Name: Southern California Funny Cars
Brand: Mr. Steve Reyes
SKU: 9781467109727
Price: 23.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Southern California Funny Cars

9781467109727

$23.99

Southern California was the birthplace of organized drag racing, with the first organized race held at the Santa Ana airport in 1949 and the subsequent founding of the National Hot Rod Association in 1950. Over the next decade and a half, the dragster became the king of the quarter mile on Southern California drag strips. In 1964, veteran dragster owner/driver Jack Chrisman had an idea for something different to grace Southern California's drag strips. It was not a dragster but a stock-bodied race car using nitromethane for fuel in a supercharged engine. With the help of Gene Mooneyham, Mercury's Fran Hernandez, and sponsor Helen Sachs, Chrisman put together the world's first nitro-burning "funny car." It was a steel stock-bodied Mercury Cyclone with a supercharged 427 Ford engine running on pure nitromethane. Chrisman started the evolution that soon turned stock steel-bodied cars into fiberglass-bodied tube chassis funny cars. Southern California drag racers began to lead the way for racers all over the United States in the new funny car class.

Northern California Drag Racing

9781467108171

$23.99

Organized drag racing began in Northern California in 1949 thanks to World War II veterans with a "need for speed." Towns like Redding, Lodi, Fresno, Bakersfield, and Fremont would host their own drag events featuring homebuilt jalopies. Anyone with a driver's license and a paid entry fee could participate, and as the cars got more sophisticated and faster, more and more spectators came to watch the local "speed demons." By the 1960s, a metamorphosis began with the introduction of the slingshot-style dragsters. For the next 12 years, the slingshot dragster was the king of the quarter mile, and it made stars of Gary Ormsby, Frank Bradley, Dennis Baca, and James Warren. Meanwhile, in 1965, a funny new race car challenged "The King" as it gained popularity in Northern California. Leading this funny car charge was a Pennsylvania transplant named Russell James Liberman. However, the golden years of Northern California drag racing came to an end in the mid-1970s. Today, only 5 out of 17 drag strips are still open. Photographer Steve Reyes journeyed into the world of Northern California drag racing in 1963 as a 15-year-old kid. Upon seeing an advertisement from the Oakland Tribune that read, "Come see the nitro powered 200mph slingshot dragsters," Reyes and his father made the 23-mile trek to the Fremont drag strip. With the noise of high-powered engines filling the air, Reyes was hooked and made it his duty to capture this one-of-a-kind world on film.

Southern California Road Racing

9781467103626

$24.99

In California, the popularity of all kinds of motor sports reached its peak in the mid-20th century. None was more exotic or glamorous than the type commonly called road racing. Southern California Road Racing is a collection of historic photographs that depicts all the action and excitement of the golden age of motor sports. The images in this book will take you back to the days when the best cars Europe had to offer competed with homebuilt specials over world-famous road courses like Laguna Seca, Willow, Glen Helen, and Riverside International, plus show all the cars and people that made it happen.

Cruisin' the Original Woodward Avenue

9780738540450

$24.99

In the 1950s, cruising swept the nation. American street became impromptu racetracks as soon as the police turned their backs. Young people piled into friends' cars and cruised their main streets with a new sense of freedom. Pent-up desires after the hardships of World War II plus a booming economy fueled a car-buying frenzy. To lure buyers to their particular makes and models, automobile companies targeted the youth market by focusing on design and performance. No place was that more relevant than on metro Detroit's Woodward Avenue, the city's number-one cruising destination and home of the world's automobile industry. Barely 50 years earlier, Henry Ford rolled his first Model T off the assembly line at Piquette and Woodward, just south of where cruisers, dragsters, and automobile engineers ignited each other's excitement over cars. This unique relationship extended into the muscle car era of the 1960s, as Woodward Avenue continued to reflect the triumphs and downturns of the industry that made Detroit known throughout the world.

