Springport Motor Speedway
Encyclopedia
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 northwest of Springport, Michigan
Springport, Michigan
Springport is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 704. The village is located within Springport Township on M-99.-Geography:...
.
Springport Motor Speedway opened in the fall of 1989 under the name of Michigan Ideal Speedway. Built to replicate the dimensions of Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
, but on a 3/8th mile scale.
Seating 5300 spectators at maximum capacity, the track sits in the countryside of Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
, a 45 minute drive from the Irish Hills
Irish Hills
The Irish Hills is an area of land located roughly in southeastern Jackson County and northwest Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its name comes from the Irish immigrants who settled there from 1830-1850...
and Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
.
History
Springport Motor Speedway opened in the fall of 1989 under the name of Michigan Ideal Speedway.Michigan Ideal Speedway was the dream of Russ Densmore. Densmore owned a local propane company in Springport, Michigan
Springport, Michigan
Springport is a village in Jackson County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 704. The village is located within Springport Township on M-99.-Geography:...
, and he was on the fire
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and safety crew at Michigan International Speedway. In 1988 Russ Densmore was the fire crew chief at Spartan Speedway, a position he had held in previous seasons under the ownership of Paul Zimmerman. After an evening of racing, Densmore and new Spartan owner Russ Cowper (Cowper also owned the Galeburg Speedway) had a conflict over some facet of track operation, Mr. Cowper challenged Densmore "If you think you know so much about running a race track, why don't you go get your own".
Mr. Densmore purchased 68 acres (275,186.5 m²) farm & farm house in the extreme North East corner of Calhoun County and build his dream short track and called it Michigan Ideal Speedway.
One of the major contractors/builders was also a local racer named Jim "Barney" Barnhardt. Not only did Barney help build the track, he was the first ever driver to take a race car onto the speedway. He was also the first driver to wreck a car on the speedway.
During the first race on that fall afternoon, Bill Tyler was given the first upside down trophy (it was more of a nose stand in the first turn). He went on to win the sprint feature that day. Other winners from the first race were: Late Models - Joe Dorer and Charlie Evens, Mini Champs - Andy Michner, IMCA Modified
IMCA Modified
IMCA Modified is the top division sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association. The series began in 1979.The car bodies are a hybrid of an open wheel car and a stock car. The front tires have no body around them like an open wheel car, and the back wheels have a body around them like a...
s - Dan Bailey, Factory Stocks - Tim West, Pro Stocks - John Smalley, Ed Santora, and Dick Margo.
No season champions were crowned in 1989 as only one race was held.
In 1990, the first Late Model Champion was Jeff Finley.
In 1998, Russ Densmore sold the track to an ownership group out of Jackson, Michigan headed by Ronnie Johncox
Ronnie Johncox
Ronnie Johncox , is a professional racecar driver with over 200 wins. He is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1999-2000 seasons with 8 career starts....
. Ronnie Johncox
Ronnie Johncox
Ronnie Johncox , is a professional racecar driver with over 200 wins. He is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1999-2000 seasons with 8 career starts....
was an Indy Car
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
owner and driver who was participating on the Indy Car
IndyCar Series
The IZOD IndyCar Series is the premier level of American open wheel racing. The current championship, founded by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony George, began in 1996 as a competitor to CART known as the Indy Racing League . Citing CART's increasing reliance on expensive machinery and...
Series at the time of purchase.
Johncox operated and promoted the track for two season's until he closed the track after the 2000 season due to financial issues. The track remained closed for the 2001, '02 and '03 race seasons.
In 2003, the track was purchased by Spartan Speedway owners Paul Zimmerman and Jim Leasure, and the track re-opened for the 2004 season as "Calhoun County Speedway".
In 2005, the track started the season as Calhoun County Speedway. During the season the name of the facility was changed to Springport Motor Speedway.
In 2006 the track was promoted by local racing legend Gary Fedewa (along with Spartan Speedway) but again, financial issues closed the track early, in August.
In 2007 Zimmerman/Leasure leased the track to local racer and businessmen Maurice Randall. Randall was formerly a NASCAR and ARCA driver. Track successfully completed the season, but for 2008, track ownership decided not to lease the track out and instead operate it themselves.
The 2008 season was completed in full and at the conclusion of the season the track was sold/leased to Jerry Rabbers. Rabbers changed the name of the track to "Mid-Michigan Speedway" and launched an ambitious schedule and payout. In July 2009, the track suspended operations and in August ownership/operation reverted back to Leasure.
In 2010 and 2011 the track was successfully leased and operated by Steve Martin. The Springport Motor Speedway website http://www.springportmotorspeedway.com is full of information for the current season.
If you have been to the track and watched, or raced, come back and enjoy yourself again. If you have never been, there could not be a better time to give the premier racing facility in the tri - state area a try. Springport Motor Speedway: Michigan's Ideal Speedway.
Notable alumni
Bill ElliottBill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
, Sarah Fisher
Sarah Fisher
Sarah Marie Fisher is a retired American professional racecar driver who competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500...
, Sarah McCune, Stephen Leicht
Stephen Leicht
Stephen Leicht is an American stock car driver. He is currently a free agent. He has over 150 feature event wins in quarter midgets and go-karts.-Early racing career:...
