Eagle Raceway
Encyclopedia
Eagle Raceway is a one-third mile dirt track
located two miles (3 km) east of Eagle, Nebraska
on U.S. Highway 34 in Cass County, Nebraska
, often referred to by some as the "World's Fastest Third Mile" because of its speed. The track is located approximately fifteen miles east of Lincoln, Nebraska
.
As of 2006, the World of Outlaws
Sprint Series races at the track once a year, in June.
A regular weekly show at the track (Saturday nights from April to September) generally consists of winged sprint cars
and IMCA Modifieds in 2006, IMCA-Sanctioned Hobby Stocks and 4-Cylinder Sport Compacts were added to the weekly program.
Kropp and Halvorsen promoted primarily open wheel racing events throughout the 1960s and 1970s, ending their promotion of racing after an abbreviated 1976 season in which the only death at the speedway occurred after Jim Golden flipped in turn one after releasing his seatbelts shortly after winning his preliminary heat race.
The track remained dormant until 1978 when Paul Saenz leased the track from Halvorsen and raced Late Model Stock Cars weekly.
In 1984, the track was purchased by John Beecham, his wife Laura and John's brother Marty. Interestingly, Laura Beecham is the sister of Jim Golden, the only driver to die in competition at the track. The World of Outlaws
were brought to the track for a June show, a relationship that continues to this day.
The Beechams began a major renovation project, razing the decaying original scorer's tower and concession stands and constructing a new, two level concession stand and scorer's / VIP
area. The old seats were replaced with seating for approximately 5000 fans. The race program consisted of a Friday night winged sprint cars
program and a Saturday night NASCAR
-sanctioned weekly stock car program. For the 1985 season, the days of the stock car and sprint car program were reversed and IMCA Modifieds were added to the Sprint Car show on Saturdays.
The 1987 season saw the introduction of the USAC Midget Series in the Midsummer Midget Classic, which brought future NASCAR
Sprint Cup stars to the track. Winners of the annual race include Jeff Gordon
(1990) and Tony Stewart
(1994).
In 1997, the Beecham Family sold the track to Craig Cormack and racing partner Dean Orth operating as Eagle Entertainment, LLC. Cormack took full control of the racetrack in 1999 and continued the weekly program with stock cars on Friday and Sprint Cars & Modifieds on Saturday. As part of the new ownership, the wooden bleachers were replaced with concrete and aluminum stadium seating, with an additional two sections of seats were added in 2000 including a 40 feet (12 m) high section of aluminum grandstand and a smaller section of 750-seat wood bleachers, increasing the seating capacity
to 7500.
The track focused on the entertainment model put forth by such groups as World Wrestling Entertainment
, emphasizing activity in the stands as well as the track, and a 100,000-watt sound system was added in 1997. Notable was the inclusion of track announcer Rick Schwieger, who joined Speed Channel
as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series play-by-play announcer and adopted the broadcast name Rick Allen.
In 2001, blaming poor attendance and participation by race teams, Cormack ended the Friday night stock car program.
After the 2005 season, again citing poor attendance, increased criticism on Internet Forums and lack of profit during his ownership, Cormack closed the racetrack and put it up for sale. Former Late Model driver Roger Hadan entered a lease agreement with Cormack to operate the racetrack in 2006, and continued the relationship through 2007. Hadan added IMCA
Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts to the Saturday Night program. Hadan also gained notoriety for promotion of Schoolbus Races and other novelty acts for fans. In 2007 he added a JumboTron
.
40.8104637°N 96.3908673°W
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
located two miles (3 km) east of Eagle, Nebraska
Eagle, Nebraska
Eagle is a village in Cass County, Nebraska, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 1,105.-Geography:Eagle is located at ....
on U.S. Highway 34 in Cass County, Nebraska
Cass County, Nebraska
-Other Geographical notes:Due to its proximity to Cass County, Iowa, and because both of those counties receive most of their broadcasts from Omaha, Nebraska, references to 'Cass County' must be frequently disambiguated, or result in confusion.-Demographics:...
, often referred to by some as the "World's Fastest Third Mile" because of its speed. The track is located approximately fifteen miles east of Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
.
