Mobile International Speedway
Encyclopedia
Mobile International Speedway is a 1/2 mile paved oval North American Auto racing
track located in the Mobile County, Alabama
community of Irvington, Alabama
. The track is situated along U.S. Highway 90. Constructed by Walter "Skip" Wetjen, it first opened in 1965.
During the golden age of Stock car racing
the track held races with the likes of Gene Tapia
and other NASCAR
drivers, including Wayne Niedecken, and Phil Wendt. Longtime stock car driver Red Farmer
won his 500th feature race at the track.
From 1966 to 1968 the track hosted open wheel racing and held the annual World 300 race for Supermodified racing which attracted competitors that included notable drivers such as Bobby Allison
, Dale Hammac, and Armond Holley.
In the 1980s, the track hosted races sanctioned by All Pro Stock, ASA, NASCAR Grand American, NASCAR All-American Challenge Series, and NASCAR All Pro Stock Car. Those races included drivers Donnie Allison
, Rusty Wallace
, Dave Mader III
, Ronnie Sanders, Mike Cope
, Freddy Fryar
, Junior Niedecken, Jody Ridley
, and others.
More recently the track has been home to a number of rising NASCAR
and ARCA
drivers including Rick Crawford, Kevin Swindell (a development driver for Ray Evernham
), Bubba Pollard (of Roush Racing: Driver X
) and Cale Gale
. Kevin Swindell holds the all-time track record.
Opening scenes from the 2009 motion picture The Final Destination were shot at the track.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
track located in the Mobile County, Alabama
Mobile County, Alabama
Mobile County[p] is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of a tribe of Indians, the Maubila tribe . As of 2011, its population was 415,704. Its county seat is Mobile, Alabama...
community of Irvington, Alabama
Irvington, Alabama
Irvington, Alabama is an unincorporated community located along U.S. Route 90, east of St. Elmo, Alabama and north of Bayou La Batre, Alabama in southwestern Mobile County, Alabama...
. The track is situated along U.S. Highway 90. Constructed by Walter "Skip" Wetjen, it first opened in 1965.
During the golden age of Stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
the track held races with the likes of Gene Tapia
Gene Tapia
Eugene "Gene" H. Tapia was an American race car driver from Mobile, Alabama. He competed in four NASCAR Grand National races, but he is best known for racing in the #327 supermodified. He was nicknamed the "King of the Supermodifieds."-Early life:Tapia was born on March 16, 1925 to Ada and Homer...
and other 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...
drivers, including Wayne Niedecken, and Phil Wendt. Longtime stock car driver Red Farmer
Red Farmer
Charles "Red" Farmer is a former NASCAR racecar driver.-Racing career:His first race was at Opa-locka Speedway near Miami, Florida in a 1934 Ford in 1948. He became famous as a member of the Alabama Gang and he considered his hometown to be Hueytown, Alabama...
won his 500th feature race at the track.
From 1966 to 1968 the track hosted open wheel racing and held the annual World 300 race for Supermodified racing which attracted competitors that included notable drivers such as Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
, Dale Hammac, and Armond Holley.
In the 1980s, the track hosted races sanctioned by All Pro Stock, ASA, NASCAR Grand American, NASCAR All-American Challenge Series, and NASCAR All Pro Stock Car. Those races included drivers Donnie Allison
Donnie Allison
Dunkiny "Donnie" Allison is a former driver on the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup circuit, who won ten times during his racing career, which spanned the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. He was part of the "Alabama Gang," and is the brother of 1983 champion Bobby Allison and uncle of Davey Allison...
, Rusty Wallace
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
, Dave Mader III
Dave Mader III
Dave Mader III is an American auto racer from Maylene, Alabama. He competed in ten NASCAR Winston Cup races between 1988 and 1992, including leading seven laps at Martinsville Speedway in 1992. In the Busch Series, he raced in 22 events between 1986 and 1992, with nine Top 10 finishes...
, Ronnie Sanders, Mike Cope
Mike Cope
Mike Cope , is a retired NASCAR driver. He became famous during the mid-1990s one of the best drivers in the Slim Jim All-Pro Series. In the late-90s he started a five year tour in the high levels of NASCAR...
, Freddy Fryar
Freddy Fryar
Freddy Fryar is a retired NASCAR Grand National and Winston Cup Series driver whose career spanned from 1956 to 1971 . Fryar participated in 772 laps of racing; equivalent to of racing. His average start position is 27th while his average finish position is 21st...
, Junior Niedecken, Jody Ridley
Jody Ridley
Jody Ridley is a former NASCAR driver. He won the 1980 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year award and one race at Dover International Speedway the next year, the only Cup victory for Donlavey Racing....
, and others.
More recently the track has been home to a number of rising 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...
and 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...
drivers including Rick Crawford, Kevin Swindell (a development driver for Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham
Ray Evernham is currently a consultant for Hendrick Companies. In 1999, Evernham won the NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated “Person of the Year”.-Racer:...
), Bubba Pollard (of Roush Racing: Driver X
Roush Racing: Driver X
Roush Racing: Driver X is a television show on the Discovery Channel that documented the selection of NASCAR drivers for Roush Racing. During occasional years, Jack Roush, the owner of NASCAR's Roush Fenway Racing, auditions drivers from around the world to hire a driver in the NASCAR Craftsman...
) and Cale Gale
Cale Gale
Cale Gale is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #33 Rheem Chevrolet Silverado for Eddie Sharp Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Karting:...
. Kevin Swindell holds the all-time track record.
Opening scenes from the 2009 motion picture The Final Destination were shot at the track.