to retire as track operators, handing over the reins of the facility to Checkered Flag Promotions.
– 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion
Cy Fairchild – Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame driver
Parnelli Jones
– 1963 Indianapolis 500 Champion
Junior Hanley
– Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame driver
Ed Howe – Founder of Howe Racing Enterprises
Mike Eddy
– Seven-time American Speed Association
Champion
Brad Keselowski
– Current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver
The regular Friday night divisions include Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Pro Stocks on the 4/10s mile oval. Street Stocks and Bombers on the 1/3 mile and weekly Figure 8s.
Special events include the high power Outlaw 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...
, with an adjoining 1/3 (.333) mile as well as a Figure 8 course located near Birch Run, Michigan
Birch Run, Michigan
Birch Run is a village in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,653 at the 2000 census. The 2009 Census Bureau estimate places the population at 1,642. The village is located within Birch Run Township....
.
Track History
Dixie Motor Speedway opened in 1948 as a 1/3 mile dirt oval. The track spent its opening decade plus as a dirt track before being paved in the early-60s.The track would experience consistent growth over the decades, under the ownership of the Doering and Scrivo families, with a Figure 8 course being built through the in-field pit area, moving that area to outside of the 1/3 mile oval.
The Kern family would take ownership in 1996 and the Speedway would see its greatest period of growth. A luxury VIP box was built at the top of the main grandstands, new bathrooms were installed, brand new stadium quality lights were installed to replace to outdated system previously there, a new tech barn was built in the pits and the most noticeable addition was the building of a progressively banked 4/10s mile oval.
At the conclusion of the 2008 season, the Kern family announced their intentions to retire as track operators, handing over the reins of the facility to Checkered Flag Promotions.
Notable alumni
Benny ParsonsBenny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
– 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion
Cy Fairchild – Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame driver
Parnelli Jones
Parnelli Jones
Rufus Parnell "Parnelli" Jones , is a retired American racing driver and racecar owner. He is most remembered for his 1963 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indy 500 in a turbine car...
– 1963 Indianapolis 500 Champion
Junior Hanley
Junior Hanley
Junior Hanley is a Canadian stock car driver and race car builder. He is widely regarded by his racing peers to be the best Canadian short track racer of his time. He has built cars for drivers such as Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt, Alan Kulwicki, Mark Martin, Kyle Petty, Dick Trickle and Darrell...
– Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame driver
Ed Howe – Founder of Howe Racing Enterprises
Mike Eddy
Mike Eddy
Mike Eddy is a stock car auto racer. He is most notable for racing in the now defunct American Speed Association . He was a seven time ASA National Champion, which is the most in ASA history. During his run in ASA Eddy drove the number 88 car.-ASA:Eddy won his 7 championships in 1974, 1976,...
– Seven-time American Speed Association
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...
Champion
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
Bradley 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 Dixie Motor Speedway currently races Friday night from late-April through September, with monthly Eve of Destruction events on Sunday afternoons.The regular Friday night divisions include Pro Late Models, Modifieds, and Pro Stocks on the 4/10s mile oval. Street Stocks and Bombers on the 1/3 mile and weekly Figure 8s.
Special events include the high power Outlaw Super Late Models.
External links
- Dixie Motor Speedway official site
- Dixie Motor Speedway page at Water Winter Wonderland.