Augusta International Raceway

Last updated
Augusta International Speedway Eight Track Complex
Augusta International Raceway 8 Track Racing Complex.jpg
Augusta International Raceway layout
Locationnear Augusta, Georgia - USA
Capacity70,000+ All Tracks Combined
OwnerAugusta/Richmond County Taxpayers
Broke ground1959
Opened1960
Closed1970
Major events13 Major Events
1/2 Mile Oval, 3 Mile Road Course, 1/4 Mile Drag Strip, Kart Track, Micro Midget Track, Motorcycle Track, 2 Mile Tri Oval (started but not completed), Hydroplane Lake (started but not completed)
LengthVarious for the different tracks km (Various for the different tracks miles)
BankingTurns: Various for the different tracks

The Augusta International Raceway was a multi-use motorsports facility located in Hephzibah, Georgia, (just south of Augusta). [1] It was designed by Fireball Roberts.

Contents

History

Augusta International Speedway 1/2 Mile Oval Onehalfmileovaldirt1000-587x480.jpg
Augusta International Speedway 1/2 Mile Oval

Half mile oval

The 0.5-mile (0.80 km) oval hosted NASCAR Grand National Series races from 1962 to 1969. During that time span they ran 12 races with eight different winners.

On June 19, 1962 Joe Weatherly started on the pole position with a lap of 63.069 mph (101.500 km/h). Joe drove his Bud Moore-owned Pontiac to a 1-lap victory over Ned Jarrett. Augusta International Speedway back in 1962 was a .500 dirt mile oval. The race was 200 laps and saw only 16 cars start the race.

Less than a month later Joe did a repeat by winning on July 17, 1962, over Richard Petty. Fred Lorenzen took home the win on September 13, 1962, over Petty.

In 1963 a crowd of 4,000 in attendance saw Ned Jarrett take his Burton Robinson #11 Ford to victory lane over Richard Petty on April 4, 1963.

Opening Day Schedule Grand Opening Schedule.jpg
Opening Day Schedule

On August 15, 1965 Dick Hutcherson won the 200 lap event with a 2.75 second lead over David Pearson. On November 14, 1965, Richard Petty took home a victory in the "Georgia Cracker 300".

November 13, 1966, saw Richard Petty win at the half mile oval with an average speed of 84.112. The movie (Tiny Lund) Harder Charger was partly made. Tiny dropped out of the race with a broken distributor gear. After the race, in the movie a young Southern MotoRacing sales girl (Joy Tollison Agner) can be seen kissing Richard Petty and jumping up and down in excitement.

Rex White won two races at the half mile track, and it was the last track at which he raced.

On May 3, 1968 Bobby Isaac won the "Dixie 250" over Buddy Baker in his K & K Insurance Dodge. Later that year on October 5, 1968, David Pearson won over Bobby Allison in his Holman Moody-owned Ford.

On March 16, 1969, David Pearson won the first of two events at the track during this last season of racing. He won over Richard Petty with Bobby Isaac finishing third after starting on the pole with a record lap of 86.901 mph (139.854 km/h). On October 19, 1969, a field of 29 cars took the green flag at the track for the last time. The 4,500 that attended the race only saw two lead changes between Bobby Isaac and Richard Petty. The entire race went caution free. The race time was only 1:16:12 and the average speed was 78.74 mph (126.72 km/h). Bobby Isaac won for the second time at the track.

Augusta 510.jpg

Road circuit

Located next to the 1/2 Mile Oval was the Augusta International Raceway 3 Mile road circuit. This former track is being developed into the 300-acre (1.2 km2) Diamond Lakes Regional Park.

The "Augusta 510" was run on November 17, 1963, at the road circuit with a noon start time and a 5:00 PM end time. The race actually covered 417 miles (671 km) because of the time limit.

The raceway was one of the fastest road courses in the country.

This event was the second race of the 1964 season for the Grand National Division of NASCAR, later evolving into the present-day Cup Series. The preceding race was held at Concord Motor Speedway and the following race was held at Jacksonville, Florida. Glenn "Fireball" Roberts was the winner of the "Augusta 510" and he would die later that season as the result of burns suffered at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was driving a 1963 Ford and Augusta would be his last win.

