Continental Divide Raceways was a race track located in Castle Rock, Colorado, approximately south of Denver. Built in 1959, it featured a road course, oval, and drag strip. The land was intended to be used for a multi-sport spectator venue, but a racing complex was built after a hill climb was staged on the property.
The track saw its most active time in the 1960s, hosting the USAC National Championship, major sports car races, and Trans-Am. On July 30, 1972, Evel Knievel successfully jumped 11 Dodge vehicles on his motorcycle at the track. The track closed in 1979 due to a fatal accident but reopened in 1981, holding a NASCAR Winston West Series stock car race in 1982 before being sold to real estate developers in 1983. There was a motocross track called CDR Tech Track on the property where an AMA Motocross National was held in 1981 and 1982.
Lap records
The fastest official race lap records at the Continental Divide Raceways are listed as:
CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent Road Course (1959–1983): Formula 5000 1:48.700 Jerry HansenTony Adamowicz McLaren M10AEagle Mk.5 1969 Castle Rock F5000 round Sports car racing 1:55.500 Bud Morley McLaren-Elva Mk II 1967 Continental Divide SCCA Regional race
Race results
USAC Champ Car "Rocky Mountain 150" Year Date Driver Team Car 1968 July 7 A. J. Foyt Sheraton-Thompson Coyote-Ford 1969 July 6 Gordon Johncock Gilmore Broadcasting Eagle-Ford 1970 June 28 Mario Andretti STP Oil Treatment McNamara-Ford
Sports car races Year Date Driver(s) Team Car Championship 1960 June 26 Carroll Shelby Meister Brauser Scarab-Chevrolet USAC Road Racing Championship July 17 Bob Holbert Porsche 718 RSK SCCA National Sports Car Championship 1961 July 2 Ken Miles Crandall Industries Incorporated Porsche 718 RSK USAC Road Racing Championship 1963 August 18 Augie Pabst Meister Brauser Scarab-Chevrolet United States Road Racing Championship 1965 August 15 Hap Sharp Chaparral Cars Inc. Chaparral 2A-Chevrolet United States Road Racing Championship
Trans-Am Year Date Driver Car 1967 August 27 Jerry Titus Ford Mustang 1968 August 25 Mark Donohue Chevrolet Camaro
Notes
References