Tucson Speedway facts for kids

Tucson Speedway is an exciting racetrack located in Pima County, Arizona, just south of Tucson, Arizona. It's a 0.375 mi (604 m) long oval track with a paved surface. This makes it one of only three paved oval racetracks in the entire state of Arizona!

The Story of Tucson Speedway

The track first opened its doors in 1968. Back then, it was a dirt track and was known as Raven Speedway.

In 1990, Brian France, who was once the head of NASCAR, started managing the track. Two years later, in 1992, the racing surface was paved with asphalt. At this time, the track was renamed Tucson Raceway Park.

The track changed owners a few times over the years. In 2005, Dan and Joyce Ruth bought it and made many improvements. Later, in 2008, Mark Ebert took over. The track even closed for a short period in 2010.

But the story didn't end there! In 2012, a businessman from Tucson named John Lashley bought the lease for the track. He spent six months fixing it up and making it new again. The track officially re-opened in 2013 as Tucson Speedway. In 2014, Tucson Speedway became an official NASCAR Hometrack, which is a big deal for local racing!

Racing at Tucson Speedway

Since 2014, Tucson Speedway has been a part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. This means it's a place where up-and-coming drivers can race and gain experience.

You can see many different types of race cars here, including:

• Super Late Models
• Limited Late Models
• Pro-Stocks
• Modifieds
• Hornets
• Bandoleros
• Thunder Trucks

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West also holds special "Twin 100s" events at the track in May.

Races usually happen every other Saturday night. Sometimes, there are practice sessions on Fridays before the main races. Tucson's warm weather is great for racing! The track can stay open for a long season, from February all the way to November. It only closes on weekends when a major NASCAR Cup Series race is happening at ISM Raceway.

Past Exciting Races

Tucson Speedway has hosted some important races in the past. In 1995, it held the second-ever NASCAR Truck Series race, called the Racing Champions 200. This exciting race returned in 1996 and 1997 as the NAPA 200.

The track was also home to a TV show called Winter Heat Series. This show ran during NASCAR's off-season from 1994 to 1999. It was a great place for young drivers to get noticed and start their careers. Famous drivers like Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch, and Matt Crafton all got their start or gained experience through this program!