Dixie Motor Speedway facts for kids
| Location | Birch Run Township, Saginaw County, at 10945 Dixie Highway Birch Run, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1948 |
| Major events | The Big One, I-75 Modified Challenge, Shootout at the Dixie, The Dixie Classic |
| progressively banked oval | |
| Surface | asphalt |
| Length | 4/10 (.400) mile adjoining 1/3 (.333) mile with Figure 8 course mi |
| Turns | 4 |
The Birch Run Speedway and Event Center is a cool place for car racing! It's a special track for short track races. You can find it near Birch Run, Michigan. The track is shaped like a "D" and is 4/10 of a mile long. It also has a smaller 1/3 mile track and a fun Figure 8 course. Until 2017, this speedway was known as Dixie Motor Speedway.
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History of the Race Track
The Birch Run Speedway first opened way back in 1948. Back then, it was a dirt track, about 1/3 of a mile long. It stayed a dirt track for over ten years. Then, in the early 1960s, the track was paved with asphalt.
Growing Over the Years
The race track kept getting better over many years. The Doering and Scrivo families owned it for a long time. During their ownership, a Figure 8 course was added. This course was built right through the middle of the track.
New Owners, New Features
In 1996, the Kern family took over the speedway. This was a time of big changes! They added a fancy VIP box for special guests. New, clean bathrooms were built. The old lights were replaced with bright, stadium-quality lights. A new building for checking race cars was also added. The biggest change was building the new 4/10 mile oval track. This track has special "progressively banked" turns.
After the 2008 racing season, the Kern family decided to retire. Checkered Flag Promotions then took over running the speedway.
A New Name and Era
In 2017, a local car dealer named Andy Suski bought the track. He changed its name to the Birch Run Speedway & Event Center. Even with the new name, the big oval tracks inside are still sometimes called "the Dixie."
Famous Racers from Birch Run
Many talented drivers have raced at this speedway! Some of them became very famous. Here are a few:
- Benny Parsons – He won the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1973.
- Cy Fairchild – A driver who is in the Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame.
- Parnelli Jones – He won the famous Indianapolis 500 race in 1963.
- Junior Hanley – A Canadian driver in the Motorsports Hall of Fame.
- Ed Howe – He started a well-known company called Howe Racing Enterprises.
- Mike Eddy – He won the American Speed Association Championship seven times!
- Brad Keselowski – He won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012.
- Joy Fair – A legendary driver from the Midwest and Hall of Famer.
- Erik Jones – He won the NASCAR Truck Series in 2015. He was also Rookie of the Year in the Xfinity Series (2016) and Monster Energy Cup Series (2017).
What Happens at the Speedway Today?
The Birch Run Speedway usually has races on Friday nights. The racing season runs from late April through September. They also have special "Eve of Destruction" events. These often happen around summer holidays.
Regular Races
On regular Friday nights, you can see different types of races:
- Modifieds race on the 4/10 mile oval track.
- The American Truck Series and Pure Stocks race on the 1/3 mile track.
Special Events
The speedway also hosts exciting special events. These include:
- The Big One – Featuring Outlaw Super Late Models.
- I-75 Modified Challenge – A big race for the Modified cars.
- The Shootout at the Dixie – This event includes the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the CRA All-Star Tour, and the CRA Jr. Late Model Divisions.
- The Dixie Classic – Another major race for the Outlaw Super Late Models.
