Owosso Speedway facts for kids
| Location | Middlebury Township, Shiawassee County, at 7204 West M-21 Ovid, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1939 |
| Major events | Heritage 100, Fall Nationals |
| progressively banked oval | |
| Surface | asphalt |
| Length | 3/8 (.375) mile adjoining mi |
| Turns | 4 |
Owosso Speedway is a fun place in Michigan where fast cars race! It's an oval track, which means it's shaped like a big circle. The track is about 3/8 of a mile long, and it's made of asphalt. This makes it a "short track," which is a popular type of racing venue. People come here to watch exciting races every Saturday night during the racing season.
Contents
The History of Owosso Speedway
How the Track Began
The Owosso Speedway first opened in 1939. Back then, it was a dirt track, only about 1/4 of a mile long. Racing continued until 1944.
A Special Role During World War II
From 1944 to 1946, the Speedway closed for racing. It was used as a camp for German soldiers captured during World War II. These soldiers stayed at the Speedway. They were sometimes allowed to help local people with small jobs in the community.
Changes to the Track Over Time
Racing started again in 1946. A new, bigger track was built. It was a 1/2-mile asphalt oval. It shared a starting line with the smaller 1/4-mile track.
- In 1953, the smaller 1/4-mile track was paved with asphalt. The bigger 1/2-mile track stayed as dirt.
- By 1960, the 1/2-mile track closed down. Some people thought it was too fast to be safe for racing.
- The 1/2-mile track reopened in 1963. Both tracks were used until 1972. That year, the big track was also paved with asphalt.
- In 1983, both tracks were changed back to dirt. This was the first time since 1952 that both tracks were dirt.
- The Speedway closed again in 1988–1989. During this time, the 1/2-mile and 1/4-mile tracks were changed into the 3/8-mile oval you see today.
Famous Racers from Owosso
Many talented drivers have raced at Owosso Speedway. Some even went on to become very famous in NASCAR!
- Benny Parsons – He became a NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion in 1973.
- Brad Keselowski – He won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2012.
- Erik Jones – He was named the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year in 2017.
What Happens at the Speedway Today?
Owosso Speedway is still a busy place! Races happen every Saturday night from early May through September.
Weekly Races
The Speedway has regular races for different types of cars. These include:
- Pro Late Models
- Modifieds
- Sportsmans
- Pure Stocks
Special Events
Besides the weekly races, Owosso Speedway also hosts special events. There's one race each year for Winged Sprint Cars. There's also a special event for Outlaw Super Late Models.
