The Indianapolis Speedrome is the oldest operating figure 8 track in the United States as it opened in 1941. It is believed by many historians that this is the first figure 8 track where cars intersect.
The Speedrome is home to the World Figure 8 Championships, the Annual Spring Shootout, and the 3 Hour Endurance Race.
The Speedrome is the USAC's most active track with 496 events held, and also produced Tony Stewart’s maiden USAC win on August 9, 1991.
History
Events
Carb Night Classic
The Speedrome hosted the carb night classic from 1962 to 1964 and then once again in 1979.
World Championship 3-Hour Figure-8 Endurance Race The three-hour figure 8 world championship is an annual three-hour endurance race featuring late models. Created and conceived by the owner of the Indianapolis Speedrome, John Stiles. The inaugural 3-Hour Figure-8 was an open competition, allowing Figure-8 drivers from other race tracks around the country to compete in the race. + Champions Year Champion 1977 Jim Fox 1978-82 Kenny St John 1983 Wayne Arnold 1984 Bobby Ellett 1985 Wayne Arnold 1986 Rance Harmon 1987 Mike St John 1988 Leonard Basham 1989 Wayne Arnold 1990-91 Mike St John 1992 Duane Lee 1993-94 Jack Dossey Jr 1995 Duane Lee 1996-99 Jack Dossey Jr 2000 Bruce Tunny 2001 Bobby Douthitt 2002 Curtis McMurtrey 2003 Bill Tunny Jr 2004-05 Bruce Tunny 2006 Curtis McMurtrey 2007 Doug Greig 2008 Fred Bear Jr 2009 Ben Tunny 2010 RJ Norton Jr 2011 Doug Greig 2012 Ben Tunny 2013 Mark Tunny 2014 Danny Smith 2015 Ben Tunny 2016 Austin Tunny 2017 Mike Hadley Jr 2018 Mark Tunny 2019 Eddie VanMeter 2020 Jesse Tunny 2021 Ben Tunny 2022 Mark Tunny2023 Austin Tunny 2024 Mark Tunny
The death of Don Vogler On May 1, 1981, Don Vogler and his son Rich Vogler were registered for a USAC midget car feature. Don was about to complete his final warm up lap when he suddenly collided with the wall on turn 3, flipping over the concrete barrier and coming to rest in the catch fence. He was seen gripping his chest before the accident by multiple witnesses. He was pronounced dead in a local hospital a few hours later from blunt force trauma. The cause of accident is believed to be a heart attack. His son later raced in IndyCar and NASCAR but died in 1990 at Salem Speedway.
Job Corps riot of 1965 During a Saturday night race in 1965 there were 35 Job Corps men and youths invited as special guests for that night's race. The Job Corps members were siting in the back of a pickup truck, when they started yelling obscenities at women entering the restroom. Later, 15 of the youths were standing by the restroom and continued to yell obscenities at race goers until the spectators confronted and attempted to silence the youths. While the youth were being finally escorted out they began throwing sticks and stones into the crowd. A woman suffered lacerations to her arms.
COVID-19 guideline violations On October 3, 2020, a picture of the Speedrome at full capacity surfaced on the media. At this time, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in place in Marion County had a guideline requiring that all sporting events were to be held at 25% capacity. The Speedrome was fined $1000.
See also List of attractions and events in Indianapolis
References