Paducah International Raceway facts for kids
| PIR | |
|---|---|
| Location | 4445 Shemwell Lane Paducah, KY |
| Time zone | Central Time Zone |
| Coordinates | 36°58′08″N 88°33′32″W / 36.969°N 88.5589°W |
| Owner | Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Ken Schrader, Bob Sargent, Tony Stewart |
| Opened | 1972 |
| Closed | 2018 |
| Major events | USA World 50, ATV Nationals, UMP Dirt Car Summer Nationals |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Clay |
| Length | 3/8 mi (6/10 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
Paducah International Raceway (PIR) was a super cool place in Paducah, Kentucky. It was a special kind of race track called a 3/8 mile clay oval. This means it was shaped like an oval, about 600 meters long, and covered in dirt or clay. Many different types of race cars zoomed around this track.
Contents
What Was Paducah International Raceway?
Paducah International Raceway was a popular spot for exciting races. It opened way back in 1972. People loved watching cars race on its unique clay surface.
The Track and Its Races
The track at PIR was an oval shape, perfect for high-speed racing. It had four turns where drivers had to be very skilled. Many different kinds of race cars competed here. These included:
- UMP Super Late Models
- CARS Crate Late Models
- UMP Open Wheel Modified
- UMP Pure Streets
- Warrior 4-Cylinder cars
- Mini Sprints
PIR also hosted fun events like Demolition Derby. In these events, drivers crash their cars into each other until only one car can still move!
Famous Owners
Over the years, many different groups owned and ran PIR. But in 2005, some really famous people bought the track. These owners were:
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., a legendary NASCAR driver. This was his first time owning a race track.
- Ken Schrader, another well-known NASCAR driver. He already owned other tracks.
- Bob Sargent, a successful race promoter. He also had experience owning tracks.
Later, in 2006, another NASCAR superstar joined the group:
- Tony Stewart, who also owned Eldora Speedway and was part owner of Macon Speedway.
These famous drivers helped make PIR a well-known place in the racing world.
The Big Race: USA World 50
One of the most exciting races at Paducah International Raceway was called the USA World 50. This race was known as "The World's Richest 50-Lap Race." It started in 1978 and featured powerful Super Late Model racing cars. Drivers from the MARS Racing Series and the UMP Racing Series would come to compete in this big event. Winning the USA World 50 was a huge deal for any dirt track racer!
Why Did It Close?
After the 2016 racing season, the track became quiet. No races happened in 2017. PIR tried to open again in April 2018, but it only stayed open for a short time. In May 2018, Paducah International Raceway closed down permanently. It was a sad day for many racing fans who loved going to the track.
