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Coordinates: 40°10′31″N 85°1′37″W / 40.17528°N 85.02694°W / 40.17528; -85.02694
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{{short description|Motorsport track in the United States}}
[[Image:Winchester.GIF|thumb|right|]]
{{Infobox motorsport venue
'''Winchester Speedway''' is a half-mile mile long paved oval motor racetrack in [[Winchester, Indiana]], approximately {{convert|90|mi|km|0}} east of [[Indianapolis]]. It seats 4000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile".
|name = Winchester Speedway
|nicknames = "World's Fastest 1/2 Mile"
|time = [[UTC−05:00]] ([[UTC−04:00]] [[Daylight saving time|DST]])
|location = 2656 W [[Indiana State Road 32|State Road 32]]<br>[[Winchester, Indiana|Winchester]], [[Indiana]]
|coordinates = {{coord|40|10|31|N|85|1|37|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|logo = [[Image:Winchester.png|250px]]
|image =
|image_caption =
|capacity = 5,000
|FIA_grade =
|owner = Charlie Shaw
|operator =
|broke_ground = 1914
|opened = 1916
|closed =
|construction_cost=
|architect =
|former_names = Funk's Speedway (1914–1951)
|events = '''Current:'''<br />'''[[ARCA/CRA Super Series]]'''<br>''[[Winchester 400]]'' (1970–2003, 2006–present)<br />'''Former:'''<br />[[ARCA Menards Series]]<br>''[[Calypso Lemonade 200 (Winchester)|Calypso Lemonade 200]]'' (1982–1983, 1988, 1990, 1993–2003, 2006–2007, 2011–2017, 2020–2021)<br />[[CARS Tour]] (2001–2003, 2009)<br />[[American Speed Association|ASA National Tour]] (2000–2002)<br />[[NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series|NASCAR Southeast Series]] (1992–1998)<br >[[NASCAR Cup Series|NASCAR Grand National Series]] (1950)
|miles_first = true
|layout1 = Oval (1952–present)
|surface = Asphalt
|length_km = 0.805
|length_mi = 0.500
|turns = 4
|banking = 37°
|record_time =
|record_driver =
|record_car =
|record_year =
|record_class =
|layout2 = Clay oval (1916–1952)
|surface2 = Clay
|length2_km = 0.805
|length2_mi = 0.500
|turns2 = 4
|banking2 = 45°
|record_time2 =
|record_driver2 =
|record_car2 =
|record_year2 =
|record_class2 =
|website = {{URL|http://www.winchesterinspeedway.com}}
}}


[[Image:WinchesterSpeedwayTurn.jpg|thumb|right|Looking backwards at Turn 2]]
The track's 37 degree banking is one of the steepest in motorsports.
'''Winchester Speedway''' is a {{convert|0.500|mi|km|abbr=on}} paved oval motor racetrack in [[White River Township, Randolph County, Indiana|White River Township, Randolph County]], just outside [[Winchester, Indiana]], approximately {{convert|90|mi|km|adj=on}} northeast of [[Indianapolis]]. It seats 5,000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile".


The track's 37 degree banking is one of the steepest in motorsports, and the highest-banked active racetrack in the country. Notable drivers that raced at Winchester include [[Rusty Wallace]], [[Mark Martin]], [[Jeff Gordon]], [[Tony Stewart]], [[Ryan Newman (racing driver)|Ryan Newman]], [[Sarah Fisher]], [[Chase Briscoe]] and William "Billy" Hutson.
Two of its races are held in memory of fallen drivers who won at the circuit: The [[Rich Vogler]] Classic, and the [[Kenny Irwin]] Memorial.


==Funk's Speedway==
It is a stop on the [[Auto Racing Club of America|ARCA]] tour. The track has hosted numerous [[United States Automobile Club|USAC]] [[midget car racing|midget]], [[sprint car racing|sprint]] and [[United States Automobile Club|USAC Silver Crown]] events that were televised on [[ESPN]] since the 1980s.


