4-17 Southern Speedway facts for kids
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| Location | 8655 Piper Rd, Punta Gorda, FL |
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| Owner | MotoBros |
| 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 |
| Website | http://www.417southernspeedway.com/ |
The 4-17 Southern Speedway is an exciting asphalt racetrack located in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States. This track is 3/8ths of a mile long, which is a bit more than half a kilometer. It's a popular spot for different kinds of car races. The track first opened its doors in 1990 and has been a part of Florida's racing scene ever since.
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The Speedway's Story: A Look Back
The 4-17 Southern Speedway was built in 1990 by LeRoy Davidson. He managed the track for its first five years. In the beginning, many types of races took place here. You could see powerful Super Late Models, speedy sprint cars, and even races for younger drivers called FASTKIDS. The track was known for having many late model cars competing, making it a big deal in the South. It even appeared on the cover of Circle Track Magazine several times!
Changes in Ownership and Challenges
Over the years, the track had a few different owners and faced some challenges. Glen VanHorn took over in 1995, but LeRoy Davidson returned to run things in 2002. In 2004, a big storm called Hurricane Charley caused damage to the track. However, it was quickly rebuilt and reopened in 2005.
More changes happened in the following years. Bobby Diehl managed the track in 2007. Then, in 2010, Mike Chase and Kevin Williams took over.
A New Name and Fresh Start
In 2013, the track had some problems with its lease agreement with the Punta Gorda Airport. After some difficulties, a new agreement was made with Jamie Haase. The track was then renamed Three Palms Speedway. It reopened in August 2014 with many exciting weekly races. These included Young Guns 4's, Street Stocks, and Thunder Trucks. Special events also brought in Pro Trucks and Winged Sprint Cars.
4-17 Southern Speedway Today
In September 2015, the Haase family stopped promoting races at the track. This left the track quiet for a while. But in August 2016, new owners, Joe and Janet Gentry, took charge. They worked hard to clean up and renovate the speedway. The track officially reopened in January 2017, bringing back the roar of engines!
In 2022, there was a proposal to change the racetrack into a new entertainment area. However, this plan was later withdrawn. In 2023, the lease for the speedway was transferred to a company called MotoBros. They plan to keep the racing tradition alive and continue operating the 4-17 Southern Speedway for fans to enjoy.
