- Mount Lawn Speedway
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Mount Lawn Speedway "The Lawn" Location Greensboro, Indiana Operator Rick Sweigart Opened 1934 Major events The May 5-0's, The Raintree 100, The Founders Day 100, Stock Car Extravaganza Surface Asphalt Banking None Mt Lawn Speedway is a 3/10 mile Asphalt egg-shaped oval track located in Greensboro, Henry County, Indiana.
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History
Mt. Lawn Speedway was founded in 1935 by Dr. George W. Sweigart, a dentist and a former mayor for the town of Hartford City, Indiana. At the time of the tracks opening it was a one-fifth mile pear-shaped dirt oval. Also constructed during the early years of the track were a dance hall, a swimming pool, as well as summer cabins for vacationers. The dance hall played host to two the most influential big band musicians of the era, The Dorsey Brothers and Sammy Kaye. However in 1939 a fire caused by a overheated exhaust fan in the orchestra pit led to the dance halls first demise. When the hall was rebuilt, a second fire caused by a coal-powered fireplace led to the dancehalls second, and ultimately final demise.
In 1940 Sweigart closed the track down and it appeared that racing in Henry County was over. However later that year a local promoter named Dutch Hertz visited the area looking for a lighting system for a track that he was constructing known as the Muncie Vellodrome located in Muncie, Indiana. When he noticed the layout of the land he mentioned to Sweigart " Why don't you start a track here"? When Sweigart replied that the land had indeed been a race track before, Hertz convinced Sweigart to reopen the track. In 1941 he hired a local farmer to retill the land as Sweigart and local residents rebuilt the track. However, later that summer the dirt surface of the track had worn down and it was decided that a new surface would be needed. So Sweigart hired a crew from the area and the first concrete surface was laid on the track. This paving would be followed by three repavings in asphalt in 1947, 1967, and finally in 1971.
The Big Four
There are four big events that are currently ran at The Mt. Lawn Speedway. The May 5-0, which is held the day before the Indianapolis 500, The Raintree 100 which is a 100-lap Late Model stock car event, The Founders Day 100, a 100-lap Thunder Car Division race, and finally the Stock Car Extravaganza, which is a 2-day event. The Extravaganza lineup can change from year to year.
Raintree 100 Winners
The Raintree 100 is Mt. Lawn's biggest and most recognized event of the year. It is run in July of every year. The Raintree features Mt. Lawn's premier class, currently the Late Model division.
Year Driver Hometown 1971 Gene Prosser New Castle 1972 Dennis Miles Muncie 1973 L.J. Lines Greensboro 1974 Harold Scott New Castle 1975 Harold Scott New Castle 1976 L.J. Lines Indianapolis 1977 Rocky Tharp Cowan 1978 Bob Fields Willow Branch 1979 Harold Scott New Castle 1980 Jim Spears Noblesville 1981 Harold Scott New Castle 1982 L.J. Lines Indianapolis 1983 Harold Scott New Castle 1984 Bob Fields Willow Branch 1985 Bob Fields Willow Branch 1986 Herb Rose Anderson 1987 Rick Rhonemus Desoto 1988 Dave Duncan Cicero 1989 Dave Duncan Cicero 1990 Rick Rhonemus Desoto 1991 Don Skaggs Modoc 1992 Rick Rhonemus Desoto 1993 Rick Rhonemus Desoto 1994 L.J. Lines Indianapolis 1995 Rodney Scott New Castle 1996 Joe Beaver Noblesville 1997 Jeff Lane Knightstown 1998 Gerald Hinshaw Mooreland 1999 Rodney Scott New Castle 2000 William Mefford Knightstown 2001 Andy Cowan Cambridge City 2002 Gerald Hinshaw Mooreland 2003 Scott Neal Mt Summit 2004 William Mefford Knightstown 2005 Scott Hinshaw Indianapolis 2006 Scott Hinshaw Indianapolis 2007 William Mefford Knightstown 2008 Terry Cater New Castle 2009 Kevin Claborn Cambridge City 2010- 2011 Jeff Marcum Morristown
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Divisions
Currently there are 3 Weekly Divisions at Mt. Lawn Speedway.
The Late Model Division is the Premier weekly division. The frame for this division is a General Motors 1978 to 1987; "G" body, 108.1", metric frame. However, cars may be powered by any engine brand. The cars must run complete late model bodies, including roof, that resemble a stock make and model.[1] The "current" Late Model Division made its debut on May 13, 2000. Six cars were at the track on opening night.[2] Today the division typically has twenty or more cars on hand each week.
The Thundercar Division is the Intermediate weekly division at Mt. Lawn Speedway. Thundercars are mostly stock, with a few after-market racing components allowed. Any rear wheel drive full-sized car with a wheelbase of not less than 108 inches is eligible to compete in the Thundercar Division.[3]
The Hornet Division is the Beginner weekly division. Hornets are a strictly stock class. Four or six cylinder cars are eligible to compete. Four cylinder cars may be front or rear wheel drive. Six cylinder cars can be front wheel drive only. The wheelbase, no matter the drive train, must be between 92" and 108".[4]
Past Champions
Late Models
ThundercarsYear Driver Hometown 2002 Scott Neal Middletown 2003 Dean Baker 2004 2005 2006 L.J. Lines Greensboro 2007 William Mefford Knightstown 2008 Eric Evans Greenfield 2009 Eric Evans Greenfield Year Driver Hometown 2002 David Graham Rushville 2003 Chuck Cook 2004 Jeff Marcum Morristown 2005 2006 2007 Eric Evans Greenfield 2008 Kevin Claborn Cambridge City 2009 Ryan Amonett New Castle References
Categories:- Visitor attractions in Henry County, Indiana
- Motorsport venues in Indiana
- Buildings and structures in Henry County, Indiana
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