Islip Speedway

Last updated
Islip Speedway
"World Famous Islip Speedway"
IslipSpeedway19471984.jpg
Islip Speedway (from an aerial view)
Location Islip, New York
Time zoneGMT-5
Opened1947
Closed1984
Major events Grand National Series
Oval
Figure 8
Length.2 miles (.32 km)
Turns4

Islip Speedway was a .2-mile (320-meter) oval race track in Islip, New York which was open from 1947 until 1984. [1] [2] It is the smallest track to host NASCAR's Grand National Series, [3] [4] from 1964 to 1971. [1] [3] The first demolition derby took place at Islip Speedway in 1958. [5] The idea was patented by Larry Mendelsohn, who worked at Islip Speedway. [6] The speedway has since been demolished.

Contents

Demolition Derby

Islip Speedway is credited with hosting the first demolition derby, [7] which took place in 1958. [5] According to Larry Mendelsohn, he originated the idea after realizing that spectators enjoyed watching the cars crash more than the races. [6] However, there are alternative accounts to the origins of demolition derby. One source claims that Don Basile invented the demolition derby at Carrell Speedway in 1947. [8] The ABC television show Wide World of Sports broadcast demolition derbies at Islip Speedway beginning in the early 1960s. [9] This exposure gave the event national attention and helped increase its popularity. [9]

Figure 8

In 1962, a Figure 8 track was added. The Figure 8 course shared the north and south turns with the oval and crisscrossed using lanes paved through the infield. The first Figure 8 race was held on August 11, 1962. The popular Figure 8 class became a regularly featured division from the time of its inception until the track's final date of operation September 8, 1984.

In 1964, track promoter Larry Mendelsohn conceived the idea of hosting the first "Figure 8 World Championship" event and sold his idea to ABC-TV, who would film the daytime event for broadcast at a later date on their popular Saturday afternoon television show, ABC's Wide World of Sports. To draw out-of-town competitors, Mendelsohn would guarantee a starting spot in the feature event to all Figure 8 division track champions who would travel to Long Island and represent their home track, hoping to claim the title of "World Champion". The remaining starting positions were determined through heat races. The "Demolition Derby World Championship" was held immediately following the "Figure 8 World Championship" feature race and was also taped for future broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports. These broadcasts led to increased exposure and notoriety of the track, which came to be known as "World Famous Islip Speedway". Figure 8 drivers who won the title and were crowned "Figure 8 World Champion" at Islip were: 1963- Larry Wood, Northport, NY; 1964-Benny Giaraputo, West Islip, NY; 1965-Art Cox, Anderson, IN; 1966-Forrest Halliburton, Indianapolis, IN; 1967-Richie Gomes, Brentwood, NY; 1968-Richard Simmons, Plymouth, MI; 1969-Aaron Coller, Tampa, FL; 1970-Lester Slone, Pinellas Park, FL; 1971 & 1973-Sonny Thompson, Indianapolis, IN; 1972- Bobby Lane, Bay Shore, NY; 1974 & 1975-Carl Voelker, Islip NY; 1976 & 1979-Chuck Hall, Toledo, OH; 1977-Quinn Vollgraff, Ronkonkoma, NY; 1978-Allen Brock, Medford, NY; 1980-Eddie Sutton, Crownville, MD; 1981, 1982 & 1983-Doug Huber, Bellport, NY; 1984-Chuck Hlatky, Ronkonkoma, NY.

NASCAR racing

Islip Speedway hosted six races from 1964 to 1971, [3] skipping the years 1969 and 1970. [1] Richard Petty won the last NASCAR race at Islip [1] [10] by two laps. [11] Others who have won at Islip include Bobby Allison [4] and Billy Wade. [1] NASCAR stopped coming to Islip Speedway when the organization axed all races shorter than 250 miles (400 km) from its schedule. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

The Chicago Motor Speedway at Sportsman's Park was a motorsports race track, located in Cicero, Illinois, just outside Chicago. It was built in 1999 by a group including Chip Ganassi, owner of Chip Ganassi Racing. In 2002 the 1.029-mile (1.656 km) oval shaped track suspended operations due to financial conditions in the motorsports industry. The track was also the site of horse races, for which the track was called "Sportsman's Park". The track was one of three racetracks that hosted both NASCAR auto races and horse races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demolition derby</span> Motorsport where drivers ram vehicles into one another

