Bedford Speedway facts for kids
| Bedford Fairgrounds Speedway | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bedford Township, Bedford County, near Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Coordinates | 40°01′26″N 78°31′12″W / 40.024°N 78.520°W |
| Owner | Bedford County Fairgrounds |
| Opened | September 4, 1936 |
| Major events | All Star Circuit of Champions World of Outlaws Late Model Series American Automobile Association |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Clay |
| Length | 5/8 mi (1 km) |
Bedford Speedway is a super cool race track in Bedford County, near Bedford, Pennsylvania. It's a 5/8 mile (about 1 kilometer) oval track made of clay. People also call it the Bedford Fairgrounds Speedway. It's a big part of the Great Bedford County Fair. This track hosts exciting races like the All Star Circuit of Champions and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series.
Contents
History of Bedford Speedway: How It Started
Bedford Speedway held its very first race on September 4, 1936. That makes it the oldest active dirt race track in all of Pennsylvania! Imagine, it's been around for over 85 years.
Famous Drivers at Bedford Speedway
Many famous drivers have raced here. Some even won the Indy 500, which is a huge race! These include Bill Holland, Jimmy Bryan, and the legendary Mario Andretti.
For many years, the track only held one race each year. This race happened during the annual fair. Until 1955, the track hosted special "big car" races. These cars are now known as sprint cars. The American Automobile Association (AAA) used to approve these races.
Track Improvements Over Time
In the winter of 2007, the track got a big upgrade. Workers put down new, specially sifted clay on the surface. This helps make the races even better. In 2013, Joe Padula III took over running the track. Then, in 2019, the track added a new type of race car. These were the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modifieds.
Racing at Bedford Speedway: What to See
If you love racing, Bedford Speedway is the place to be! Races usually happen on Friday nights. The racing season runs from April all the way through September.
Weekly Race Classes
Every week, you can see different types of cars race. These are called "classes." The main weekly classes include:
- Late Models
- Late Model Sportsman
- Modifieds
- Semi Lates
Special Racing Events
Besides the weekly races, Bedford Speedway also hosts many special events. These bring in even more exciting action and famous drivers. Some of these big events are:
- The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
- The World of Outlaws Late Model Series
- The Mid-Atlantic Championship Series
- The Independent Racing Series
- The All Star Circuit of Champions
- PA Posse sprint cars
- The American Motorcycle Association Flat Track Championship, for motorcycle racing fans!