Motorcycling in California's Central Valley

9781467108911

$23.99

The heart of California's Central Valley--from Lodi, Stockton, and Tracy through Modesto, Oakdale, and Turlock--embraced motorcycling from the beginning of the sport and lifestyle. Eleven riders from the region are in the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Hall of Fame, spanning every decade from the 1900s. The popularity of bicycling in the 1890s led to early motorcycle shops, riders, and champion racers in the 1900-1910s. Area motorcycle club recreational rides and field meets started in 1914. Central Valley police departments were among the first to develop motorcycle traffic units in the 1920s, before the California Highway Patrol. Early racing venues such as repurposed bicycle velodromes, college stadiums, and horse tracks were expanded when the Lodi Cycle Bowl was developed in the 1950s; it gave newcomers such as Modesto's Kenny Roberts and Stockton's Alex Jorgensen, Chris Carr, and Fred Merkel--all now AMA Hall of Famers--a track at which to compete weekly.

Motorcycling in California's Central Valley

Racing in Daytona Beach

9781467142779

$21.99

Long before the Speedway was even a glimmer in Bill France Sr.'s eye, racers in Daytona Beach were careening along at the fastest possible clip. Cars were still a novelty in 1903 when Daytona Beach drivers were pushing for land speed records on a track near today's Granada Avenue beach entrance. A reputation was born here early, drawing racing pioneers like Sara Christian, who famously raced her husband on the combination dirt and paved track in 1949. From the brave forerunners who tore up the hard-packed sand to the modern vehicles blasting away at nearly two hundred miles per hour on Daytona Beach International Speedway, Robert Redd explores the driving tradition that has made Daytona Beach a racing mecca.

Indiana's Lost Speedways and Legendary Drivers

9781467106641

$24.99

From the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway to the dirt oval tracks in small Indiana towns, thousands of Hoosiers frequent the raceway of their choice each year. Today, there are an estimated 40 asphalt, clay, and dirt-covered oval tracks in Indiana where race fans cheer local drivers, often navigating jalopies pieced together from junkyard parts, to victory lane. Though many racetracks remain in operation throughout the state, dozens have fallen to the wayside over the past 100 years. Forever in remembrance are the famous and not so famous Indiana-born drivers who thrilled fans at those now defunct tracks. Evansville native Charlie Wiggins won the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes four times. Bob Kinser from Bloomington raced over 40 years and is an inductee of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and Tom Cherry of Muncie won the Little 500 four times.

Indiana's Lost Speedways and Legendary Drivers

Nazareth Speedway

9781467120487

$24.99

In the early 1900s, Nazareth Speedway opened its gates to bring dirt racing to the masses. Located in the industrious town of Nazareth, these tracks hosted many racing legends, such as Mario Andretti, Frankie Schneider, and Al Tasnady, over the years. As the tracks became more popular for racing events, cars got faster, safety rules were modified, and track configurations were changed. In the late 1980s, asphalt was brought in to cover the big dirt track that Nazareth was known for. The new asphalt tri-oval course design was unique and challenged its drivers. Shortly thereafter, IRC merged with Roger Penske, and the track closed in 2004.

The Indy 500: 1956-1965

9780738532462

$24.99

The 1950s and early 1960s are considered by many to be the Golden Era of Racing at the Indianapolis 500, and photographer Ben Lawrence was on hand taking photos of the Greatest Spectacle for the Indianapolis Times.

During that era, Ben captured many images of the race and race events that surrounded the Indy 500. He was there when Bill Vukovich met his fate in 1955. He photographed the first Indianapolis 500 Parade, which has become an annual event. He captured A.J. Foyt winning his first race at the Brickyard. He was on hand to photograph the breaking of the 150-mph barrier. Then he saw the transition from the front-engined Offenhauser to the rear-engined Lotus-Fords, which ended the Golden Era.

Auto Racing in Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont

9780738515151

$24.99

Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont has an extensive and legendary tradition of automobile racing. Soon after 1904, when the first car was registered in Charlotte, autos became a part of everyday life.

Car racing was just around the bend: an open-road race was run through Charlotte as early as 1908. Many drivers themselves have hailed from the area, and some are said to have received early training by running moonshine and outrunning authorities. Probably the best-known aspect of Carolina racing is the Queen City's involvement since 1949 with NASCAR, which hosts many of its big names and operations. Auto Racing in Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont explores the story behind the various forms of the sport, the kinds of people who have raced, and the reasons why they have done so. Historic photographs-many never before published-trace the history of NASCAR and look beyond the professional aspect to include the dragracers, wannabees, kids, and just plain amateurs participating in this cultural phenomenon. The story includes the first formal oval track, constructed entirely of wooden planks and opened in 1925. Other famous Charlotte locations, including professional dirt tracks, drag strips, and even a paved track dedicated to Soap Box Derby, are also revisited. Images of fans, mechanics, and hangers-on round out this singular journey of racing in the Carolinas.

