Marchbanks Speedway facts for kids
![]() |
|
Location | Kings County, near Hanford, California |
---|---|
Major events | USAC National Championship California 200 (1967–1969) Hanford 250 (1968) NASCAR Grand National (1951, 1960–1961) |
Dirt oval | |
Surface | dirt |
Length | 0.5 mi (0.8 km) |
Asphalt tri-oval | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 1.375 mi (2.212 km) |
Marchbanks Speedway (also known as Hanford Motor Speedway) was a famous racetrack. It was located in the San Joaquin Valley near Hanford, California. This track was a popular spot for different types of racing.
It hosted exciting races with open-wheel cars and NASCAR stock cars. Motorcycle races also took place here. The track was active during the 1950s and 1960s. Sadly, the track was later taken apart and no longer exists.
Contents
History of Marchbanks Speedway
The Marchbanks Speedway was first built by a local farmer named B. L. Marchbanks. He named the track after himself. It started as a half-mile (0.8 km) dirt track. This means the racing surface was made of packed dirt.
Later, the track was improved and paved with asphalt. It became a 1.4-mile (2.3 km), high-banked racetrack. High-banked turns allow cars to go faster without sliding off the track. The track also had a unique feature: an infield lake. This lake was used for speed runs by watercraft. It was similar to Lake Lloyd at the Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR Races at the Track
Marchbanks Speedway hosted three exciting NASCAR races. The first NASCAR race happened in 1951 on the original dirt track. Danny Weinberg won this race, which was his only NASCAR victory.
In 1960, Marvin Porter won a NASCAR race on the newly paved 1.4-mile (2.3 km) course. The fastest NASCAR race record at Marchbanks was set on March 12, 1961. Legendary driver Fireball Roberts won a 250-mile (400 km) race. He led every single one of the 178 laps! Fireball Roberts finished two laps ahead of the second-place driver, showing how dominant he was.
Fastest Lap Records
Race lap records show the fastest times achieved by vehicles at Marchbanks Speedway. These records are important for understanding how fast cars could go on the track.
Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Asphalt Tri-Oval: 2.212 km (1960–1969) | ||||
USAC IndyCar | 30.351 | Joe Leonard | Lotus 56 | 1968 Hanford 250 |
Stock car racing | 50.321 | David Pearson | Pontiac Catalina | 1961 Hanford NASCAR Grand National round |
Marchbanks in Video Games
Even though Marchbanks Speedway no longer exists, you can still experience it in a video game! The Hanford track is featured in the game Indianapolis 500 Evolution.