Marlboro Motor Raceway facts for kids
Marlboro Motor Raceway (often called MMR) was a famous place for car and motorcycle races. It was located in Prince George's County, Maryland, near Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This exciting track closed down after the 1969 racing season. Racing events, especially those organized by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), then moved to a newer, safer track called Summit Point Motorsports Park. Even today, you can still see parts of the old track from U.S. Route 301 in Maryland. You can also spot the full track shape on satellite maps!
Contents
What the Track Looked Like
Marlboro Motor Raceway changed its shape a few times. It started as a dirt oval track. Later, it became a paved oval, sometimes called "The Bowl." It also had different paved road courses. There was even a small track inside for karting (go-karts).
Old maps don't show the oval as a separate part. Instead, it was built into the road courses. But you could still clearly see its oval shape. MMR hosted many big races. These included events for the SCCA, NASCAR, and other national and international races. Because it was close to Washington, D.C., it often hosted the President's Cup race. This race later became known as the Governor's Cup.
The Raceway's History
When the Track Was Open
Marlboro Motor Raceway was first built in 1952 by Eugene Chaney. His company made sand, gravel, and concrete. At first, MMR was only a dirt oval track. But by 1954, a road course was added and the track was paved. This road course was made bigger later on. The raceway also had a special track for karting inside the main oval.
The SCCA group in Washington, D.C. helped a lot with the road course design. Before MMR, most big road races in the area happened at temporary places like airfields. MMR was open during a very exciting time for racing in Maryland.
Along with MMR, other tracks like Beltsville Speedway and Aquasco Speedway made Maryland a hub for motorsports. Many famous racers came to "The Grand Lady of the East." They tested their stock cars and grand prix racers on its tough turns. Even famous motorsports businessman Roger Penske started his career at Marlboro.
Motorcycle races also took place at MMR. Famous riders like Gary Nixon competed there. The track wasn't just for racing, though. The Maryland State Police used it to train their officers. They practiced high-speed driving and car handling skills.
Did you know? A special paint color for the 1967 and 1970 Chevrolet Corvette was named "Marlboro Maroon Metallic." This color was named after the raceway, just like other car colors were named after famous racing spots.
Why the Track Closed
Marlboro Motor Raceway closed mainly because Summit Point Motorsports Park was built. Summit Point, in Summit Point, West Virginia, was much safer. It also had more space. One big safety problem at Marlboro was its two long straight sections. These sections were on the south and east sides of the track. Cars drove towards each other on these straights. There was only a grass area and some wood or tire barriers separating them.
Fixing these safety issues would have cost a lot of money. The track was also near a large wetland area. This area is now a nature preserve. Also, the "Creek Bend" part of the track followed a nearby river. Building more parking or other facilities would have been difficult.
What Happened After Closing
The track has been mostly empty since it closed. For a while, a part of one straight section was used as a private helicopter pad. But the track itself wasn't changed much.
Since MMR closed, there haven't been many SCCA road races in Maryland. In 2007, the SCCA held a reunion event at Summit Point Motorsports Park. This event celebrated Marlboro. It featured old racing cars and even a small model of the MMR track. Some past reunions were held at the abandoned MMR site, but not recently.
Marlboro Today
The land where Marlboro Motor Raceway once stood has been sold many times. But it has never been developed into anything new. The old parking lot area is currently used for mulching leaves. The track area itself has been affected by a nearby branch of the Patuxent River. Heavy floods in 2008 caused a lot of damage. Parts of the track surface were buried or washed away. It's hard to see the track from outside the property. So, it's tough to know if more damage has happened since then.
Marlboro was also featured in 0-60 Magazine in 2008. It was highlighted along with other abandoned race tracks.
Future Plans for the Site
Some people who love racing and some developers have shown interest in the old MMR land. But no one has seriously tried to reopen it. If someone tried to open a new track, people living nearby would likely oppose it. Environmental groups would also want to protect the river and park land. Some ideas for the site have been discussed privately. However, big money problems and other challenges make it hard to plan anything. The property is currently for sale.
12 Hours of Marlboro Race Winners
| Year | Winner | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 |  Rune Svensson Art Tattersall |
Volvo PV544 |
| 1962 | Harry Beck Brad Howes |
Volvo PV544 |
| 1963 |  Jack Sears Bob Olthoff |
Ford Cortina GT |
| 1964 | Jackie Stewart Mike Beckwith |
Lotus Cortina |
| 1965 | Monty Winkler Pete van der Vate |
Alfa Romeo Giulia TI Super |
| 1966 | Bob Tullius Tony Adamowicz |
Dodge Dart |
In 1966, the 12 Hours of Marlboro race was an important part of the 1966 Trans-American Sedan Championship.
