Mobile International Speedway facts for kids
Mobile International Speedway is a cool place where cars race super fast! It's a paved oval track, about half a mile long, located in Irvington, Alabama. This exciting speedway was built by Walter "Skip" Wetjen and first opened its doors in 1965. It's a popular spot for Auto racing fans in the area.
Contents
History of Racing at Mobile
Early Days of Stock Car Racing
In the early days, when stock car racing was super popular, many famous drivers raced at Mobile International Speedway. Stars like Gene Tapia, Wayne Niedecken, Sr., and Phil Wendt competed here. Even NASCAR drivers came to show off their skills! A legendary stock car driver named Red Farmer won his 500th big race right here at this track.
Open-Wheel and Supermodified Races
From 1966 to 1968, the track also hosted exciting open-wheel races. They even had a special yearly event called the World 300 race for Supermodified racing. This race brought in famous drivers like Bobby Allison, Dale Hammac, and Armond Holley. It was a big deal for racing fans!
Big Races in the 1980s
The 1980s were a busy time for the speedway. It hosted many different types of races, including those from All Pro Stock, ASA, and various NASCAR series. Many well-known drivers raced here during this time. Some of these racing heroes included Donnie Allison, Rusty Wallace, Dave Mader III, and Jody Ridley. They put on amazing shows for the fans!
Rising Stars and Record Holders
More recently, Mobile International Speedway has been a place where new racing stars get their start. Many drivers who later became famous in NASCAR and the ARCA Series raced here. Drivers like Rick Crawford, Bubba Pollard, Cale Gale, and Grant Enfinger all competed at this track. A driver named Kevin Swindell even holds the all-time fastest lap record at the speedway!
Major Series Events
The track has hosted some big races over the years. The ARCA Mobile 200 was held here from 2012 to 2015. Local drivers did really well in these races, with Cale Gale winning once and Grant Enfinger winning three times! In 2016, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East held its Mobile 150 race at the speedway. Other series, like the NASCAR Southeast Series and the CARS Hooters Pro Cup Series, also had races at Mobile International Speedway.
Current Races
The speedway continues to host exciting events.
- Southern Super Series:
- Check the schedule for upcoming races!
On Screen
Mobile International Speedway even made it to the big screen! Some of the first scenes from the 2009 movie The Final Destination were filmed right at the track. How cool is that?
