Bedford Speedway

Bedford Speedway
Bedford Fairgrounds Speedway
LocationBedford Township, Bedford County, near Bedford, Pennsylvania, USA
Coordinates40°01′26″N 78°31′12″W / 40.024°N 78.520°W / 40.024; -78.520
OwnerBedford County Fairgrounds
OpenedSeptember 4, 1936
Major eventsAll Star Circuit of Champions
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
American Automobile Association
Oval
SurfaceClay
Length5/8 miles (1 km)

Bedford Speedway is a 5/8 mile (1 km) oval, semi-banked, clay, race track located in Bedford County, near Bedford, Pennsylvania. The track is also known as the Bedford Fairgrounds Speedway and is host to the Great Bedford County Fair. The track hosts the All Star Circuit of Champions, World of Outlaws Late Model Series.

History

Bedford Speedway held its first racing event on September 4, 1936 during the Great Bedford Fair[1] and continues to operate as the oldest active dirt speedway in Pennsylvania.[2] Competitors at the track include Indy 500 winners Bill Holland, Jimmy Bryan, and Mario Andretti.[3] The track held a single race each year at the annual fair until the 1960s.[3] The track held an annual American Automobile Association (AAA) "big car" (now sprint car) race until the AAA stopped sanctioning in 1955.[3]

During the winter of 2007, the speedway was resurfaced with sifted clay. Joe Padula III took over track promotion in 2013.[4] The track added United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) Modifieds class in 2019.[5]

Racing Program

Racing takes place on Friday nights[4] from April through September. Weekly classes include Late Models, Late Model Sportsman, Modifieds, and Semi Lates.[6]

Special events include the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series,[7] World of Outlaws Late Model Series,[8] Mid-Atlantic Championship Series, Independent Racing Series, All Star Circuit of Champions,[9] PA Posse sprint cars, and the American Motorcycle Association Flat Track Championship.

References

  1. ^ York, Samantha (August 30, 2019). "Bedford Speedway 32nd Labor Day Championship racing through the finish line of summer". WJAC-TV. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bedford Racing and NASCAR". WWCP-TV. June 8, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Bedford Fairgrounds Speedway History in the Making". WRT Web Designs & DKM Motorsports. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Goodman Shaffer, Kellie (April 30, 2013). "Love of family, history drive Bedford Speedway promoter". altoonamirror.com. Altoona Mirror. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  5. ^ "DIRTcar Adds 13 New Tracks in Ohio, East Regions for UMP Modifieds – DIRTcar Racing". dirtcar.com. United Midwestern Promoters. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  6. ^ Kurelac, Josh (June 8, 2020). "Bedford Fairgrounds Speedway kicks off 2020 racing season". WJAC-TV. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  7. ^ Staff, SPEED SPORT (April 27, 2011). "Lucas LMs Head For Pennsylvania". SPEED SPORT. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  8. ^ "8/14/09 - Bedford (PA) Speedway". World of Outlaws. December 16, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  9. ^ "Bedford Speedway". All Star Circuit of Champions. August 30, 2020. Event occurs at 19:45. FloRacing.