Concord Speedway
World's Fastest Half-Mile Tri-Oval The Track Where Grassroots Racing Lives | |
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Location | Midland, North Carolina |
Time zone | GMT-5 |
Capacity | 8,500 |
Opened | 1982 |
Former names | Concord Motorsports Park |
Major events |
North South Shootout PASS South Super Late Models NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour CARS Super Late Model Tour CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour |
Half Mile Oval | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 0.500 mi (0.804 km) |
Turns | 3 |
Banking |
8° (Front Straight) 14° (Turn 1) 10° (Dogleg) 11° (Back Straight) 14° (Turn 3) |
Quarter Mile Oval | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 0.250 mi |
Turns | 4 |
Banking |
5° (Straightaways) 8° (Turns) |
Concord Speedway is a motorsports facility located in the town of Midland, North Carolina, southeast of Concord, North Carolina. The complex features a 1/2 mile tri-oval & a 1/4 mile oval which also features a 1/5 mile oval. The original track that was located off Poplar Tent Road in Concord held twelve NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) events between 1956 and 1964.
History
The current track was built by race promoter Henry Furr. Originally a four-tenths of a mile oval dirt-track, Furr reconfigured the track adding a true dog-leg to the back stretch. The track now has three unique turns. Pit road entrance is located in the tri-oval prior to turn three. The track had seating for over 12,000 fans prior to a recent downsizing that saw the turn one grandstands converted to a dirt berm.
The track has hosted the Big 10 series in two different stints. Most recently Super Late Models competed in the series from 2003-2005. Freddie Query is the track's all-time leader in wins and claimed the Big 10 series championship in 2004 and 2005.
The track stopped weekly racing on the half mile tri-oval in 2013 and only has the quarter mile oval running weekly currently, which features INEX Legends, INEX Bandolero's, Davis Mini Cup Racing Series & Quarter Midgets.
In 2015, racing will return to the half mile tri-oval after not having a race on it in 2014 with the PASS South Super Late Models and Koma Unwind Modified Madness Series running on Memorial Day weekend.
Notable competitors
Winners and competitors at the track include Freddy Query, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jack Sprague, Ernie Irvan, Bobby Labonte, Justin Labonte, Clay Rogers, Bobby Gill, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Brian Love and Jeff Melton.
Statistics
The park consists of two tracks: a 1/2 mile tri-oval and a 1/4 mile oval. Originally the 1/4 mile oval was a 1/5 mile oval and the 1/4 mile was added later. The 1/5 mile is still there but only used for Davis Mini Cups & Quarter Midgets currently. The tri-oval seats 8,500 fans with room for 28 RVs, while the 1/4 mile track seats 2,050. Additionally, the track has several air conditioned suites located behind the main grandstand.
The track is active as a site for the filming of several television commercials, television shows, and music videos.
NASCAR results
Grand National
NASCAR held 12 Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series) races on the original dirt half mile located off Poplar Tent Road in Concord.[1]
- 1956 Speedy Thompson
- 1957 (race 2) Marvin Panch
- 1957 (race 5) Jack Smith
- 1957 (race 51) Fireball Roberts
- 1958 Lee Petty
- 1959 (race 5) Curtis Turner
- 1959 (race 44) Jack Smith
- 1962 (race 1) Jack Smith
- 1962 (race 6) Joe Weatherly
- 1962 (race 20) Joe Weatherly
- 1964 (race 1) Ned Jarrett
- 1964 (race 29) Richard Petty
Whelen Southern Modified Tour
NASCAR held one Whelen Southern Modified Tour race on the paved half mile.
- 2009 Ted Christopher
Convertible Series
NASCAR held one Convertible Series race on the original dirt half mile.[1]
- 1957 Curtis Turner
Divisions and series
Current/future Half Mile events
- NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour
- PASS South Super Late Models
- CARS Tour
- North/South Shootout
Current Quarter Mile Weekly divisions
- INEX Legends Cars – (Young Lions/Semi-Pro/Pro/Masters)
- INEX Bandoleros – (Beginners Bandits/Bandits/Outlaws)
- Davis Mini Cups
- Quarter Midgets
Former Half Mile National/Regional Series
- ARCA/CRA Super Series
- ASA National Tour
- ASA Late Model Series
- ASA Southeast Asphalt Tour
- KOMA Unwind Modified Madness Series
- Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League
- UARA-STARS Late Models
- X1-R Pro Cup Series
- USAC Honda National Midgets
Former Quarter Mile national/regional series
Former weekly divisions
- Late Model Stock Cars
- Pure Stocks
- Fast & Furious Fours
- Kimmel Street Stocks
- Vintage Sportsman
- Super Late Models
- Pro Late Models
- Limited Late Models
- Mini Stocks
- Road Hawgs
- INEX Thunder Cars
References
- 1 2 "NASCAR results". Racing Reference. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
- Plemmons, Mark (July/August 2009) Family-friendly, "grassroots racing" is going on all summer long at Concord Speedway. Cabarrus Living Magazine, p. 12.
External links
Coordinates: 35°18′31″N 80°31′17″W / 35.30861°N 80.52139°W