California State Fairgrounds Race Track

Last updated
California State Fairgrounds
Location Sacramento, California
Coordinates 38°33′N121°27′W / 38.550°N 121.450°W / 38.550; -121.450
Opened
  • 1906 (horse racing)
  • 1907 (auto racing)
  • 1968 (new track)
Closed1970 (first track)
Major eventsGolden State 100
AAA/USAC National Championship
Oval
Surface Rice hulls [1]
Length1 miles (1.6 km)
Road course (1955–1969)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.1 miles (3.4 km)
Turns9

California State Fairgrounds Race Track has been the name of two dirt oval racing tracks located in Sacramento, California. The track was built in 1906 for horse racing on the site of the California Exposition. It was active for auto racing in 1907, 1912, and from 1946 until 1970. [1] The Exposition moved to a new site north of Downtown Sacramento in 1968, and the old fairgrounds were closed and sold for development in 1970. The final day of the track was marred by tragedy when three drivers were killed in the 100-lap super-modified caged sprint car competition. [2]

Contents

From 1949 to 1970, the track hosted the Golden State 100, a round of the AAA/USAC National Championship. The race was revived at the new Cal Expo site as a USAC Silver Crown race from 1989 until 2000. Motorcycle racing's Sacramento Mile continues to be held at the new California Exposition as part of the AMA Grand National Championship.

A 2.1-mile (3.4-km) road course was laid out in the parking lots surrounding the oval, and used for sports car racing between 1955 and 1969. [3] [4] It hosted a SCCA National Sports Car Championship round in 1955.

Golden State 100 winners

Golden State 100
AAA/USAC National Championship
Location Sacramento, California
First race1949
First race1970
Most wins (driver) A. J. Foyt (5)
Most wins (manufacturer) Meskowski & Watson (tied 5)
Circuit information
Length1.6 km (0.99 mi)
YearDateDriverCar
1949 October 30 Flag of the United States.svg Fred Agabashian Kurtis-Offy
1950 October 15 Flag of the United States.svg Duke Dinsmore Kurtis-Offy
1951–1952: not held
1953 October 25 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Bryan Kurtis-Offy
1954 October 17 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Bryan Kuzma-Offy
1955 October 16 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Bryan Kuzma-Offy
1956 October 21 Flag of the United States.svg Jud Larson Watson-Offy
1957 October 21 Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward Lesovsky-Offy
1958 October 26 Flag of the United States.svg Johnny Thomson Kuzma-Offy
1959 October 25 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Hurtubise Kuzma-Offy
1960 October 30 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Meskowski-Offy
1961 October 29 Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward Watson-Offy
1962 October 28 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Meskowski-Offy
1963 October 27 Flag of the United States.svg Rodger Ward Watson-Offy
1964 October 25 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Meskowski-Offy
1965 October 24 Flag of the United States.svg Don Branson Watson-Offy
1966 October 23 Flag of the United States.svg Dick Atkins Watson-Offy
1967 October 1 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Meskowski-Offy
1968 September 29 Flag of the United States.svg A. J. Foyt Meskowski-Offy
1969 September 28 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser King-Ford
1970 October 4 Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser King-Ford
[5] [6]

The race was revived in 1989 at the new Cal Expo mile track as a USAC Silver Crown event.

YearDateDriver
1989June 4 Flag of the United States.svg George Snider [7]
1990June 3 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Sills [8]
1991–1992: not held
1993October 9 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Sills [9]
1994October 8 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Sills [10]
1995October 7 Flag of the United States.svg Donnie Beechler [11]
1996October 12 Flag of the United States.svg Donnie Beechler [12]
1997October 11 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Darland [13]
1998October 10 Flag of the United States.svg J. J. Yeley [14]
1999October 9 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Sills [15]
2000October 7 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Darland [16]

NASCAR races

NASCAR Cup Series

Several NASCAR Grand National Series (today's NASCAR Cup Series) races were held on the dirt oval.

