Summit Point Motorsports Park facts for kids
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| Location | Summit Point, WV, USA |
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| Capacity | open seating without capacity limitation |
| Owner | Bill Scott Racing, Inc. |
| Operator | Bill Scott Racing, Inc. |
| Broke ground | 1969 |
| Opened | 1970 |
| Major events | Motorsports, Motorcycles, Racing, Training |
| Summit Point Main Circuit | |
| Length | 3.22 km (2.0 mi) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Jefferson Circuit | |
| Length | 1.80 km (1.12 mi) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Shenandoah Circuit | |
| Length | 3.54 km (2.2 mi) |
Summit Point Motorsports Park is a special place in West Virginia, USA. It's a big area with different tracks where people race cars and motorcycles. It's also used for training drivers. This park is about two hours west of Washington, D.C..
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What is Summit Point Motorsports Park Today?
Today, Summit Point Motorsports Park is owned and run by Xator Corporation. It has three main race tracks. These tracks are used for fun races by everyday drivers and motorcycle riders. They are also used for special training for government groups.
A Quick Look at Summit Point's History
Summit Point Motorsports Park first opened in 1970. Back then, it was called "Summit Point Raceway." It was built between 1969 and 1970.
The First Races at Summit Point
The very first races at the track were in the fall of 1969. These were smaller, local races. The first big professional race happened on May 30, 1970. It was part of the IMSA International Sedans series. A driver named Rasey Feezell won this race in an Alfa Romeo car. He won $200!
Famous Racers and Training
For many years, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) held lots of events here. Many new racers learned how to drive fast at the schools held at Summit Point.
A famous actor, Paul Newman, even raced here! He wanted to be treated like any other racer. He didn't want people to know he was a big star. So, he and his wife, Joanne Woodward, kept to themselves. The only hint was his car's license plate, which said "PLN."
Over time, the track hosted many professional races. These included races from IMSA and the SCCA Trans-Am Series.
New Owners and New Uses
In the early 1980s, Bill Scott and his partner Tom Milner bought the track. Bill Scott was a world champion racer from 1970.
Besides racing, the park also became a place for special training. Different government groups and security teams used the tracks to practice their driving skills.
Exploring the Race Tracks
Summit Point Motorsports Park has several different tracks. Each one is unique and offers a different challenge for drivers.
Summit Point Main Circuit
The Summit Point Main Circuit is the original track, opened in 1970. It has 10 turns and is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) long. It also has a very long straight section, almost 3,000 feet (900 meters) long!
When it first opened, this track had a slightly different shape. The "Carousel" turns (Turns 6 and 7) were added later, after 1973.
Today, this track is not used for big professional car races. But it's very popular for many club races and special driving days. Motorcycle races are also held here. The Main Circuit was repaved in 2007, making it smooth for racing.
Jefferson Circuit
The Jefferson Circuit is a shorter track, about 1.12 miles (1.8 kilometers) long, with seven turns. Bill Scott designed and built this track especially for driver training. It opened around 1996 or 1997. This track makes drivers stay focused and drive smoothly.
The Jefferson Circuit is mainly used for driver training schools. It also hosts some motorcycle track days each year. This circuit is currently getting some big upgrades!
Shenandoah Circuit
The Shenandoah Circuit is a longer track, about 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) long, with 22 turns! It opened in 2004. Many people think it's one of the most challenging race tracks. It even has a smaller copy of a famous turn from the Nürburgring track in Germany, called the "Karussell."
Since it opened, the Shenandoah track has been used for many high-performance driving lessons. It also hosts car and motorcycle races. Some small changes were made to the track layout in 2004 and 2005 to make it even better.
Washington Circuit
The Washington Circuit is the newest track at Summit Point. It was built and opened in 2009.
This track can be set up in different ways depending on the event or weather. The most common setup is the "Washington Long Course." This version is about 0.52 miles (0.8 kilometers) long and has 11 turns. It includes a long, curving turn and three straight sections.
