Concord Speedway facts for kids

Concord Speedway was a famous race track in Midland, North Carolina. It was known for its exciting motorsports events. The complex had two main tracks. One was a half-mile asphalt tri-oval. The other was a quarter-mile asphalt oval.

Henry Furr built Concord Speedway in 1982. The big track started as a 0.4-mile dirt oval. It was later paved and changed in 1991. It became a half-mile tri-oval. Different types of race cars, like Super Late Models, raced on this track.

A smaller track was added in the 1980s. It was first a 0.2-mile layout for go-kart racing. In the mid-1990s, it became a quarter-mile asphalt oval. This track often hosted INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros races.

The half-mile track was famous for its "Big 10 Series" for Super Late Models. It also hosted the "North-South Shootout" event. This event featured many different types of racing cars. The track closed in July 2019 and was sold.

History of Concord Speedway

Older Race Tracks in the Area

There have been three different race tracks called Concord Speedway. The one we are talking about is the third.

The first Concord Speedway was built in the 1950s. It hosted seven NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Cup Series) races. These races took place between 1956 and 1959. After 1959, the track was left empty.

The second track was also built in the 1950s. It was a half-mile dirt oval. It was also known by other names like Harris Speedway. NASCAR held five Grand National races there from 1962 to 1964. This track ran until 1979. Today, homes are built where these first two tracks once stood.

Concord and Cabarrus County had other race tracks too. The Concord Fairgrounds track was built for horse racing. It started hosting car races in 1925. Other tracks included Charlotte Motor Speedway and Twin City Speedway.

A New Beginning for Racing

Henry Furr built the current Concord Speedway in 1982. He wanted a new track after selling his old one. The track was first a 0.4-mile dirt oval. It hosted three races for the NDRA dirt late model series in 1983. Walls were added to the track by 1985 for safety.

The Paved Track Era

Furr paved the track in August 1986. In 1991, the track was changed again. It became a half-mile track with three unique turns. Each turn had different banking, making it special. The track could hold over 12,000 fans.

The "Big 10 Series" for Super Late Models began in 1987. Jack Sprague won the first championship. This series became very popular.

David Laton bought the track in 1996. He made many improvements. He repaved the track in 1999. He also replaced barriers and added new lights. The seating area was also changed.

The "Big 10 Series" returned in 2003. It ran until 2005. Freddie Query won the most races at the track. He also won the Big 10 series in 2004 and 2005. Late Model Stock Cars became the main race series again.

The "North South Shootout" event started in 2003. It was a very popular race. It featured a 125-lap race for Tour-type Modifieds. This event stayed at Concord until 2010.

Changes and Reopening

The half-mile track stopped weekly races in 2012. Only the quarter-mile oval hosted weekly races after that. The quarter-mile track featured INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros. It also hosted Davis Mini Cups and go-karts.

In 2015, racing returned to the half-mile track. The PASS South Super Late Models raced there. The "North-South Shootout" also came back in November. The CARS Tour also returned that year. It featured both Super Late Models and Late Model Stock Cars.

On May 5, 2018, the track hosted the Minimizer Bandit Big Rig Series. Ricky Rude won the main race.

Closure of the Track

On January 9, 2019, the "North-South Shootout" announced it would move. This was because the future of Concord Speedway was uncertain. The track continued to host INEX Legend Cars and Bandoleros.

On July 2, 2019, it was announced that the track would be sold. The buyer was later reported to be Copart. This meant the track would close for good.

Famous Racers

Many famous drivers raced at Concord Speedway. These include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Richard Petty. Other notable winners and competitors were Freddy Query, Jack Sprague, and Ernie Irvan.

Track Details

Concord Speedway had two main tracks. There was a half-mile tri-oval and a quarter-mile oval. The quarter-mile track was originally a 0.2-mile oval. It was later expanded. The 0.2-mile layout is still there. It is used for Davis Mini Cups and quarter midgets.

The tri-oval track could seat 8,500 fans. It also had space for 28 RVs. The quarter-mile track could seat 2,050 fans. The track also had air-conditioned suites for guests.

The speedway was also used for filming. Many TV commercials, shows, movies, and music videos were made there.

