Lee USA Speedway

Last updated

Lee USA Speedway
Lee USA Speedway logo.png
Location380 Calef Highway
Lee, New Hampshire
Time zone UTC−5 (UTC−4 DST)
Coordinates 43°06′58″N71°02′24″W / 43.116026°N 71.039973°W / 43.116026; -71.039973
OwnerBenjamin Bosowski (2023–present)
Norman Wrenn Jr. (2018–2022)
Red & Judy MacDonald (1987–2018)
Opened1964
Former namesLee Speedway (1984–1995)
Lee Raceway (1964–1983)
Major eventsFormer:
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (1993–1996, 1998, 2022–2023)
American Canadian Tour (2006, 2008–2018, 2021, 2023)
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (1992–2004, 2010)
Website leeusaspeedway.com
Paved Oval (1984–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.375 miles (0.604 km)
BankingTurns: 8°
Original Dirt Oval (1964–1983)
SurfaceClay
BankingTurns: 8°

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

Contents

History

The facility opened as Lee Raceway in 1964 as a dirt tri-oval, 0.333 mi (0.536 km) in length. [2] Original owner Bob Bonser later recounted that he initially bought the land the track is located on in order to have a site along New Hampshire Route 125 to place advertising for a nudist camp that he owned and operated. [3] Bonser paved the track the following year, and it became home to the New England Super Modified Racing Association (NESMRA). [2] [b]

In late 1983, the facility was purchased by Kenny Smith, Russ Conway, and Charlie Elliot, who had previously owned and operated Star Speedway in nearby Epping, New Hampshire. [4] Renamed as Lee Speedway, the track was changed to be an oval, 0.375 mi (0.604 km) in length, and reopened in the fall of 1984. [5] [c] The first event held at the reconfigured track reportedly drew 236 entrants. [6] A section of the original tri-oval is still used as a pre-race staging area. [2]

The facility was sold to Red and Judy MacDonald in December 1986. [2] Their son, Eddie MacDonald, became a professional race car driver. [7] Branding of the track as Lee USA Speedway dates to at least 1996. [8] The MacDonalds operated the track until February 2018, when it was sold to Norman Wrenn Jr. of Nashua, New Hampshire. [2] Wrenn bought Monadnock Speedway in Winchester, New Hampshire, the same year. [9]

In 2023 Lee USA Speedway was sold to Hudson Speedway owner Benjamin Bosowski.

Events

The track has hosted various racing events, including for NASCAR. [2] Notable drivers who have competed at Lee include John Andretti, Gary Bettenhausen, Brett Bodine, Todd Bodine, Dale Earnhardt, Terry Labonte, Ollie Silva, and Bentley Warren. [2] Snowmobile racing, [10] demolition derby, [11] and motorcycle races have also been held. [12]

On August 20, 1973, a driver from nearby Madbury was killed in a racing accident at the track. [13] On October 27, 1985, a driver from nearby Epping was killed in a racing accident at the track. [14]

The track is a member of the New Hampshire Short Track Racing Association (NHSTRA). [15] Entering the 2022 season, modified stock car racing is planned, including a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event. [15]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lee USA Speedway should not be confused with Lee County Speedway, which is located in Donnellson, Iowa. [1]
  2. ↑ That the raceway closed in 1979 and remained dormant during 1980–1981, as recounted in on the track's website, is not supported by contemporary newspaper reports.
  3. ↑ That the track reopened on July 4, 1984, as recounted on the track's website, is not supported by contemporary newspaper reports.

References

  1. ↑ "Lee County Speedway". leecountyspeedway.com. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "About". leeusaspeedway.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ Lessels, Alan (August 21, 1988). "Stock car racing shifts into higher gear". The Boston Globe . p. NH 18. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Cadigan, Barry (December 19, 1983). "Auto Racing (column)". The Boston Globe . p. 101. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Cadigan, Barry (September 30, 1984). "Auto Racing (column)". The Boston Globe . p. 101. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Cadigan, Barry (November 4, 1984). "Auto Racing (column)". The Boston Globe . p. 76. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ St. Louis, Justin (April 13, 2014). "VT Speed: Finally, MacDonald wins at home". The Burlington Free Press . Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Auto racing series leaders, schedule". Hartford Courant . Hartford, Connecticut. June 28, 1996. p. C5. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Cloutier, Michelle (18 December 2018). "Monadnock Speedway Has A New Owner For 2019 Season". Race Pro Weekly. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  10. ↑ "Racing Slated At Lee Track". The Portsmouth Herald . Portsmouth, New Hampshire. November 4, 1969. p. 9. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Demolition Derby". The Portsmouth Herald . Portsmouth, New Hampshire. October 14, 1966. p. 5. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Motocucle Race Slated Sunday At Lee Raceway". The Portsmouth Herald . Portsmouth, New Hampshire. May 26, 1972. p. 20. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Harton Killed". The Portsmouth Herald . Portsmouth, New Hampshire. August 20, 1973. p. 12. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Race driver killed in Lee crash". The Boston Globe . October 28, 1985. p. 34. Retrieved February 27, 2022– via newspapers.com.
  15. 1 2 "Your Nascar Hometrack". leeusaspeedway.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 1998. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
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