GRAND RAPIDS SPEEDROME - GRAND RAPIDS MI
In 1950, this track was designed with grand plans to house a lot of racing. There was a 1/2 mile and a 1/4 mile track built. The 1/4 mile was going to hold midget racing and the 1/2 mile was to have big stock car events. As the track opened the fans were less interested in the midget racing despite the big names attending the races. The stock car events weren't pulling enough cars, but even so the track did manage to attract a NASCAR race in its 2nd year of operation. But a second Cup race didn't happen until 1954. In the first race, Tim Flock led early; but Richard Petty passed him and motored away to the win. Dick Rathman was second, followed by Fonty Flock, Tim Flock and Lloyd Moore. In 1954, Herb Thomas won the pole, but fell out
after 49 laps with a broken tie rod. Lee Petty would get the win; and the rest of the top five was, Buck Baker; Rathman, Ray Duhigg and Jim Reed. Unfortunately, the track had 4 different promoters in the first five years. In 1957, the promoters decided to pave the 1/4 mile track and in 1964 paved the 1/2 mile track to bring in supermodifieds. By 1966 the government had bought the property to run the freeway through it. The highway department insisted the grandstands must be totally removed by November of 1966, so the owners decided to abandon all racing and purse moving the facility to another location.
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