South Sound Speedway

South Sound Speedway
Turns 1 and 2
LocationThurston County, near Rochester, Washington, USA
Coordinates46°49′26″N 122°57′47″W / 46.82389°N 122.96306°W / 46.82389; -122.96306
OwnerButch and Nick Behn
Former namesTenino Speedway
Major eventsNASCAR K&N Pro Series West (1991-1993)
NASCAR Northwest Series (1985-2002)
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length.375 miles (0.6 km)
Turns4

South Sound Speedway is a .375-mile (0.604 km) oval race track with a Figure 8 course located near Grand Mound and Rochester, Washington.

History

The racetrack, originally called the Olympia-Tenino Speedway,[1] was constructed in 1971 by Dick and Wanda Boness.[2][3] The track would later be owned by Jerry Cope, the uncle of Derrike Cope.[1] The racetrack was sanctioned for use as a NASCAR site from 1989 until 2002, when the partnership ended due to rising costs.[4] The track was purchased in 1995 by the Behn family, and an auto racing parts and tire store would be open on the site in 2002, with a repair shop eventually added.[2][5]

Racetrack and site

The oval track is .375 miles (0.604 km) in length and the course is a Figure 8 configuartion.[2][6]

The track is mentioned in a 2003 report to accommodate 4,000 people.[4] A wall on the front stretch of the track was raised by one foot before the 2007 season as a safety measure for spectators.[7]

Events

South Sound Speedway hosts several racing divisions including late model, street stock, Legends, NW baby grand, NW Vintage Modified, and asphalt sprint cars. In the past it hosted the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and currently hosts the Northwest Super Late Model Series once or twice a season.

A signature event at the track was the Miller 200, an annual late model super stock race held in the 1990s and 2000s.[8]

Drivers

Notable drivers, such as Greg Biffle,[5] have raced at South Sound Speedway. Other drivers of note from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series are Rick Carelli, Ron Eaton,[9] Ron Hornaday Jr., Robert Sprague, Dirk Stephens, Angela Cope,[10] and Amber Cope.[11]

Images

  • Flagstand
    Flagstand
  • Grandstands
    Grandstands
  • Scoreboard
    Scoreboard
  • Turns 3 and 4
    Turns 3 and 4
  • Scoring tower
    Scoring tower

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Spanaway Speedway was king of race scene". The Dispatch (Eatonville, Washington). October 19, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c McClurg, Dian (April 19, 2010). "South Sound Speedway Gives Fast-Paced Experience for Visitors and Racers". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  3. ^ "Dick Boness put the pedal to car racing". Senior Scene. April 20, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Dian McClurg; Mark Lawton (September 25, 2003). "NASCAR track looks like a long shot". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Teixeira, Cindy (April 6, 2016). "Season of Speed is Underway at South Sound Speedway". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  6. ^ The Chronicle staff (May 15, 2014). "South Sound Speedway Revs Up for Racing Season". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  7. ^ The Chronicle staff (March 29, 2007). "Things Speeding Up at South Sound SpeedwaySpSpeedway". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Runyon, Kristy (July 22, 2005). "Miller 200 brings drivers out from all directions". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  9. ^ The Chronicle staff (May 10, 2007). "Home Sweet Home". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Palmer, Kristy (June 23, 2004). "Sports news brief - Bumblebees swarm to race". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Palmer, Kristy (August 5, 2003). "Presley tops the field in the Miller 200". The Chronicle. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
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