Past Events

Half-Mile Track Events

Many different racing series visited the half-mile track. Some of these included:

• ALL PRO Super Series (1987)
• ASA National Tour (2001, 2003)
• Hooters Pro Cup Series (1998-2008)
• NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour (2009, 2016)
• PASS South Super Late Model Series (2007, 2012, 2015–2017)
• BIG 10 Super Late Model Series (1987–1996, 2003–2005)
• North South Shootout (2003–2010, 2015–2018)

Quarter-Mile Track Events

The quarter-mile track also hosted special events. These included:

• USAC Speed2 Eastern Midgets (2008-2012)
• Carolina Asphalt Racing Kart Series (until 2006)
• North South Shootout (2006)

Former Weekly Races (Half-Mile)

The half-mile track had regular weekly races for different car types:

• Late Model Stock Cars (until 2012)
• Street Stock (2012)
• Pure Stock (2003–2011)
• Pro Late Model (2009 & 2010)
• Super Late Models (1987–1996, 2003–2005)
• Mini Stocks (until 2005)

Former Weekly Races (Quarter-Mile)

The quarter-mile track also had its own weekly races:

• INEX WIX Filters Legends Cars (until 2019)
• INEX Bandoleros (until 2019)
• Davis Mini Cups
• Go-karts
• Quarter midgets

Race Results

North South Shootout Winners

The North South Shootout was held 12 times at Concord. The main race was for Tour-type Modifieds.

Tour-type Modifieds

Super Late Models

CARS Tour Winners

The CARS Tour held many races at Concord. This included the Pro Cup Series and later Super Late Models.

NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour Winners

NASCAR held two Whelen Southern Modified Tour races at the paved half-mile track. The SMART Modified Tour also held races there.

PASS South Super Late Models Winners

The PASS series held 10 races at Concord between 2007 and 2017.

UARA STARS Winners

The UARA STARS Late Model Series held 9 races at the half-mile track. These took place from 2007 to 2012.

Track Champions

Half Mile Track Champions

Big 10 Series (Super Late Models)

• 1987 - Jack Sprague
• 1988 - Larry Raines
• 1989 - Jack Sprague
• 1990 - Robbie Faggart
• 1991 - Rich Bickle
• 1992 - Rich Bickle
• 1993 - Freddie Query
• 1994 - Freddie Query
• 1995 - Mike Thomas
• 1996 - Eddie Massengill
• 2003 - Eddie Massengill
• 2004 - Freddie Query
• 2005 - Freddie Query

Pro Late Models

• 2009 - Cooper Faassen
• 2010 - Colt James

Late Model Stock Cars

• 1988 - Freddie Query
• 1989 - Jack Sprague
• 1990 - Freddie Query
• 1991 - Freddie Query
• 1992 - Freddie Query
• 1993 - Greg Pope
• 1994 - Jack Sprague
• 1995 - Greg Pope
• 1996 - Lance Moss
• 1997 - Mike Herman Jr.
• 1998 - Mike Herman Jr.
• 1999 - Kevin Love
• 2000 - Kevin Love
• 2001 - Kevin Love
• 2002 - Chris Beach
• 2003 - Shaun Mangum
• 2004 - Todd Bardburry
• 2005 - Travis Sharpe
• 2006 - Shane Brafford
• 2007 - Chuck Crump
• 2008 - Kevin Love
• 2009 - Steve Ackerly
• 2010 - Jay Payne
• 2011 - Bobby Measmer Jr.
• 2012 - Kenny Brooks

Limited Late Models

• 2004 - Terry Brooks Jr.
• 2005 - Terry Hoggard
• 2006 - Ben Hinson
• 2007 - Bobby Measmer Jr.
• 2008 - Mike Terry

Pro Truck

• 2001 - Roger Lee Newton
• 2002 - Terry Brooks Jr.
• 2003 - Terry Brooks Jr.

Limited Stock

• 2001 - Kenneth Cook
• 2002 - Jeff Melton
• 2003 - David Kepley

Pure Stock

• 2003 - Mark Harris
• 2004 - Luke Nickels
• 2005 - Brian Love
• 2006 - Steve Irvin
• 2007 - Ben Smith
• 2008 - Charles Hutto
• 2009 - Jeff Melton
• 2010 - Jeff Melton

Street Stock

• 1997 - Dave Berry
• 1999 - Mike Glover

Fast & Furious Fours

• 2007 - Tracy Mullis
• 2008 - Chad Miller
• 2009 - Wayne Harrington
• 2010 - Chad Miller

Mini Stocks

• 1997 - David Pennell
• 2001 - Jeff Whitley
• 2002 - Roy Maness
• 2003 - Randy Freeze
• 2004 - Adam Beaver
• 2005 - David Pennell

Hornets

• 2002 - Mark Harris
• 2003 - Mark Harris
• 2004 - Chad Miller
• 2005 - Bobby Measmer Jr.

Thunderstox

• 2010 - Rusty Drye

INEX Thunder Roadsters

• 2004 - Matt Lassiter
• 2005 - Kyle Beattie
• 2009 - Adam Welch

X-Carz

• 2001 - Guy Bacelo
• 2002 - Junior Cress