Toledo Speedway

Toledo Speedway
Stock cars heading into turn 1 at Toledo Speedway
LocationToledo, Ohio, United States
Coordinates41°43′0″N 83°30′41″W / 41.71667°N 83.51139°W / 41.71667; -83.51139
Capacity20,000
OwnerARCA, City of Toledo
OperatorARCA
Opened1960[1]
Construction cost$250,000
Major eventsARCA Menards Series East
Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200
USAC Silver Crown Series
Rollie Beale Classic
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length.5 miles (.804 km)
Banking12-13° (Turns 1/2), 11° (Turns 3-4)
Race lap record15.860 (Justin Lofton, Dodge, 2008, ARCA)

Toledo Speedway is a half-mile paved oval racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio, United States. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.

History[edit]

Toledo Speedway opened in 1960[1] and was paved in 1964. In 1978 it was sold to Thomas "Sonny" Adams Sr. The speedway was reacquired by ARCA in 1999. The track also features the weekly racing divisions of sportsman on the half-mile and Figure 8, factory stock, and four cylinders on a quarter-mile track inside the big track. They also have a series of races with outlaw-bodied late models that includes four 100-lap races and ends with Glass City 200. The track hosts the “Fastest short track show in the world” which features winged sprints and winged Super Modifieds on the half mile.[2] Toledo also used to host a 200-lap late model race until its sale to ARCA in 1999.

Toledo is known for the foam blocks that line the race track, different than the concrete walls that line many short tracks throughout America. The crumbling walls can make track cleanup a tedious task for workers.[3]

Toledo was one of the oldest tracks to still host an ARCA Menards Series race until 2019. Starting in 2020, after NASCAR bought ARCA, the race became part of the rebranded ARCA Menards Series East (former NASCAR K&N Pro Series East). However, due to COVID-19 related scheduling changes, the track ended up hosting three ARCA races in 2020, and is back on the national schedule in 2021.

National events[edit]

Toledo, as a track owned by the Automobile Racing Club of America, plays host to an ARCA Menards Series East race, the Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 in early October as the Final race of the season. The USAC Silver Crown Series also visits the track.[4] A touring super late model series, the ARCA/CRA Super Series, also holds an event at Toledo.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Buckey, Brian. "The 52: Race car drivers don't pass up Toledo Speedway". The Blade. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  2. ^ C J Landry (June 16, 2004), Speed's the word at the speedway, The Blade, p. 6927
  3. ^ Soquet, William (21 May 2019). "ARCA: Hailie Deegan's headlining debut done after 30 laps". LASTCAR. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. ^ Rowland, Kyle. "Sylvania's Nemire returns to Toledo Speedway for 100-lap open-wheel race". The Blade. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Ross Mortgage 200 at Toledo Speedway up next for the ARCA/CRA Super Series". CRA Racing. Retrieved 3 June 2019.

External links[edit]