Demolition derby is a type of motorsport, usually presented at county fairs and national events. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another. The last driver whose vehicle is still operational is awarded the victory. Demolition derbies originated in the United States and quickly spread to other Western nations. For example, Australia's first demolition derby took place in January 1963. In the UK and parts of Europe, demolition derbies are often held at the end of a full day of banger racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richie Evans</span> American racing driver (1941–1985)

Richard Ernest Evans, was an American racing driver who won nine NASCAR National Modified Championships, including eight in a row from 1978 to 1985. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame lists this achievement as "one of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports". Evans won virtually every major race for asphalt modifieds, most of them more than once, including winning the Race of Champions three times. Evans was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on June 14, 2011. As one of the Class of 2012, Evans was one of the Hall's first 15 inductees, and was the first Hall of Famer from outside the now NASCAR Cup Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eldora Speedway</span> Motorsport track in Ohio, United States

Eldora Speedway is a 0.5 mi (804.672 m) high-banked clay dirt oval. Located north of Rossburg, Ohio in the village of New Weston, Ohio, its website claims capacity for 22,886 spectators in the permanent grandstand, and unlimited admittance for the grass hillside spectator area. The permanent grandstand and VIP suite seats make it the largest sports stadium in the Dayton, Ohio-region according to the Dayton Business Journal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Speed Association</span> Motorsports organization of the United States

The American Speed Association (ASA) is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana, and later in Daytona Beach, Florida. The ASA sanctioned asphalt and dirt tracks in their ASA Member Track program along with racing series in the United States and Canada. The ASA currently sanctions the STARS National Tour, the Midwest Tour, the Southern Super Series and all CRA sanctioned series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ascot Park (speedway)</span> Former dirt race track

Ascot Park, first named Los Angeles Speedway and later New Ascot Stadium, was a dirt racetrack located near Gardena, California. Ascot Park was open between 1957 and 1990. The track held numerous United States Auto Club (USAC) national tour races and three NASCAR Grand National races. The Turkey Night Grand Prix was held at the track for several decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASCAR Xfinity Series at Auto Club Speedway</span> NASCAR Xfinity Series race at California Speedway

Stock car racing events in the NASCAR Xfinity Series were held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California from the track's inauguration in 1997 until 2023. The 300-mile (480 km) event was previously named Production Alliance Group 300 for sponsorship reasons most recently in 2023. The race was usually scheduled in late March as the fifth event of the schedule and as a support event for the NASCAR Cup Series' Auto Club 400. It was previously been held in October and late April or early May. John Hunter Nemechek was the last winner of the event, after winning it in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slinger Speedway</span> Racetrack

The Slinger Speedway is a quarter-mile paved oval automobile race track with 33-degree banked corners located in Slinger, Wisconsin. The track is billed as the "World's Fastest Quarter Mile Oval." The current track record was set by Jeff Bloom in a 410 extreme winged sprint car on August 21, 2010 at a time of 9.908 seconds. This is the first lap record under 10 seconds on a quarter mile oval track of any type, breaking Anderson Speedway's 10.28 second lap record. Bloom's lap eclipsed the track record set by USAC midget car driver Tracy Hines on May 17, 2008 at an elapsed time of 10.845 seconds. The lap was the fastest ever midget car lap on an asphalt quarter mile track. He eclipsed the long-standing mark of 11.095 seconds set by Tony Strupp's late model on June 12, 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Figure 8 racing</span> Form of stock car racing

Figure 8 racing is a form of stock car racing in which automobiles race on a track that purposely intersects itself, increasing the risk of collisions. Figure 8 racing is most common and popular in the United States and Canada. Because of the risk of collisions, figure 8 racing bears some similarity to the chiefly European sport of banger racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Economaki</span> American journalist (1920–2012)

Christopher Constantine Economaki was a pioneering American motorsports journalist, publisher, reporter, and commentator known as "The Dean of American Motorsports Journalism." Working for, and later owning, National Speed Sport News, Economaki helped encourage the growth of American motorsports from a niche endeavor to a mainstream pursuit.

Riverhead Raceway is a quarter-mile oval race track with a Figure 8 course, located in Riverhead, New York. It is the only auto racing venue on Long Island since Westhampton Raceway closed down in 2003. It started being built in 1949 and opened as a dirt track in 1951, before permanently changing to asphalt in 1955. The raceway was also well known for featuring a towering statue of a Native American, dubbed "Chief Running Fair", at its entrance until it was destroyed in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy but rebuilt by Christmas and still standing at its original location.

