Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit 100 (1949–1953, 1957)
NASCAR Grand National
Motor City 250 (1951–1952)
| Drome | |
|---|---|
| Location | Michigan State Fair Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°26′33″N 83°06′40″W / 42.44250°N 83.11111°W |
| Opened | 1899 |
| Major events | AAA/USAC Indy Car Detroit 100 (1949–1953, 1957) NASCAR Grand National Motor City 250 (1951–1952) |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 1.6 km (0.99 mi) |
The Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway was a dirt oval racing track located in Detroit, Michigan. The track was built in 1899 for horse racing,[1] and was part of the grounds purchased to provide a permanent venue for the Michigan State Fair. Joseph Lowthian Hudson donated the land, at Woodward Avenue and what is now 8 Mile Road, to the Michigan State Agricultural Society.[2]
By 1908, the racetrack, at the east end of the fairgrounds, had a 5,000-seat capacity grandstand. The track originally hosted thoroughbred flat racing as well as standardbred harness racing. Later, it was used for auto racing, after the growth of that industry.[3] In 1971 the grandstand was declared unsafe and was demolished in 2001.[3]
