Terre Haute Action Track
 Turns 1 and 2 at the Action Track at the 2008 Hulman Classic | |
| Location | Terre Haute, Indiana, United States |
|---|---|
| Time zone | EST/EDT (-0500/-0400) |
| Coordinates | 39.420315, -87.420884 |
| Owner | Brian Dorsett, Davey Hamilton and Mike King |
| Broke ground | 1949 |
| Opened | 1952 |
| Closed | 1988-1989, 2007 |
| Former names | The Action Track |
| Major events | USAC Hut Hundred midget car race USAC Tony Hulman Classic sprint car racing |
| Surface | dirt |
| Length | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
| Turns | 2 |
| Race lap record | 16.487 seconds (Danny Lasoski[1], , 1999, World of Outlaws) |
Terre Haute Action Track (also The Action Track) is a half mile dirt track located at the Vigo County, Indiana fairgrounds on U.S. Route 41 along the south side of Terre Haute, Indiana. The track hosts annual United States Automobile Club (USAC) midget car, sprint car and Silver Crown events. Notable drivers that have competed at the track include A. J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, Parnelli Jones, and Tony Stewart.[2] The track has held events sanctioned by USAC, its predecessor American Automobile Association (AAA), and the World of Outlaws.[3]
History
The track opened on June 15 1952.[4] It closed for a short period beginning in 1987 and reopening in 1990.[4] It closed again in May 2007 for the rest of the season after it lost its race card because it broke local curfew.[5] The promoter had to stop the event early.[3] As of the start of the 2008 season, Rich Vogler's 13 feature wins is the most in track history.[6]
Promoters
The track was promoted by Don Smith in the 1960s.[5] The track was more recently run by a serious of promoters and attendance dwindled.[3] Most sanctioning bodies holding events at the track and only a few events were held in recent years.[3] The track lost its United States Automobile Club (USAC) events in mid-2007.[5] In 2008, the DHK Promotions LLC group took over running the track.[5] DHK Promotions is owned by former Major League Baseball player Brian Dorsett, Indy Racing League driver Davey Hamilton and Indianapolis 500 radio announcer Mike King.[5]
Media
Events at the track are broadcast on WBOW-AM and WSDX-AM in addition to WSDM-FM.[5]
Hut Hundred
The track has held the major midget car racing event since 1954.[7] The 54th Hut Hundred was held in 2006.[7] Event winners include Jay Drake, Tracy Hines, Mike Hess, Dave Darland, and 2005 winner Johnny Rodriguez.[7] Rich Vogler won the event eight times, including six in the seven years between 1983 and 1989.[7] Al Herman won the first event in 1954.[7]
Hut Hundred winners
- 2006 Darren Hagen
- 2005 Johnny Rodriguez
- 2004 Bobby East
- 2003 Dave Darland
- 2002 Mike Hess
- 2001 Tracy Hines
- 2000 Jay Drake
- 1999 Dave Darland
- 1998 Donnie Beechler
- 1997 Jason Leffler
- 1996 Kevin Olson
- 1995 Tony Stewart
- 1994
- 1993 Tony Stewart
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
- 1989
- 1988
- 1987
- 1986
- 1985
- 1984
- 1983
- 1982
- 1981
- 1980
- 1979 Johnny Parsons
- 1976 Gary Bettenhausen
- 1975 Pancho Carter
- 1974
- 1973 Bill Englehart
- 1972 Pancho Carter
- 1971
- 1970
- 1969
- 1968 Mike McGreevy
- 1967
- 1966
- 1965 A. J. Foyt
- 1963 Bob Wente
- 1961 A. J. Foyt
- 1960 Bob McLean
- 1959 Gene Hartley
- 1958 Don Branson
- 1957 Gene Hartley
- 1956 Earl Motter
Results References:[8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
References
- ^ "Terre Haute Action Track". RacingOne. RacingOne. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Taylor, Dave (2008-04-09). "Action Track sponsorship means opportunities for motorsports students". Indiana State University. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ a b c d O'Leary, Mike. "New Group Is Breathing Life Back Into Terre Haute". National Speed Sport News. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ a b "Terre Haute Action Track". na-motorsports. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Pearson, Craig (2008-03-01). "Promoters rev up Action Track schedule". Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ "The History of the Terre Haute Action Track". Official website. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ a b c d e "Terre Haute Hut Hundred preview". Motorsports.com. 2006-09-04. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- ^ http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=27
- ^ http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=138031&FS=USAC-M
- ^ http://www.theautochannel.com/news/date/19990902/news029290.html
- ^ http://www.midgetmadness.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10262&pid=43692&mode=threaded&show=&st=&#entry43692
- ^ http://www.springsspeedway.com/default,776.sm