The pole sitter was Fred Lorenzen with a speed of 89.545. He would only run 12 laps before engine failure forced him to retire. Lorenzen, Roberts, and sports car star Dave MacDonald were teammates for the Augusta 510 and MacDonald's 2nd-place finish gave Holman Moody the top two spots. Weldon Adams would finish last after completing only two laps. Wendell Scott would finish 18th. He would win the next event in Jacksonville becoming the first and only black driver to win a NASCAR race at this level until Bubba Wallace's win at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021. 36 cars started the Augusta 510 and 16 cars finished. The event lasted for four hours and fifty minutes and the average speed was 86.32 miles per hour (138.92 km/h). There were 10 lead changes during the event with Richard Petty leading the most laps (56). The total purse for the event was $50,620. The expected turnout was to be 75,000 fans. Only 15,000 actually attended.

The "Augusta 510" was the second race of the 1964 season. Six of the top seven finishers would lose their lives before the next racing season: Glenn "Fireball" Roberts, Dave MacDonald, Joe Weatherly, Billy Wade, Larry Thomas, and Jimmy Pardue; the seventh driver was Ned Jarrett.

On March 1, 1964, the United States Road Racing Championship (USRRC) held two 150 mile events on the road course. Dave MacDonald won the first race in a King Cobra, Jim Hall was second in a Chaparral 2A and Bob Holbert was third in another King Cobra. Ken Miles and Dave MacDonald finished 1–2 in Cobra Roadsters in the afternoon race. Dave would lose his life a few weeks later at the Indy 500.

The Augusta International Raceway 3.2 mile road circuit was state of the art for its time 1964SCCAFlyer-705x585.jpg
The Augusta International Raceway 3.2 mile road circuit was state of the art for its time
USRRC event held on March 1, 1964 USRRC event held on March 1, 1964.jpg
USRRC event held on March 1, 1964
NASCAR "Augusta 510" - November 17, 1963 Augusta 510 (2).jpg
NASCAR "Augusta 510" - November 17, 1963

Road course description

The track itself is a 3-mile (4.8 km) long banked road course with 21 total turns. The width of the track is 45 feet (14 m).

The track elevation change is 120 feet (37 m) with the highest point being at pit exit and the lowest point on the "backstretch" where the spring fed infield lakes drain into Spirit Creek just outside the track. Joe Weatherly called this part of the track "Alligator Hollow".

The track had a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) garage area (50' x 300') with two restrooms and showers.

There were seven main grandstands located along the pit lane.

The control tower was located between the fourth and fifth grandstand.

USRRC twin 156 races - March 1, 1964 USRRC Race.jpg
USRRC twin 156 races - March 1, 1964

Since the closure

In 2001, the Augusta International Raceway Preservation Society (AIRPS), a 501c3 non profit, was formed to document the former Augusta International Speedway complex and work with local officials to develop the former 8 track racing complex into Diamond Lakes Regional Park. The Society sponsores the 5Wkids Outdoor Learning Area adjacent to the Diamond Lakes Community Center/Library Complex and dedicated a portion of this area as the Rex White Motorsports Memorial Plaza Home To 5Wkids Outdoor Learning Area in September 2017. This outdoor green space for learning, which contains the memorial and seating for an entire classroom of young folks, will be used to educate by using the 5W's of learning: "Who, What, When, Where, Why?" The Augusta International Raceway Preservation Society can be reached at: AIRPS PO Box 212248 Martinez, Georgia 30917 USA [2]

Augusta International Speedway stock certificate NEW augusta photos (3).jpg
Augusta International Speedway stock certificate

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham International Raceway</span> 5/8-mile oval paved racetrack located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds

Birmingham International Raceway, (BIR) was a 5/8-mile oval paved racetrack located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in the Five Points West neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. It was used primarily for late-model automobile racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Daytona 500</span> Auto race held at Daytona International Speedway in 1964

The 1964 Daytona 500, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on February 23, 1964, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 NASCAR Grand National Series</span> 18th season of NASCAR stock-car racing

