GOLDEN GATE SPEEDWAY - TAMPA FL
The track held it's first NASCAR Cup race in November of 1962. It was unusual as it was race number two if the 1963 season. The track was a 1/3 mile paved track that hosted a 200 lap affair. Rex White won the pole; and would head the field for the first 41 laps. Richard Petty then took the lead and led the next 70 laps before Jim Paschal led for one lap. Then Petty reassumed the lead and led the final 88 laps to get the win. Paschal would finish second while Joe Weatherly, Jimmy Pardue and Tommy Irwin rounded out the top five. The NASCAR Midget Division raced there in 1963. (I bet you didn't know NASCAR had a Midget Division - It ran from 1953 through 1966). The USAC Midget Series also made a couple starts there in 1963. In 1965 the track became the location for the Florida Governor's Cup Super Late Model race (similar to Snow Ball Derby). It would host the event from 1965 through 1983. The race would move to Showtime Speedway from 1984-1987; and
transitioned to New Smyrna Speedway in 1988 where it's been held ever since. Golden Gate Speedway was closed in 1978. It was the reopened in 1981, but closed again in 1984.
Pace lap before race --->
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