NASCAR Cup Series races [17]
SeasonDate# of
racers		WinnerTrack
length
(mi)		Race
length
(mi)		Purse
($USD)		Pole
speed
(mph)		CautionsCaution
laps		Avg.
speed
(mph)		Lead
changes
DriverStart
pos.		Car
make/model
1956 Jun 8, 195621 Lloyd Dane 15'56 Mercury1.0001004,28576.612––74.074–
1957 Sep 8, 195727 Danny Graves 1'57 Chevrolet1.0001004,07578.007––68.6630
1958 Sep 7, 195828 Parnelli Jones 1'56 Ford1.0001003,88577.922––65.550–
1959 Sep 13, 195926 Eddie Gray 19'59 Ford1.0001003,885–––54.753–
1960 Sep 11, 196023 Jim Cook 1'60 Dodge1.0001004,62578.450––70.6294
1961 Sep 10, 196132 Eddie Gray –'61 Ford1.0001005,12579.260––0.0001

NASCAR West Series

Several NASCAR Pacific Coast Late Model Division/NASCAR Winston West Series (today's ARCA Menards Series West) races were held on the dirt oval.

NASCAR West Series races [17]
SeasonDateRace nameAttendance# of
racers		WinnerTrack
length
(mi)		Race
length
(mi)		Purse
($USD)		Pole
speed
(mph)		CautionsCaution
laps		Avg.
speed
(mph)		Lead
changes
DriverStart
pos.		Car
make/model
1956 Jun 8, 1956—21 Lloyd Dane 15'56 Mercury1.0001004,28576.612––74.074– [18]
1957 Sep 8, 1957—27 Danny Graves 1'57 Chevrolet1.0001004,07578.007––68.663– [19]
1964 Oct 04, 1964Sacramento 1008,50024 Bob Ross 1'64 Mercury1.0001006,00085.6532–68.182– [20]
1965 Oct 03, 1965Sacramento 10026 Bill Amick 1'64 Mercury1.0001006,00082.2861675.5382 [21]
1966 Oct 9, 1966Sacramento 1005,86025 Don Noel 5'64 Ford1.0001006,00085.71441562.9152 [22]
1969 Apr 27, 1969Sacramento 1005,00028 Marty Kinerk 10'67 Chevrolet1.0001007,50089.02162378.8804 [23]
1970 May 10, 1970Sacramento 1004,23528 Tiny Lund 1'69 Ford1.0001005,25090.47531185.6335 [24]

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References

  1. 1 2 Galpin, Darren. "Sacramento". The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ "3 Racing Drivers Killed in Calif.", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 26, 1970, p1
  3. ↑ di Carli, Guido. "Sacramento Fairgrounds". Circuiti Nel Mondo. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ McPartland, Tam. "Sacramento Fairgrounds Racecourse". Tam's Old Race Car Site. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  5. ↑ "California State Fairgrounds". Champ Car Stats. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  6. ↑ "California State Fairgrounds". Ultimate Racing History. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Golden State 100 worth the wait for Snider". The Sacramento Bee . June 5, 1989. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Sills races to win at Cal Expo". The Sacramento Bee . June 4, 1990. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Placerville's Sills wins USAC race". The Sacramento Bee . October 10, 1993. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Three in a row for Sills". The Sacramento Bee . October 9, 1994. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Nalbandian out..." The Fresno Bee . October 10, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Beechler squeezes into Silver Crown 100 win". The Sacramento Bee . October 13, 1996. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Darland wins; his series lead grows". The Sacramento Bee . October 12, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Yeley, Tiner win races at Cal Expo". The Sacramento Bee . October 11, 1998. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Sills wins Silver Crown 100". The Sacramento Bee . October 11, 1999. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Sacramento Results". Motorsport.com. October 7, 2000. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  17. 1 2 "California State Fairgrounds". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  18. ↑ "1956-17". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  19. ↑ "1957-23". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  20. ↑ "1964 Sacramento 100". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "1965 Sacramento 100". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "1966 11th Annual Sacramento 100". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "1969 Sacramento 100". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "1970 Sacramento 100". www.racing-reference.info. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
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