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

Evergreen Speedway is an automobile racetrack located within the confines of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. The stadium can accommodate up to 7500 spectators in the covered grandstand and an additional 7500 in the uncovered modular grandstands. The layout of the track is unique in that it incorporates an oversized 5/8-mile paved outer oval, a 3/8-mile paved inner oval, a 1/5-mile paved inner oval, a 1/8-mile dragstrip, and the #2 ranked figure-eight track in the United States. The track is the only sanctioned NASCAR track in Washington State. Evergreen Speedway hosts Formula D the third weekend in July every year. Along with NASCAR, the multi-purpose track can be configured to road courses with sanctioned SCCA, USAC, ASA and NSRA events. Under new ownership for the 2011 season and beyond, Evergreen Speedway has become a NASCAR Top Ten Short Track in North America from 2012 though 2016.

The Columbus Motor Speedway (CMS) was a 1/3 mile asphalt oval and figure-eight racing track located south of Columbus, Ohio, within the town limits of Obetz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenville-Pickens Speedway</span> US racetrack

Greenville-Pickens Speedway is a race track located in Easley, South Carolina, just west of Greenville, South Carolina. The track hosted weekly NASCAR sanctioned races. Several NASCAR touring series have raced at the track in prior years, including the Whelen Southern Modified Tour and the NASCAR Grand National Division. NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series teams frequently tested at the track until 2015, when all private testing was banned. The Upper South Carolina State Fair has been held at the fairgrounds adjacent to the race track since 1964. The capacity of the track was 35,000, including the Dale Earnhardt Backstretch, a three-tiered parking area where fans can take in races while tailgating or camping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Speedway</span>

Macon Speedway, located in Macon, Illinois is one of Illinois's premier dirt ovals. It is also one of the longest continuously-operating racetracks in the state.

<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.

<i>ESPN SpeedWorld</i> Television series

ESPN SpeedWorld is a former television series broadcast on ESPN from 1979 to 2006. The program that was based primarily based around NASCAR, CART, IMSA, Formula One, NHRA, and IHRA. The theme music is based on the piano interlude from "18th Avenue " by Cat Stevens.

The 1971 Islip 250 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race that was conducted on July 15, 1971, at Islip Speedway in Islip, New York

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 Islip 300</span> Auto race held at Islip Speedway in 1968

The 1968 Islip 300 was a NASCAR Grand National Series event that was held on July 7, 1968, at Islip Speedway in Islip, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee USA Speedway</span> Race track in the U.S. state of New Hampshire

Lee USA Speedway is a short-track oval race track located in Lee, New Hampshire.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wallmuller, Bill (2007). "Islip Speedway - Local Auto Racing 1947-1984 Genesis Of Some Great Auto Racing Trivia". Merokee's Auto Racing Sports. Merokee Enterprises. Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  2. Goldsmith, Paul (2003-08-31). "Gauge Nears 'E' at Riverhead Raceway". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Aumann, Mark (2006-01-31). "Countdown: New York". NASCAR . Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  4. 1 2 London, Gary. "NASCAR Has A Long History Racing In The Northeast". National Speed Sport News . Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  5. 1 2 LeDuff, Charlie (2000-06-18). "Vroooom! Kapow! Smash! C-r-r-runch!; At Riverhead Demo Derby, the Race, Such as It Is, Goes to the Durable". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  6. 1 2 Martin, Douglas (1996-09-13). "Demolition Derby Survives on Long Island And So Do Participants, Despite Themselves". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  7. Macdonald, Brady (2001-07-21). "Some Cars' Road to Ruin Leads to O.C. Fair". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  8. Delaney, Bill (April 1999). "Demolition Derby PM Style". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on 2009-06-30. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  9. 1 2 The Associated Press (2008-09-06). "Demolition Derbies Are Still a Popular Attraction at Racetracks". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  10. Caraviello, David (2008-09-10). "No racetrack? Then take it to the streets". NASCAR . Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  11. Swan, Raygan (2007-11-16). "Johnson chasing Petty's record for five consecutive". NASCAR . Retrieved 2009-05-18.

40°44′58″N73°12′41″W / 40.7495°N 73.2115°W / 40.7495; -73.2115