Kokomo Speedway facts for kids
| Location | Kokomo, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC−5 / −4 (DST) |
| Coordinates | 40°30′41″N 86°08′36″W / 40.5113°N 86.1434°W |
| Operator | O'Connor Family (as of 2020) |
| Opened | 1947 |
| Major events | Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series World of Outlaws Sprint Cars Sprint Car Smackdown Kokomo Klash Indiana Sprint Week venue (USAC Sprint Cars) |
| Length | 0.25 mi (0.40 km) |
Kokomo Speedway is an exciting quarter-mile (about 0.4 km) dirt race track located in Kokomo, Indiana. It's shaped like an oval and has slightly sloped turns, which makes for thrilling races! Every summer, you can catch weekly races here on Sunday nights. This track is famous for hosting big national racing events, including races for sprint cars, late models, and midget cars.
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History of Kokomo Speedway
Kokomo Speedway first opened its gates on July 6, 1947. It was built by Albert Miller and John Rose. When it was first designed, the track was made especially for midget car racing. Midget cars are small, powerful race cars.
On June 23, 1991, the track hosted a special event. It was the only time winged USAC sprint cars raced there. A winged sprint car has a large wing on top for extra downforce. Kelly Kinser was the winner of that exciting race.
Major Racing Events
Kokomo Speedway is a popular spot for many big racing series. It's one of the tracks used for the Indiana Sprint Week. This is a series of races for USAC Sprint Cars. In the 1990s, the sports channel ESPN even showed these Sprint Week races live!
Today, the track still hosts major events. These include races for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series. It has also held races for the ARCA Series and USAC National midgets.
Every October, Kokomo Speedway holds a special event called the Kokomo Klash. This race features different types of cars. You can see sprint cars, midget cars, late models, and modifieds all competing. It's a big event for racing fans!
Famous Drivers at Kokomo Speedway
Many talented drivers have raced and won at Kokomo Speedway. Some have even become track champions. Here are a few of the notable drivers:
- Bryan Clauson - He was the Sprint Car track champion in 2014.
- Dave Darland - Dave won the Sprint Car track championship multiple times: in 1987, 1991, 1993, and 1994.
- Justin Grant - Justin was the Sprint Car track champion in both 2017 and 2019.
- Cole Whitt - Cole earned the Sprint Car track championship in 2009.
- Chris Windom - Chris was the Sprint Car track champion in 2010.
Images for kids
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Entrance
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Grandstands
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Ticket Booth