Auto Racing in Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont

Hydroplane Racing in Detroit

9780738560861

$24.99

Discover a time when hydroplane racing captured the heart of the Detroit community in a way that has never been equaled.

Since the start of the 20th century, Detroit has been the hub of the motorized world. It was only natural that the powerful motors built in Detroit's huge factories eventually found their way into high-speed boats and that organized racing soon followed. Starting in 1916, Detroit became the center of powerboat racing. Names like Gar Wood, Chris Smith, and Horace Dodge dominated the sports pages of the 1920s and 1930s. Following World War II, racing in Detroit entered its golden era, led by local businessmen like Jack Schafer, Joe Schoenith and George Simon.

Hot Rodding in Ventura County

9780738599687

$24.99

Stretching from Ventura to Santa Maria, California, a vibrant and colorful community of hot rod clubs bloomed throughout the middle of the 20th century. Hot Rodding in Ventura County takes a look at the people, places, and, above all, the cars that made up this historic period in automotive culture. Take a look into the golden years of hot rodding through vintage images of the first national championship drag races; visit long-lost drag strips such as Goleta, Saugus, and Santa Maria; and gain access to hot rodding's paramount clubs like the Motor Monarchs, the Kustomeers, and the Pharaohs.

The Milwaukee Mile

9781467114226

$24.99

Speed has always been the Milwaukee Mile's hallmark, and the one-mile oval track has given race fans and drivers thrills, chills, and memories for 130 years. "The Mile," once a proving ground for the latest in mechanical engineering, has seen it all: from harness racing to endurance races, NASCAR, midgets, sprints, and Indy open wheel. The checkered flag has waved at the Mile for greats such as Barney Oldfield, Rex Mays, Al Unser, and Mario Andretti, as well as a new generation of drivers, including Dale Jarrett, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick, and Will Power. The infield saw its share of action, too, including circus acts under the big top and Green Bay Packers games.

Bonneville's Women of Land Speed Racing

9781467107136

$23.99

At Bonneville, record holders must first earn the right to present themselves on the starting line. This requires passing rigorous safety and technical checks for driver, rider, and speed machine. Gender is inconsequential. Through the years, more than 200 women have made the cut and donned fireproof clothing and helmets. Dozens have set land speed records--35 in excess of 200 miles per hour, six above 300 miles per hour, and one deaf female racer who roared past 500 miles per hour. Equally impressive are the women who helped propel the helmeted gals into glory. Few know how many women are skilled fabricators, mechanics, crew chiefs, and all-round land speed racing experts, all working out on a brutal, merciless, and barren sodium-soaked playa. And for decades dedicated volunteers have not only put down that all-important starting line but erected a speed village that inspired tens of thousands to visit, taunting the timing lights run after run. Since 1949, women have played an integral part. Without question, land speed racing has more women actively participating and setting records than any other segment of motorsports in the world.

Hydroplane Racing in the Tri-Cities

9780738558271

$24.99

Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland sit along the banks of the Columbia River and form a large, vibrant community in Washington known as "the Tri-Cities." For over 40 years, tens of thousands of fans have come to the Columbia River to enjoy a day in the sun and watch the Columbia Cup Unlimited Hydroplane Race. Famous drivers like Bill Muncey, Dean Chenoweth, Chip Hanauer, and Dave Villwock have all come to Tri-Cities and battled deck-to-deck to win the Columbia Cup.

Capital Region Motorcycling

9781467122221

$24.99

The early 20th century was a time of greatness and prosperity for New York's Capital Region. Economically powerful cities like Albany and Schenectady were home to emergent companies that employed a growing population. This influx gave way to an abundance of stores and retail establishments that catered to newly settled residents. With the local economy experiencing unprecedented growth, people had discretionary income to be used for leisure activities, such as going to Proctor's Theater or enjoying the sport of motorcycling. Capital Region Motorcycling reveals the many activities that were enjoyed by those who wished to participate or watch. Photographs of road tours, polo matches, hill climbs, field meets, scrambles, and short-track and ice racing are featured alongside stories of the Electric City Riders and Spitzies Roamers motorcycle clubs.

