4-17 Southern Speedway facts for kids
| Location | 8655 Piper Rd, Punta Gorda, FL |
|---|---|
| Owner | Joe and Janet Gentry (co-owners) |
| Opened | December 15, 1990 |
| Architect | LeRoy Davidson |
| Former names | Charlotte County Speedway (1990–2007) Punta Gorda Speedway (2008–2010) Charlotte County Motorsports Park (2011–2013) Three Palms Speedway (2013-2016) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 3/8 mi |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Flat |
The 4-17 Southern Speedway is a cool racetrack in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. It's a 3/8-mile oval track made of asphalt. This means it's a bit shorter than half a mile.
The track first opened in 1990. LeRoy Davidson built it and ran it for a few years. Many different types of race cars have competed here. These include Super Late Models, sprint cars, and even FASTKIDS races. It was once known for having many late model cars. The track was even featured in Circle Track Magazine as one of the best in the Southeast.
Contents
History of the Speedway
The 4-17 Southern Speedway has had many changes over the years. Different people have owned or managed it. Each new owner brought their own ideas to the track.
Early Years and Changes
After LeRoy Davidson, Glen VanHorn took over in 1995. LeRoy Davidson came back to run the track in 2002. In 2004, a big storm called Hurricane Charley hit the area. The track was damaged but was rebuilt and opened again in 2005.
Bobby Diehl managed the track in 2007. He made some improvements. In 2010, Mike Chase and Kevin Williams started managing the track.
Challenges and New Beginnings
In 2013, the track faced some problems. The people running the track could not agree on a new lease with the Punta Gorda Airport. The airport needed to charge more for the land. When the lease ended, some parts of the track were removed.
Later in 2013, Jamie Haase took over. The track was renamed Three Palms Speedway. It reopened in August 2014. Many types of races were held there every week. These included Young Guns 4's, Street Stocks, and Thunder Trucks. Bigger racing series also visited the track.
The Speedway Today
In 2015, the Haase family stopped promoting races at the track. This left the track empty for a while.
New Owners and Reopening
On August 18, 2016, new owners Joe and Janet Gentry took over. They worked hard to clean up and fix the speedway. They made many big improvements. The track reopened in January 2017. It has been holding races ever since.