The original half-mile clay oval was built in a cornfield by Frank Funk in 1914, and the track opened in 1916 with the name of Funk's Speedway.<ref name="EveningTimes1938" />
===External link===
As owner and operator, Funk pursued a two-pronged strategy to attract spectators.
* [http://www.winchesterspeedway.com/ Speedway website]
First, he recognized that attendance went up as the clay banks were raised higher and higher, reaching 25 feet by 1932, and the turns were said to be banked at 45° in 1948.<ref name="WCHS1967" />
In 1932, the track could seat 6,000 in the grandstands, with the grounds accommodating 12,000 to 14,000.<ref name="Blixt2009" />


Second, Funk tested various treatments to reduce dust and increase traction for the drivers.
{{ARCA}}
He started with mineral oil, then branched out into various other substances, which would result in a track "not only relatively dust free but pavement fast."<ref name="Exhaust2014" />
This work brought the attention of highway engineers, who made the track a proving ground for roadbuilding technology.<ref name="EveningTimes1938" />


==Winchester Speedway==
{{coor title dms|40|10|31|N|85|1|37|W|region:DE-BR_type:landmark}}


[[NASCAR Cup Series]] held a race at Winchester in 1950, and [[Lloyd Moore]] won the race.
[[Category:Motorsport venues in the United States]]
[[Category:ARCA racetracks]]


The track's signature event is the [[Winchester 400]], an annual 400-lap [[super late model]] [[stock car racing|stock car race]], currently sanctioned by the [[ARCA/CRA Super Series]]. Former winners during the first 36 editions include: [[Bob Senneker]] (7 wins), [[Mike Cope]] (3), [[Mike Eddy]] (2), [[Mark Martin]] (2), [[Gary St. Amant]] (2), [[Butch Miller (racing driver)|Butch Miller]], [[Rusty Wallace]], [[Ted Musgrave]], [[Glenn Allen Jr.]], [[Tim Steele (racer)|Tim Steele]], [[Scot Walters]], and [[Hank Parker Jr.]] The venue regularly hosts additional ARCA/CRA Super Series races every year since its inception in 1997.
{{motorsport-stub}}

The track has hosted numerous [[United States Automobile Club|USAC]] [[midget car racing|midget]], [[sprint car racing|sprint]] and [[United States Automobile Club|USAC Silver Crown]] races. Since 1991, the event is titled the [[Rich Vogler]] Classic. A second round was held in 2005 and 2006 under the title [[Kenny Irwin]] Memorial.

The track has hosted the [[ARCA Menards Series]] [[Winchester ARCA 200]] since 1982 with some interruptions.

[[NASCAR Southeast Series]] ran 7 races at the speedway between 1992 through 1998.

[[American Speed Association|ASA National Tour]] had 3 races at the facility, between 2000 and 2002. Also [[CARS Tour|USAR Pro Cup Series]] ran 6 races at Winchester between 2001 and 2009.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Winchester-spdwy2003-chd1.jpg|ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; heading into turn 1
File:Winchester-spdwy2003-chd2.jpg|Winchester Speedway after a crash
File:Winchester-spdwy2003-chd3.jpg|ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; front stretch
File:Winchester-spdwy2003-chd4.jpg|ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; turn 4 and front stretch
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist |refs=
<ref name="WCHS1967">{{cite web |title=Old Times for Old Timers |url=http://www.wchsclassof1967.com/October_4_2008.htm |website=WCHS Class of 1967 |access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Blixt2009">{{cite web |last1=Blixt |first1=Al Jr. |title=Winchester Speedway - Then and Now Part 1: 1936-38 |url=https://alblixtracinghistory.typepad.com/al_blixt_auto_racing_hist/2009/10/winchester-then-and-now.html |website=Al Blixt Auto Racing History |access-date=23 May 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Exhaust2014">{{cite journal |title=Getting to be a part of history |journal=Exhaust! |date=2014 |url=http://www.winchesterspeedway.com/images/news_2014_wot_newsletter.pdf |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="EveningTimes1938">{{cite news |title=History of Winchester Speedway (Funk's) |url=http://www.wchsclassof1967.com/October_4_2008.htm |access-date=24 May 2019 |work=Union City Evening Times |publisher=George W. Patchell |date=24 May 1938}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.winchesterspeedway.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322052149/http://winchesterspeedway.com/ |date=2008-03-22 }}
* [http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Winchester_Speedway Winchester Speedway race results] at Racing-Reference
* [https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/Winchester_Speedway Winchester Speedway race results] at The Third Turn

{{NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racetracks}}
{{NASCAR Elite Division Southeast racetracks}}
{{AAA tracks}}
{{ARCA tracks}}
{{USAC National Sprint Car Series race venues}}
{{USAC Stock Car racetracks}}
{{ASA National Tour racetracks}}
{{CARS Pro Cup racetracks}}

[[Category:Motorsport venues in Indiana]]
[[Category:ARCA Menards Series tracks]]
[[Category:NASCAR tracks]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Randolph County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Randolph County, Indiana]]