As of 2006, the World of Outlaws
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. It later purchased a national tour of late model stockcars called the World of Outlaws Late Model Series...
Sprint Series races at the track once a year, in June.
A regular weekly show at the track (Saturday nights from April to September) generally consists of winged sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
and IMCA Modifieds in 2006, IMCA-Sanctioned Hobby Stocks and 4-Cylinder Sport Compacts were added to the weekly program.
Track History
In 1963, Eagle, Nebraska, residents Dale Halvorsen and Harvey Kropp constructed the racetrack out of farm ground owned by Halvorsen. Kropp served as promoter of the races. The unique terrain allowed for a high-banked bowl-shaped racetrack to be carved out of surrounding hills. The hills provided an easy location for above-track grandstands.Kropp and Halvorsen promoted primarily open wheel racing events throughout the 1960s and 1970s, ending their promotion of racing after an abbreviated 1976 season in which the only death at the speedway occurred after Jim Golden flipped in turn one after releasing his seatbelts shortly after winning his preliminary heat race.
The track remained dormant until 1978 when Paul Saenz leased the track from Halvorsen and raced Late Model Stock Cars weekly.
In 1984, the track was purchased by John Beecham, his wife Laura and John's brother Marty. Interestingly, Laura Beecham is the sister of Jim Golden, the only driver to die in competition at the track. The World of Outlaws
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning a national tour of sprint cars. It later purchased a national tour of late model stockcars called the World of Outlaws Late Model Series...
were brought to the track for a June show, a relationship that continues to this day.
The Beechams began a major renovation project, razing the decaying original scorer's tower and concession stands and constructing a new, two level concession stand and scorer's / VIP
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
area. The old seats were replaced with seating for approximately 5000 fans. The race program consisted of a Friday night winged sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
program and a Saturday night NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
-sanctioned weekly stock car program. For the 1985 season, the days of the stock car and sprint car program were reversed and IMCA Modifieds were added to the Sprint Car show on Saturdays.
The 1987 season saw the introduction of the USAC Midget Series in the Midsummer Midget Classic, which brought future NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup stars to the track. Winners of the annual race include Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon
Jeffery Michael "Jeff" Gordon is a professional NASCAR driver. He is the driver of the #24 Drive to End Hunger/DuPont/Pepsi Chevrolet Impala. He is a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list, with 85 career wins, and has the...
(1990) and Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
(1994).
In 1997, the Beecham Family sold the track to Craig Cormack and racing partner Dean Orth operating as Eagle Entertainment, LLC. Cormack took full control of the racetrack in 1999 and continued the weekly program with stock cars on Friday and Sprint Cars & Modifieds on Saturday. As part of the new ownership, the wooden bleachers were replaced with concrete and aluminum stadium seating, with an additional two sections of seats were added in 2000 including a 40 feet (12 m) high section of aluminum grandstand and a smaller section of 750-seat wood bleachers, increasing the seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
to 7500.
The track focused on the entertainment model put forth by such groups as World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, emphasizing activity in the stands as well as the track, and a 100,000-watt sound system was added in 1997. Notable was the inclusion of track announcer Rick Schwieger, who joined Speed Channel
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series play-by-play announcer and adopted the broadcast name Rick Allen.
In 2001, blaming poor attendance and participation by race teams, Cormack ended the Friday night stock car program.
After the 2005 season, again citing poor attendance, increased criticism on Internet Forums and lack of profit during his ownership, Cormack closed the racetrack and put it up for sale. Former Late Model driver Roger Hadan entered a lease agreement with Cormack to operate the racetrack in 2006, and continued the relationship through 2007. Hadan added IMCA
IMCA
IMCA may refer to:* International Marine Contractors Association, a trade association for offshore, marine and underwater engineering companies* International Motor Contest Association, a United States racing sanctioning body...
Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts to the Saturday Night program. Hadan also gained notoriety for promotion of Schoolbus Races and other novelty acts for fans. In 2007 he added a JumboTron
Jumbotron
A JumboTron is a large-screen television using technology developed by Sony, typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close-up shots of the event. Although JumboTron is a registered trademark owned by the Sony Corporation, the word jumbotron is often used by the public as a...
.
External links
40.8104637°N 96.3908673°W