The Indianapolis Speedrome is the oldest operating figure 8 track in the United States as it opened in 1941.[1] It is believed by many historians that this is the first figure 8 track where cars intersect.
| Kitley Speedrome | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | Indianapolis,Indiana |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST) |
| Coordinates | 39°45′27″N 86°03′21″W / 39.7574841°N 86.0558009°W |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Address | 802 S. Kitley Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46219 |
| Opened | September 9, 1941 |
| Former names | Art Zipp's Speedway |
| Major events | World Figure 8 Championships Carb Night Classic |
| Website | www.speedrome.com |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Paved |
| Length | 0.200 miles |
| Turns | 4 |
| Figure 8 | |
| Surface | Paved |
| Length | 0.200 miles |
| Turns | 4 |
The Speedrome is home to the World Figure 8 Championships, the Annual Spring Shootout, and the 3 Hour Endurance Race.[2]
The Speedrome is the USAC's most active track with 496 events held,[3] and also produced Tony Stewart’s maiden USAC win on August 9, 1991.[4]
History edit
Opening edit
Demise edit
Reopening and refurbishment edit
Events edit
Carb Night Classic edit
Three-hour figure 8 championship edit
The three hour figure 8 championship is an annual 3 hour endurance race featuring late models. it began in 1977 and like any other sport had sprees of dominance.
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Austin Tunny |
| 2022 | Mark Tunny |
| 2021 | Ben Tunny |
| 2020 | Jesse Tunny |
| 2019 | Eddie VanMeter |
| 2018 | Mark Tunny |
| 2017 | Mike Hadley Jr |
| 2016 | Austin Tunny |
| 2015 | Ben Tunny |
| 2014 | Danny Smith |
| 2013 | Mark Tunny |
| 2012 | Ben Tunny |
| 2011 | Doug Greig |
| 2010 | RJ Norton Jr |
| 2009 | Ben Tunny |
| 2008 | Fred Bear Jr |
| 2007 | Doug Greig |
| 2006 | Curtis McMurtrey |
| 2005 | Bruce Tunny |
| 2004 | Bruce Tunny |
| 2003 | Bill Tunny Jr |
| 2002 | Curtis McMurtrey |
| 2001 | Bobby Douthitt |
| 2000 | Bruce Tunny |
| 1999 | Jack Dossey Jr |
| 1998 | Jack Dossey Jr |
| 1997 | Jack Dossey Jr |
| 1996 | Jack Dossey Jr |
| 1995 | Duane Lee |
| 1994 | Jack Dossey Jr |
| 1993 | Jack Dossey Jr |
| 1992 | Duane Lee |
| 1991 | Mike St John |
| 1990 | Mike St John |
| 1989 | Wayne Arnold |
| 1988 | Leonard Basham |
| 1987 | Mike St John |
| 1986 | Rance Harmon |
| 1985 | Wayne Arnold |
| 1984 | Bobby Ellett |
| 1983 | Wayne Arnold |
| 1982 | Kenny St John |
| 1981 | Kenny St John |
| 1980 | Kenny St John |
| 1979 | Kenny St John |
| 1978 | Kenny St John |
| 1977 | Jim Fox |
COVID-19 guideline violations edit
On October 3, 2020, a picture of the Speedrome at full capacity surfaced on the media. At this time, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place in Marion County had a guideline requiring that all sporting events were to be held at 25% capacity. The Speedrome was fined $1000.[7]
Job Corps riot of 1965 edit
During the Saturday night race in which 35 Job Corps men and youths were invited as special guests for that night‘s race. The Job Corps members were siting in the back of a pickup truck, when they started yelling obscenities at women entering the restroom. Later 15 of the youths were standing by the restroom and continued to yell obscenities at race goers until the spectators confronted and attempted to silence the youths. While the youth were being finally escorted out they began throwing sticks and stones into the crowd. A woman suffered lacerations to her arms.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "From the Cataloger's Desk: Calling all race fans!". Indiana Historical Society. 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ "Schedule". Indianapolis Speedrome. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDROME RETURNS WITH MAY 23 HPD MIDWEST MIDGETS". www.sprintsource.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
- ^ ""Tony Stewart Classic" at the Lincoln Tech Indianapolis Speedrome". www.myracepass.com. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- ^ "3-Hour Figure 8". Indianapolis Speedrome. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "Results of the 2023 speedrome" (PDF). Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Health department issues notice of violation to Speedrome". wthr.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ Congress, United States (1965). Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the ... Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office.