{{Indiana-sports-venue-stub}}
{{Autoracing-venue-stub}}
{{NASCAR-stub}}

Latest revision as of 10:51, 14 December 2024

Winchester Speedway
"World's Fastest 1/2 Mile"
Location2656 W State Road 32
Winchester, Indiana
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (UTC−04:00 DST)
Coordinates40°10′31″N 85°1′37″W / 40.17528°N 85.02694°W / 40.17528; -85.02694
Capacity5,000
OwnerCharlie Shaw
Broke ground1914
Opened1916
Former namesFunk's Speedway (1914–1951)
Major eventsCurrent:
ARCA/CRA Super Series
Winchester 400 (1970–2003, 2006–present)
Former:
ARCA Menards Series
Calypso Lemonade 200 (1982–1983, 1988, 1990, 1993–2003, 2006–2007, 2011–2017, 2020–2021)
CARS Tour (2001–2003, 2009)
ASA National Tour (2000–2002)
NASCAR Southeast Series (1992–1998)
NASCAR Grand National Series (1950)
Websitewww.winchesterinspeedway.com
Oval (1952–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.500 miles (0.805 km)
Turns4
Banking37°
Clay oval (1916–1952)
SurfaceClay
Length0.500 miles (0.805 km)
Turns4
Banking45°
Looking backwards at Turn 2

Winchester Speedway is a 0.500 mi (0.805 km) paved oval motor racetrack in White River Township, Randolph County, just outside Winchester, Indiana, approximately 90-mile (140 km) northeast of Indianapolis. It seats 5,000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile".

The track's 37 degree banking is one of the steepest in motorsports, and the highest-banked active racetrack in the country. Notable drivers that raced at Winchester include Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Sarah Fisher, Chase Briscoe and William "Billy" Hutson.

Funk's Speedway

[edit]

The original half-mile clay oval was built in a cornfield by Frank Funk in 1914, and the track opened in 1916 with the name of Funk's Speedway.[1] As owner and operator, Funk pursued a two-pronged strategy to attract spectators. First, he recognized that attendance went up as the clay banks were raised higher and higher, reaching 25 feet by 1932, and the turns were said to be banked at 45° in 1948.[2] In 1932, the track could seat 6,000 in the grandstands, with the grounds accommodating 12,000 to 14,000.[3]

Second, Funk tested various treatments to reduce dust and increase traction for the drivers. He started with mineral oil, then branched out into various other substances, which would result in a track "not only relatively dust free but pavement fast."[4] This work brought the attention of highway engineers, who made the track a proving ground for roadbuilding technology.[1]

Winchester Speedway

[edit]

NASCAR Cup Series held a race at Winchester in 1950, and Lloyd Moore won the race.

The track's signature event is the Winchester 400, an annual 400-lap super late model stock car race, currently sanctioned by the ARCA/CRA Super Series. Former winners during the first 36 editions include: Bob Senneker (7 wins), Mike Cope (3), Mike Eddy (2), Mark Martin (2), Gary St. Amant (2), Butch Miller, Rusty Wallace, Ted Musgrave, Glenn Allen Jr., Tim Steele, Scot Walters, and Hank Parker Jr. The venue regularly hosts additional ARCA/CRA Super Series races every year since its inception in 1997.

The track has hosted numerous USAC midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown races. Since 1991, the event is titled the Rich Vogler Classic. A second round was held in 2005 and 2006 under the title Kenny Irwin Memorial.

The track has hosted the ARCA Menards Series Winchester ARCA 200 since 1982 with some interruptions.

NASCAR Southeast Series ran 7 races at the speedway between 1992 through 1998.

ASA National Tour had 3 races at the facility, between 2000 and 2002. Also USAR Pro Cup Series ran 6 races at Winchester between 2001 and 2009.

[edit]
  • ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; heading into turn 1
    ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; heading into turn 1
  • Winchester Speedway after a crash
    Winchester Speedway after a crash
  • ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; front stretch
    ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; front stretch
  • ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; turn 4 and front stretch
    ASA race at Winchester Speedway in 2003; turn 4 and front stretch

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "History of Winchester Speedway (Funk's)". Union City Evening Times. George W. Patchell. 24 May 1938. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Old Times for Old Timers". WCHS Class of 1967. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  3. ^ Blixt, Al Jr. "Winchester Speedway - Then and Now Part 1: 1936-38". Al Blixt Auto Racing History. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Getting to be a part of history" (PDF). Exhaust!. 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
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