Saugus Speedway

Motorsport venue
Name = Saugus Speedway


Nicknames = LA's place to race
Location = Saugus, California
Broke_ground = 1927
Opened = 1939
Closed = July 19 1995cite book |title=Saugus Speedway Scrapbook |last=Osmer |first=Harold |coauthors=Lyn Pherigo |year= |publisher=Harold Osmer Publishing |location=Chatsworth, California, United States |isbn=0-9659533-4-3| url=http://www.hopublishing.com/saugus_book_review.html ]
Demolished =
Owner =
Operator =
Events = *Craftsman Truck Series (1995)
*NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series
*USAC midgets
*United Racing Association (1940-1941)

Layout1 = Asphalt Oval
Length_km = 0.54
Length_mi = 0.333
Banking = flat
Layout2 = Asphalt Figure 8 infield
Length_km2 =
Length_mi2 =

Saugus Speedway is a 1/3 mile racetrack in Saugus, California on a 35-acre site. The track hosted one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event in 1995, which was won by Ken Schrader. [ [http://racing-reference.info/tracks?id=195 Craftsman Truck Series track history at racing-reference.info] ] Schrader became the first NASCAR driver to win in a race in all three of the sanctioning body's major series, for he had previously won in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. [ [http://www.ajnascarracing.com/0726051.htm 10 years tough] ; July 25 2005, Cup Scene Daily; Retrieved December 14 2007]

History

The track started out as a rodeo arena called Baker Ranch Stadium in 1927. Its construction was announced in December 1926. It was owned by Roy Baker, brother of shoe businessman C. H. Baker. The stadium held 18,000 spectators. During the Great Depression, it was sold in 1930 to Cowboy actor Hoot Gibson. He used the stadium for movie sets. The stadium was sold to Paul Hill in 1934. The valley that the stadium was in got flooded in 1937. Debris from the flood was too much for Hill to deal with, so the bank got the property.

William Bonelli purchased it and renamed Bonelli Stadium. In 1939, Bonelli started hosting open wheel racing on the flat dirt surface. Crowds of 10,000 to 12,000 watched drivers such as Walt Faulkner, Mel Hanson, Allen Heath, Johnny McDowell, Jack McGrath, Danny Oakes, Troy Ruttman, and Bill Vukovich.cite book |last=Wilkings |first=Marshall |coauthors=Lyn Pherigo |title=A Tip of the Hat to Saugus Speedway Champions |origyear=1982 |url=http://www.scvhistory.com/scvhistory/speedwaychronology.htm| publisher= Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society |accessdate=2007-12-10 |isbn= ] The track was part of the United Racing Association in 1940 and 1941. The last race before World War II was held on June 30 1942. The track was unused in 1943 and 1944, like all racetracks in the United States. The track was the first circuit on the West Coast of the United States to host a post-war race when it reopened on September 9 1945. Bill Vukovich won the race. Nine races were held that season, and Vukovich was crowned the champion.

The track was paved in 1946, but the pavement was removed and the track returned to dirt. Midget car racing was the national sensation in 1946, drawing large crowds to the track. Roadsters were the main class raced at the track from 1947 until 1950, until midget cars came back. The grandstands in the backstretch needed repairs, so the grandstands from Gilmore Stadium were installed after the track closed in 1950. From 1951 to 1955, the roadsters and midget cars shared the track equally, with occasional rodeos and circuses. The track was paved for a second time in 1956. The first stock car racing event on the track happened in 1957. It was promoted by Tony Coldeway, who later formed the Pacific Racing Association. 23 cars and 523 spectators came to the event. The track became mainly used for stock car events after that event. It featured USAC stock cars, NASCAR Winston West Series, and the NASCAR Southwest Tour. [ [http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=71 Winners of notable races in the track's history] , Retrieved December 14 2007] It also hosted the third race in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history during the series' first year on April 15 1995. Ken Schrader beat Geoffrey Bodine by 1.7 seconds. [ [http://truckseries.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000004/000454-p.htm From the archives] , April 7 2004, Retrieved December 14 2007] The race had the slowest speed in Craftsman Truck Series history with an average speed of 43.526 miles per hour (70.048 kilometers per hour). [ [http://www.theautochannel.com/news/date/19970718/news004289.html NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Notes (Week of July 14)] , July 18 1997, Retrieved December 14 2007] The track closed unexpectedly on July 19 1995 in the middle of the season.

Current use

The track hosts weekly swapmeets on Sundays, and Tuesday flea markets. The Saugus Swapmeet features over 600 vendors and 15,000 people each Sunday since around 1970. [ [http://www.experiencela.com/destinations/fullprofile.asp?key=20040810220310 Saugus Speedway] , Retrieved December 12 2007] The track hosts numerous special events and festivals, including car shows, antique appraisals, and concerts. The track has been used for numerous films and television scenes.

Notable drivers

*Eddie Gray
*Lance Hooper [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/WOODSIDE+STILL+ON+TRACK%3b+EX-SAUGUS+SPEEDWAY+STAR+RACES+TODAY+AT...-a083870881 Woodside still on track; ex-Saugus Speedway star races today at California Speedway] ; June 21 1997; Dave Desmond, "Daily News"; Retrieved December 12 2007]
*Ron Hornaday
*Ron Hornaday, Sr.
*Nick Joanides (final track record holder in the Super Late Model Division)
*Sean Woodside, 1994 and 1995 track champ, NASCAR Southwest Tour

External links

* [http://www.saugusspeedway.com/ Official website]
*coord|34.40139|-118.54694

References