Hot Rods and Custom Cars of the Sacramento Delta

9781467139953

$21.99

The Sacramento Delta has produced some of the finest hot rods and custom cars ever made. The passion of the area's builders is evident in the incredible cars they created, which drew nationwide attention. Harry Westerguard, who taught George Barris bodywork, worked on the second "America's Most Beautiful Roadster"----a 1923 "T" that was a style-setter for its day. Bob Dron built his first custom when he was only fifteen and a half, and Lenny Byer created his own "Candy Apple Red" in Rio Vista. Detroit might have had its vision, but the Delta region built its own. Discover the stories behind the cars and their builders as author John V. Callahan takes us on a trip down memory lane.

Hot Rods and Custom Cars of the Sacramento Delta

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

9780738569253

$24.99

After more than 50 years, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey is regarded as one of the most famous racetracks in the world. Mazda Raceway offers competitors challenges unlike any other with its mix of corners, which includes the Corkscrew, where drivers encounter the largest elevation change in the shortest distance of any track worldwide. The raceway also offers spectators sweeping open vistas of the track, and all within view of the Pacific Ocean.

Vanderbilt Cup Races of Long Island

9780738557519

$24.99

"Chain your dogs and lock up your fowls!" heralded posters announcing the first international road race in the United States and the first of the six William K. Vanderbilt Jr. Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910. These races were the most prestigious sporting events of their day, drawing huge crowds from 25,000 to over 250,000 spectators. The Vanderbilt Cup Races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways and are a testament to the early racing spirit and drama. The rare images in this book, many published for the first time, have been selected from the archives of major museums, libraries, and private collectors.

Bristol Dragway

9780738544441

$24.99

Bristol Dragway was carved into an East Tennessee
mountainside in 1965. In the more than four decades
since, the track known as "Thunder Valley" has carved its niche as a world-class facility in professional drag racing. Located adjacent to Bristol Motor Speedway, the dragway's well-earned nickname stems from the unique acoustic experience fans get when the power of unlimited racing engines echoes off the nearby hillsides. Bristol Dragway retraces the track's early history, its role in shaping the sport, and its return to prominence after an $18 million renovation in the late 1990s. The book features images of drag racing's greatest stars and chronicles decades of the sport's most memorable moments.

Columbus Motor Speedway

9781467102599

$24.99

Columbus Motor Speedway: how this track rose to popularity, overcame several obstacles and became a community staple for 70 years.

From 1946-2016, the Columbus Motor Speedway, the tough one-third-mile track led primarily by the Nuckles family, presented numerous motorsport events ranging from motorcycles to coupes and, finally, to stock cars. Author and and racing historian Mike Garrepy takes you through the track's triumph and tragedy, rule changes and escalating costs, while showing how the track and weekly ranchers survived and prospered. During its 70-year run, the track witnessed the transition from home built race cars to sleek custom-built cars constructed on jigs to exacting specifications, with a corresponding increase in speeds. To keep up with a changing fan base, other events were offered in addition to weekly stock car shows, such as school bus races and thrill shows. Nevertheless, the core focus remained on the grassroots racers who supported the track on a weekly basis.

Bristol Motor Speedway

9780738542461

$24.99

When Bristol's racetrack opened in 1961, tickets were often given away to fill the 18,000 seats. Over the years, Bristol Motor Speedway has grown to 160,000 seats and legendary status among race fans. There is a fascination with the unforgettable moments that take place at the track, including rivalries that are hard to miss when you can watch all the action around the half-mile track no matter where you are seated.

Spokane Hot Rodding

9781467133005

$24.99

Spokane, located just 20 miles from the Idaho border, is the largest city in Eastern Washington, and during the 1940s, it became a center point of an evolving postwar hot rod community. Auto sports were expanding at this time from stock car and midget racing to street cars and drag racing. Local car enthusiasts joined together with an influx of military personnel and college students who were just as passionate for hot rodding, and it was during this time that the Spokane hot rodding culture started flourishing. Together, they pushed the boundaries of hot rodding and created lifelong bonds in the process. This book explores that evolution of inland northwest hot rodding from the mid-1940s to the mid-1960s, starting with the jalopy-styled hot rods that began popping up on local streets to the formation of new clubs and organized racing.

