Speedway Park

Speedway Park was a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) dirt, oval, auto racing track, located in Jacksonville, Florida. [1]

Speedway Park
Aerial photograph of Speedway Park (1952)
LocationJacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates30.301316°N 81.745083°W / 30.301316; -81.745083
Capacity~5,000
Opened1947
Closed1973
Major eventsNone (defunct)
Dirt oval track
Length0.500 mi (0.805 km)

It was built in 1946 by Eddie Bland on land belonging to the family farm and later came to be known as Jacksonville Speedway after it was sold in 1954. [2]

Opened in 1947, the track was located at the intersection of Lenox Avenue and Plymouth Street in southwest Jacksonville.[3] NASCAR Grand National Series races were held at the track during the 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1961 and 1964 seasons.[4] The final Grand National Series race at the track was won by Wendell Scott, the only African-American to win in NASCAR's top series.[5]

In addition to auto racing, the track hosted the Duval County Exposition.[6] The NASCAR Grand American Series also competed there.[7] After a final NASCAR Grand National East Series race in 1972 won by David Pearson,[4] the track was closed in 1973; a housing development now stands at the site.[8]

Race results
DateSeriesDriverMakeLapsAvg. Speed
November 4, 1951NASCAR Grand National SeriesHerb ThomasHudson20053.412 mph (85.958 km/h)
March 3, 1952NASCAR Grand National SeriesMarshall TeagueHudson20055.197 mph (88.831 km/h)
March 7, 1954NASCAR Grand National SeriesHerb ThomasHudson20056.461 mph (90.865 km/h)
February 13, 1955NASCAR Grand National SeriesLee PettyChrysler20069.031 mph (111.095 km/h)
November 20, 1960NASCAR Grand National SeriesLee PettyPlymouth20064.400 mph (103.642 km/h)
December 1, 1963NASCAR Grand National SeriesWendell ScottChevrolet20258.252 mph (93.748 km/h)
March 14, 1972NASCAR Grand National East SeriesDavid PearsonChevrolet20254.758 mph (88.124 km/h)
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References
  1. "Auto Race Tracks". The Billboard, April 13, 1957, page 81.
  2. Jones, Anne; McFarland, Rex (April 25, 2007). All Around the Track: Oral Histories of Drivers, Mechanics, Officials, Owners, Journalists and Others in Motorsports Past and Present. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 175. ISBN 978-0786429882. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. Coble, Don. "Yarbrough lived and raced fast, fell even faster". June 27, 2011. Brainerd, MN: Brainerd Dispatch. Accessed 2014-05-01.
  4. "Race Results at Speedway Park". Racing-Reference. USA Today Sports Media Group. Accessed 2014-05-01.
  5. "1963 NASCAR controversy: Racing or race?". The Florida Times-Union. Jacksonville, FL. June 27, 2010. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  6. The Billboard, October 20, 1958, page 47.
  7. "Lund Wins". Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. October 4, 1970. p. 2D. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  8. Allaway, Phil. "The Critic's Annex: 39-Wendell Scott: A Race Story". February 23, 2011. Frontstretch. Accessed 2014-05-01.
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