Angell Park Speedway

Angell Park Speedway has a 1/3 mile (0.54 km) dirt racetrack located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The track has been run by the city's fire department since 1903.[1] Racing occurs every Sunday approximately Memorial Day until Labor Day. Special racing events and the weather may alter the schedule. The races were sanctioned by the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA), the oldest midget organization in the world.[1] Some events are co-sanctioned by the United States Automobile Club (USAC). BMARA sanctions several midget car events at other nearby tracks. The World of Outlaws held their first sprint car races at the track in August 2016.[2]

National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame building in turn 1

Angell Park Speedway
Midget car racing in 2010
LocationSun Prairie, Wisconsin
Time zoneUTC-6
Coordinates43°10′40″N 89°12′40″W
Opened1936
Major eventsUSAC Midgets
IRA Sprint Cars
Websitewww.angellpark.net
Oval
SurfaceDirt
Length1/3 miles (.54 km)
Turns4
Race lap record14.316 (Bryan Clauson, , 2015, USAC Midget)
Welcome sign

In addition to the racetrack, the facility features the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame, a pavilion, and the Sun Prairie Firemans Park in the Prairie. The park was built by the Sun Prairie community on September 18, 2007, and was dedicated on October 7, 2007. The project was led by Sun Prairie residents Rebecca Ketelson and Anita Holcomb. Leather's and Associates was the project architect.

History

The part was donated by Col. William Angell to the Sun Prairie Fire Department in 1903.[3] The track is nationally known for its midget car races, which began racing in 1936. As of the 2008 season, it is the only track in the United States to host weekly midget car races.[1] The track was closed between 1942 and 1945, since all racing in the United States was halted during World War II.

The Badger Midget Auto Racing Association (BMARA) began sanction at the track in 1946 when racing resumed after World War II.[3] Night racing at Angell Park began in 1948.[3] With the lights installed, Kelly Peters of Lake Forest, IL set fast time, won his heat and captured the first feature race run under the lights. From that point forward, weekly Sunday night racing has been held at the facility[3] except for a few shortened seasons for minor contract disputes in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The track began hosting its first non-midget car races in 2007 when an occasional touring event was added to its program and by 2010 every race evening featured a class from another track or a touring series. The Angell Park Speedway board and the sanctioning body BMARA had a fall out before the 2010 season.[4] The track ran its own sanction during May 2010. At the end of the month weekly track operation halted for the 2010 season except for special events (two USAC midget weekends and the Fireman's Nationals).[4] The track returned to occasional events in 2011 including BMARA sanction.[5]

The track was closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] In January 2021, Hans Lein and SLS Promotions were announced as promoters of the track.[3] In February 2021, Gregg McKarns was announced as the new promoter of the track instead.[6] McKarns also promotes Madison International Speedway and the ARCA Midwest Tour.[6] Angell Park hosted its first USAC Midget race at the track since 2015 and 47th overall.[7] Tanner Thorson won his seventh race of the season.[8]

Notable racers

Some midget car drivers come from New Zealand and Australia during their country's winter to race during the United States' summer between May and September.[1] The 2008 season featured Michael Pickens from Auckland, New Zealand (who stayed at one of the other driver's house) and Matt Smith from Newcastle, Australia.[1]

Several notable racers raced at the track in its regular weekly series:

Fireman Nationals

The track's most notable event is its 50 lap Fireman Nationals midget car event.


Reference (1982-2020):[8]

Angell Park Speedway, 2012
Angell Park Speedway, 2012

References
  1. Cisar, Katjusa (July 17, 2008). "Off to the races: Checking out the tracks and speed demons who play there". Capital Times. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  2. "Outlaws to Visit Angell Park Speedway". Motor Racing Network. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  3. "SLS & Hans Lein Take The Reins At Angell Park". Speed Sport. January 29, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  4. "New Direction for Race Management of Angell Park Speedway". Angell Park Speedway. April 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  5. "2011 Printable Schedule". www.bmara.com. 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  6. "McKarns' New Promoters at Angell Park Speedway". Oval Track News. February 22, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  7. "THE GUIDE: ALL EYES ON ANGELL PARK FOR USAC MIDGET RETURN ON SUNDAY - USAC Racing". USAC Racing. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  8. "Pepsi Nationals". USAC Midgets. September 5, 2021. Event occurs at 20:55. FloRacing.
  9. "Track Records". angellpark.com. March 17, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2007.
  10. ""Pepsi Nationals" Postponed by Rain". USAC. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
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