Kingsport Speedway

9781467114653

$24.99

Kingsport Speedway has hosted many of racing's greatest drivers, whether its track surface was asphalt, red clay, or brushed concrete. The short track, located in East Tennessee, has undergone dramatic changes since 1965 in attempts to keep pace with an ever-evolving motorsports landscape while entertaining three generations of fans. Hall of Fame members have raced and won at Kingsport Speedway, as did a contingent of regional stars. Today, Kingsport Speedway features weekly programs of NASCAR's Whelen All-American Series, which crowns track, state, regional, and national champions.

The Historic Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix

9780738585178

$24.99

Phoenix's Manzanita Speedway, the last of the big dirt tracks located near the central corridor of a major metropolitan area, is now gone. The track opened in the early 1950s when Jack Holloway, president of the Arizona Jalopy Racing Association, along with Avery Doyle and Gene Gunn, set about convincing Rudy Everett and Larry Meskimen to convert their unprofitable dog-racing operation into a quarter-mile dirt track. On August 25, 1951, Everett and Meskimen beamed with excitement as Manzy opened to an overflowing crowd. They had tapped into America's post-World War II craze for automobiles and found their own Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in the process. Manzanita Speedway dominated dirt-track racing in Phoenix and was heralded as one of the top five dirt tracks in the United States. Manzy became an integral part of the racing culture in Phoenix, and its sale and closure in 2009 created a sense of lingering disappointment.

The Historic Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix

Watkins Glen Racing

9780738556666

$24.99

The war was won, the Depression was over, and Americans were back on the road. From all across the nation, sports car drivers converged on Watkins Glen to race through the gorges, hills, and village streets of western New York. Over the years, the course has evolved from its humble beginnings on streets lined with hay bales to the modern closed track that plays host to NASCAR today. Through vintage photographs, primarily from the International Motor Racing Research Center at Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen Racing chronicles the history of the track with early drivers, like Cameron Argetsinger, Phil Walters, and Dave Garroway, vintage cars, hairpin turns, and death-defying races.

Virginia International Raceway

9780738515168

$24.99

From the August 1957 VIR race program: "The rolling Virginia hills have been painstakingly clad with an ultra-smooth skin of macadam to provide a course of great natural beauty. The superb spectator visibility is nicely equated to a road layout that will test the best in racing machines and men." In the late 1950s, a group of sports car enthusiasts dreamed of creating a first-class racing facility. The result was Virginia International Raceway, a challenging 3.2-mile course with 12 turns, 2 straightaways, and over 100 feet of elevation change. Located in southern Virginia, east of Danville and just across the North Carolina border, the track opened in 1957. During VIR's first 18 years of existence, races featured some of the top names in American motorsports including Carroll Shelby, Roger Penske, Walt Hansgen, and Richard Petty. The track also hosted numerous important events including SCCA Nationals, the President's Cup, a Trans-Am race in the first season of that circuit, as well as IMSA races in the early 1970s. Facing financial difficulties, the track shut down in 1974, and for the next 25 years VIR was a cow pasture. It was reopened in 2000 and the outstanding new facility is again one of the top racing venues in the country.

Hydroplane Racing in Seattle

9780738531182

$24.99

Hydroplane racing burst onto the Seattle scene in 1950, and local sports fans embraced it with a passion that is hard to imagine. Throughout the early 1950s, thousands of fans flocked to Lake Washington to watch classic races between Seattle's Slo-mo-shun boats and a fleet of East Coast challengers. For over 40 years, hydroplane racing was synonymous with summertime in Seattle. During its golden age, when "hydro fever" was at its height, drivers like Bill Muncey, Ron Musson, and Mira Slovak were sports heroes on par with today's Ken Griffey Jr. or Ichiro. Seattle became the "hydro" capital of the nation.

Charlotte Motor Speedway History:

9781626190184

$21.99

Engines roared at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first time in 1960, and the track has been home to some of NASCAR's greatest races and most honored drivers ever since. Despite early challenges, Bruton Smith and Humpy Wheeler took charge in 1975, and together sculpted one of the most famous race tracks in America as host of the Coca-Cola 600 and the Sprint All-Star Race. In 1992, the track became the first modern speedway to host night racing and thousands of race fans watched their favorite drivers swap paint under the North Carolina night sky. Get in the groove with racing journalist Deb Williams as she traces the history of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, with plenty of pit-stops along the way.

