Jennerstown Speedway Complex facts for kids
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| Location | Jennerstown, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 40°09′32″N 79°04′20″W / 40.1588°N 79.0721°W |
| Capacity | 7,500 |
| Owner | Jennerstown Speedway Complex LLC |
| Operator | ZeroTime Entertainment |
| Opened |
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| Former names | Jennerstown Speedway |
| Major events | CARS Tour International Supermodified Association ROC Modifieds Super Late Model |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.522 mi (0.840 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking |
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The Jennerstown Speedway Complex is a famous racetrack located in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. It was built on land that used to be the Jenners Fair. The track first opened in the 1920s as a flat, half-mile dirt track.
Over the years, the track changed a lot and had different owners. It closed in 2009 but reopened in 2014. Jennerstown Speedway is approved by NASCAR. Many racing legends have raced here, including Dale Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin, Ken Schrader, and Darrell Waltrip. It is one of the oldest short-track racing places in the United States.
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History of the Track
The Jennerstown Speedway has a long and interesting history. It started as a simple dirt track and grew into a modern racing complex.
Early Days: Dirt Track Racing
The speedway was built in the late 1920s. Back then, it was called the Jenners Fairgrounds. It was a flat, half-mile dirt oval. In the 1930s, it hosted "big car" races. These cars were like the sprint cars we see today. Famous local drivers from that time included Butch Gardner and Mike (Little) Serokman.
After World War II, a smaller, lighted dirt track was built inside the main oval in 1953. This track was a quarter-mile long. Laird Brunner was the first person to promote weekly stock car races here. Stock car racing became very popular after the war. The original half-mile track was not used for a while.
Changes and New Owners
The half-mile track was rebuilt in 1967 and used briefly. Other promoters managed the quarter-mile track during the 1960s. These included Carmen Amica, Dick Basserman, Lou Smith, and George Kittey. Drivers like Fuzzy Rubritz and Blackie Watt raced here.
In 1967, a group of local business people bought the grounds. They completely rebuilt the track. It became one of the fastest half-mile dirt ovals in the country. They also started a big project to make the facility more modern.
Over time, Piney Lasky became the only owner. In 1987, he decided to make a big change. He paved the track with asphalt. This brought asphalt racing back to Western Pennsylvania for the first time since 1973. Lasky also improved the grandstands and food areas. He made the track part of NASCAR. This allowed major racing events to come to Somerset County.
NASCAR Races and New Management
Jennerstown Speedway Complex hosted many important NASCAR races. It held 16 NASCAR Busch North Series events between 1987 and 2000. It also hosted 14 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour races from 1990 to 2006. The Modified Tour returned to the track in 2020.
After Piney Lasky passed away in 1994, his son, Stanley Jr., took over. He ran the track for five years. Then, in 2000, he sold it to Steve Peles and Bob Brooks. Brooks was the founder of Hooters Restaurants. After three seasons, Peles and Brooks sold the track to Dave Wheeler. Wheeler immediately started to improve the track. In 2004, he repaved the oval with a special racing surface. This cost $350,000.
Why Did the Track Close in 2009?
At the end of the 2008 racing season, there were rumors that the track might not open again. It was starting to show signs of wear and tear. In February 2009, Dave Wheeler said that the speedway would not open that year. He also listed it for sale. Wheeler explained that he could not manage the speedway and his full-time job at the same time. He also mentioned that fewer people were coming to the races.
The Reopening in 2014
Many racing fans and drivers missed the track. New owners Bryan Smith, Rob Beck, and John Taylor decided to reopen it. They held a meeting at a local fire hall to discuss their plans. A large crowd of drivers and owners showed up. They decided that the track, which had been damaged by vandals, would reopen in May 2014.
Besides local races, the track now hosts big series like the International Supermodified Association and ROC Modifieds. The new owners also planned other events. These include swap meets, car shows, and educational classes.
- Jennerstown Speedway Complex race results at Racing-Reference