, Mike Buckley, Kenny Irwin, David Stremme
David Stremme
David Andrew Stremme is an American stock car driver. He is most notable as the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, winning the award while running a part time for several different teams. He currently drives the #30 Chevrolet Impala for Inception Motorsports.-Early life:Stremme was...
.
Track Time Line
- 1989 : Track opens under owner Russ Densmore as Michigan Ideal Speedway.
- 1989 : Track announcer is Mick Shuler
- 1991 : Track runs on Sunday Nights for the 1991 season
- 1993 : First Annual Michigan Cup Held
- 1999 : Track sold to ownership group led by Ronnie JohncoxRonnie JohncoxRonnie Johncox , is a professional racecar driver with over 200 wins. He is a former driver in the Indy Racing League. He raced in the 1999-2000 seasons with 8 career starts....
and operated as Springport Speedway - 2001 - 2003 : Track was dormant
- 2003 : Track sold to Paul Zimmerman & Jim Leasure and operated as Calhoun County Speedway
- 2005 : Track operated as Springport Motor Speedway
- 2009 : Track was leased to Jerry Rabbers and operated as Mid-Michigan Speedway
- 2010 : Track was leased to Steve Martin, the named returned to Springport Motor Speedway and is now open for the 2011 season
Current Special Events
- Michigan CupMichigan CupThe Michigan Cup is an annual Street Stock Invitation Race held at Springport Motor Speedway each late-summer/fall. This open ruled Invitational race invites all makes and models of rear wheel drive V-8 powered short track street stock cars to a 3-day special event to crown the King Street Stock...
- Racin and RockinRacin and RockinRacin and Rockin is an annual motorsports and music festival held at Springport Motor Speedway, located in Springport, Michigan each summer in celebration of true Americana; Short track motor racing, Rock-n-Roll and A Pig Roast....
- Old School Racing Champions Tour
Track Records
- Winged Sprint Car:
- Non Winged Spring Car:
- Super Late Model:
- Late Model:
- Sportsman:
- Modified:
- Outlaw Modified:
- Street Stock:
- RWD Pure Stock: Kyle Drake 18.754 2008
- FWD Pure Stock:
- Outlaw FWD Pony Stock:
- FWD Pony Stock:
Track Champions
| Year and Class | Super Late Model ^^ | Sportsman ~ | Street Stock | Modifieds (IMCA/MMA) | V8 Pure Stock ~~ | V6 FWDs | Pony Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2008 | n/a | #47 Scott Sigman | n/a | #73 Earl Miles | #25 Matt Patrick | #9 Bryan Jenks | #62 Todd Metz Sr. |
| 2007 | n/a | #16 Mike Ammerman | n/a | n/a | #51 Jon Smith | #10 Russ Potter IV | #95 Dennis O'Neil |
| 2006 | n/a | n/a | #3 Walt Obrinske | #55 Larry Wallace | #13 Wayne Parkhurst II | #10 Russ Potter IV | #99 Brent McCort |
| 2005 | n/a | n/a | #18 Bubber Patrick | #73 Earl Miles | n/a | n/a | #17 T.J. Conroy |
| 2004 | #70 Harry Foote Jr. | n/a | #97 Ben Hidy | #2 Jim Butler | n/a | n/a | #11 Kenny Clark |
| 2003 | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed |
| 2002 | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed |
| 2001 | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed | Track Closed |
| 2000 | #43 Brian Huntley | n/a | #98 Jeff Houghton | #31 Lanny Clawson | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | #81 Tom Hernly Jr | n/a | #98 Jeff Houghton | #37 Gary Sherman | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1998 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | #27 Nyle Weiler | Data Needed | n/a | n/a |
| 1997 | #27 Torch Osterhouse | Data Needed | Data Needed | #3 Stevie Smith | Data Needed | n/a | n/a |
| 1996 | #3 John Dunivan ^^ | #7 John McNett | Jeff Houghton | #15 Dennis Anscombe ^ | n/a | n/a | |
| 1995 | Data Needed | Data Needed | Data Needed | #65 Chuck Olson | Data Needed | n/a | n/a |
| 1994 | #73 Earl Miles ^^ | Jon Nelson | Steve Utley ~~ | #25 Greg Taylor | Data Needed | n/a | n/a |
| 1993 | John Dunivon ^^ | Jon Nelson | n/a | #35 Johnny Logan | Mike Logan | n/a | n/a |
| 1992 | n/a | Ron Heeney | Chip Garlock | #49 Dave Mingus | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 1991 | Brian Huntley | Ron Heeney ~ | Doug Drake ~~ | #911 Dick Maurer | Data Needed | n/a | n/a |
| 1990 | #42 Jeff Finley | Data Needed | Data Needed | #111 Don Gaier | Data Needed | n/a | n/a |
- n/a : Non Applicable; Class not run that season
- ^ : ICAR class rules
- ^^ : Limited Late Model rules
- ~ : Pro Stock rules
- ~~ : Michigan Iron, Ideal Iron rules
External links
- Springport Motor Speedway Official Site
- The Official Facebook Page of the Speedway
- Springport Motor Speedway Page at WaterWinterWonderland on http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com
- North American Motorsports Pages: Springport Motor Speedway Page - Track information
- Spartan Speedway, Sister Track
- Michigan Short Track Racing Club
42.419148°N 84.7214127°W