Tales of Bristol Motor Speedway

9781609491451

$21.99

It is known as the "World's Fastest Half-Mile."? For fifty years and counting, Bristol Motor Speedway has been home to some of the most exciting moments in NASCAR, and the track's history is nearly as exciting as the legendary races it has held. From humble beginnings, Bristol Motor Speedway grew to become one of the largest sporting coliseums in the world, with seating for 160, 000. Join author and veteran speedway insider David McGee as he goes behind the scenes to offer a collection of stories that will surprise even the most dedicated fans. Packed with never-before-published photos from the entire history of the track, Tales of Bristol Motor Speedway is a book no racing fan should be without.

Portland Speedway

9781467131469

$24.99

Portland Speedway, also known as Union Avenue Speedway, opened in the summer of 1936 and enjoyed a 66-year run as the leading oval track in Portland. Originally built as a dirt track on a farmer's field in the far north of the city, the track was known for track roadsters based on Ford's Model T, sprint cars, and stock cars. As returning servicemen discovered a love for racing, the track exploded in popularity after World War II. The track was paved in 1946 and flourished as a center for racing; it even included a drive-in movie theater. Many notable racers, such as Len Sutton, Rolla Vollstedt, Greg Biffle, and Mike Bliss, either started their careers at or visited Portland Speedway. But the real story of Portland Speedway is told in the hundreds of people who made a living or simply enjoyed the racing life while competing at the Pacific Northwest's finest track.

Cover image for Portland Speedway, isbn: 9781467131469

Bowling Green Stock Car Racing

9780738585833

$24.99

Bowling Green became the city of speed immediately after World War II as America began its love affair with the automobile. Stock car racing took the city by storm in its inaugural season of 1951, drawing crowds of up to 7,000 in a city of only 18,000. Soon thereafter, the city attracted the Chevrolet Corvette assembly plant followed by the National Corvette Museum. Images of Sports: Bowling Green Stock Car Racing documents the history of stock car racing in Bowling Green and the emergence of the raceway at Beech Bend Park.

Hot Rodding in Santa Barbara County

9781467132183

$24.99

California's central coast was fertile ground for hot rodding, and all motor sports in general, during the 1940s and 1950s. Hot Rodding in Santa Barbara County takes the reader back in time with a collection of remarkable photographs from the earliest days of the hot rod movement. This book includes images of the first drag strips in the country, rough-and-tumble jalopy racing, early road-racing action, and lots of great hot rods and customs. Follow local hot-rodders as they take trips to El Mirage dry lake and the world-famous salt flats at Bonneville, Utah, and visit a long-lost world as seen through photographs taken from the personal albums of people who contributed to the birth of a culture that would spread across the nation.

Delaware Auto Racing

9780738592077

$24.99

The First State of Delaware has a truly legendary history of automobile racing.

Since the first racers roared down the dusty Delaware State Fairgrounds track in 1915 at Wawaset Park, Wilmington, Delaware, auto racing has thrilled capacity crowds all over the state. Images of Sports: Delaware Auto Racing documents and explores the tracks, cars, and people that made racing what it is today. The history of racing can be seen in historic photographs from the legendary dirt tracks, like Delmar and Georgetown Speedways, to the high banked turns of Delaware's NASCAR track--Dover Downs. Rare images have been collected from drivers, car owners, fans, and historians to provide an insightful look into auto racing in Delaware. Many of the historic photographs have never been published.

Kentucky Speedway

9781467111959

$24.99

The history of Kentucky Speedway is as colorful as the flags waved from its flag stand and the cars that dart around its 1.5-mile track. The path to its position on NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series schedule included more twists and turns than the roads leading to Sparta, Kentucky. Ultimately, it took Speedway Motorsports Inc. buying the track from its founders in 2008 for developer Jerry Carroll's vision to be realized 3 years later when the venue hosted its inaugural Quaker State 400. It is all part of the history of a speedway that brought a major-league sport to the Bluegrass State.