OGLETHORPE SPEEDWAY PARK - SAVANNAH GA
The half mile speedway has entertained race fans since March of 1951 when championship motorcycle racing debuted in Savannah. Many of today’s most recognized racers have turned laps here at OSP Former NASCAR Winston Cup champions Ned Jarrett, Glenn “Fireball” Roberts, David Pearson, Joe Weatherly, Buddy Baker, Dale Earnhardt and Speedy Thompson have competed at Oglethorpe Speedway Park. The first stock car race took place at the historic half mile in May of 1951. Johnnie Parsons was the first winner. Parsons was the defending Indy 500 winner that year. NASCAR made their first trip to OSP in 1954, and held a 200 lap race. After some high spirited racing in the early laps; Al Keller would drive away from the field to win by two laps over Buck Baker. Gober
Sosebee finished third followed by Donald Thomas and Joe Eubanks. NASCAR made the second, and final, trip to Savannah to run ar OSP in 1955. Dick Rathman led the first of 200 laps, before Lee Petty roared by and went on to beat Don White by four laps. Rathman was third, Herb Thomas fourth and Eddie Skinner fifth. The track held weekly racing and saw good crowds in attendance. The Stone Family, purchased the speedway in 1977. Since then, Oglethorpe Speedway Park has led the way for many tracks in the area. Mr. Stone was the first promoter to offer dirt racers a purse of over $45,000. He was also the first dirt track to sign on with the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. All through the years they raced events on Friday nights at 8:00pm. Late Models, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Pure Stocks, Mini Stocks, Super 4’s and Amateur 4’s made up the weekly
schedule. Fans also enjoyed special events for Sprint Cars, Super Late Models, Truck and Tractor Pulls, Go Karts, Monster Trucks, Motorcycles and also hosted concerts, festivals, carnivals, and much more. In 2021 it was announced that the time has come for the final lap. The Stone's had gotten tired of running the race track after so many years; and was getting out of the racing business. Oglethorpe Speedway Park was closing after the final races that season. The future of the Oglethorpe Speedway Park is still unknown at this time.
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