The 1966 NASCAR Grand National Series evolved into the first of three NASCAR Grand National championships for David Pearson, whose 15 wins through the season was second only to Tim Flock's 18 victories in 1955 at that time. NASCAR allowed the return of the Chrysler Hemi engine in 1966, and at the same time Ford decided to boycott NASCAR for the season. The season marked series first visit to the state of Maine. Pearson captured the championship with 35,638 points over second place James Hylton who finished the season with no wins, but 33,638 points for his consistency and efforts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1961 Rebel 300</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1961

The 1961 Rebel 300 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event held on May 6, 1961, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Two hundred and nineteen laps were run on an oval track spanning 1.375 miles (2.213 km).

The 1961 NASCAR Grand National season was the 13th season of professional stock car racing in the United States, and contested over 52 events from November 6, 1960, to October 29, 1961. Ned Jarrett captured the championship which was run on 20 dirt tracks, 31 paved tracks, and one road course. Seventeen events were considered short tracks, and 14 events were held at super speedways. Joe Weatherly won the season opening's event at Charlotte, and Jarrett went on to capture the championship with 27,272 points; 830 more than second-place finisher Rex White. Emanuel Zervakis finished third in points, with Joe Weatherly fourth and Fireball Roberts fifth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 Delaware 500</span> Auto race run in Delaware in 1971

The 1971 Delaware 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on October 17, 1971, at Dover Downs International Speedway.

The 1963 NASCAR Grand National Series was an American stock car racing competition. It was the fourteenth running of what is now called the NASCAR Cup Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 World 600</span> Auto race held at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1964

The 1964 World 600, the fifth running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that took place on May 24, 1964, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1965 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1965

The 1965 Southern 500, the 16th running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 6, 1965, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

The 1963 Western North Carolina 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on August 11, 1963, at Asheville-Weaverville Speedway in Weaverville, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 Southern 500</span> Auto race held at Darlington Raceway in 1962

The 1962 Southern 500, the 13th running of the event, was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 3, 1962, at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 Atlanta 500</span> Auto race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1960

The 1960 Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on October 30, 1960, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1973 Dixie 500</span> Auto race held at Atlanta International Speedway in 1973

The 1973 Dixie 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that took place on July 22, 1973, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 Northern 300</span> Auto race held at Trenton Speedway in 1972

The 1972 Northern 300 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing event that took place on July 16, 1972, at Trenton Speedway in Trenton, New Jersey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1967 Atlanta 500</span> American NASCAR auto race in 1967

The 1967 Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 2, 1967, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Atlanta 500</span> Auto race held at Atlanta International Raceway in 1964

The 1964 Atlanta 500 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on April 5, 1964, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia, the fifth annual race in the history of the Atlanta 500 series of races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 Dixie 400</span> Auto race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1962

The 1962 Dixie 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on October 28, 1962, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1961 Dixie 400</span> Auto race held at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1961

The 1961 Dixie 400 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on September 17, 1961, at Atlanta International Raceway in Hampton, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Dura Lube 300</span> Race 26 of 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup series

The 2000 Dura Lube 300 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car race that was held on September 17, 2000, at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. The race was the twenty-sixth of the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. The pole position was won by Bobby Labonte of Joe Gibbs Racing, while Roush Racing's Jeff Burton won after leading all 300 laps. As of 2022, this was the last time that a driver led every single lap in a Cup Series race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ona Speedway</span> Motorsport track in the United States

Ona Speedway is an Auto racing oval short track venue located in Ona, West Virginia. Ona Speedway is known for being the only paved oval race track in West Virginia and hosting NASCAR Cup Series races in 1963, 1964, 1970, & 1971. It is located adjacent to the Ona Airpark between the cities of Huntington and Charleston.

References

  1. Lynn, John (29 May 2016). "Your Hometown Stories: Augusta International Raceway". WJBF. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  2. King, Amanda (16 September 2018). "Former Augusta International Raceway remembered at annual event". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

33°21′24″N82°5′14″W / 33.35667°N 82.08722°W / 33.35667; -82.08722