Winchester Speedway
Encyclopedia
Winchester Speedway is a half-mile paved oval motor racetrack in White River Township, Randolph County
, just outside Winchester, Indiana
, approximately 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Indianapolis
. It seats 4000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile".
The track's 37 degree banking is one of the steepest in motorsports. Some of the most famous racers in the world have raced at Winchester including Ryan Newman
and Sarah Fisher
.
The track's signature event is the annual running of the "Winchester 400
." Former winners during the first 36 editions include: Bob Senneker (7 wins), Mike Cope
(3), Mike Eddy
(2), Mark Martin
(2), Gary St. Amant (2), Butch Miller
, Rusty Wallace
, Ted Musgrave
, Glenn Allen Jr., Tim Steele, Scot Walters
, and Hank Parker Jr.
The 2008 running of the "400" will be held Sunday, October 12, under the banner of the Champion Racing Association
Super Series is scheduled to include NASCAR
stars Kyle Busch
and David Stremme
.
Two of its races are held in memory of fallen drivers who won at the circuit: The Rich Vogler
Classic, and the Kenny Irwin Memorial.
It is a stop on the ARCA tour. The track has hosted numerous USAC
midget
, sprint
and USAC Silver Crown
events that were televised on ESPN
since the 1980s.
White River Township, Randolph County, Indiana
White River Township is one of eleven townships in Randolph County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 7,661.-External links:* *...
, just outside Winchester, Indiana
Winchester, Indiana
Winchester is a city in White River Township, Randolph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,935 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Randolph County...
, approximately 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. It seats 4000 spectators. It is also known as the "World's Fastest 1/2 mile".
The track's 37 degree banking is one of the steepest in motorsports. Some of the most famous racers in the world have raced at Winchester including Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman
Ryan Joseph Newman is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He drives the #39 United States Army/Tornados/Haas Automation Chevrolet Impala for Stewart Haas Racing under crew chief Tony Gibson. Newman graduated from Purdue University in 2001 with a B.S. in vehicle structure engineering...
and Sarah Fisher
Sarah Fisher
Sarah Marie Fisher is a retired American professional racecar driver who competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500...
.
The track's signature event is the annual running of the "Winchester 400
Winchester 400
The Winchester 400 is a 400-lap short-track stock car race held each fall at the Winchester Speedway, approximately east of Indianapolis, Indiana. Held annually since 1970, the race has served as a launching point for the careers of several young drivers including former winners Rusty Wallace and...
." Former winners during the first 36 editions include: Bob Senneker (7 wins), Mike Cope
Mike Cope
Mike Cope , is a retired NASCAR driver. He became famous during the mid-1990s one of the best drivers in the Slim Jim All-Pro Series. In the late-90s he started a five year tour in the high levels of NASCAR...
(3), Mike Eddy
Mike Eddy
Mike Eddy is a stock car auto racer. He is most notable for racing in the now defunct American Speed Association . He was a seven time ASA National Champion, which is the most in ASA history. During his run in ASA Eddy drove the number 88 car.-ASA:Eddy won his 7 championships in 1974, 1976,...
(2), Mark Martin
Mark Martin
Mark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
(2), Gary St. Amant (2), Butch Miller
Butch Miller (racing driver)
Butch Miller is a racecar driver. He drives the #07 Toyota Tundra part time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on a limited basis, and is also a crew chief for SS-Green Light Racing. He is a multiple champion in the now-defunct American Speed Association stock car series...
, Rusty Wallace
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...
, Ted Musgrave
Ted Musgrave
Theodore Musgrave is an American race car driver.-Pre-NASCAR:Musgrave's father, Elmer, was a famous short-track racer in the Midwest who raced for over 25 years at Soldier Field, O'Hare, Waukegan, and Wilmot, Wisconsin before moving into asphalt late models in the American Speed Association and...
, Glenn Allen Jr., Tim Steele, Scot Walters
Scot Walters
Scot Walters is an American stock car racer from Cornelius, North Carolina. He competed in NASCAR from 1997 to 1999 in the Camping World Truck Series, as well as one Nationwide Series race in 1998.-NASCAR career:...
, and Hank Parker Jr.
Hank Parker Jr.
Hank Parker Jr. is a former NASCAR driver. Parker has run a total of 137 NASCAR Busch Series races, scoring 2 wins and 31 top tens in four full seasons, and finishing a best of 14th in the championship. He currently works as a fill-in driver for Carl Edwards on his Busch team...
The 2008 running of the "400" will be held Sunday, October 12, under the banner of the Champion Racing Association
Champion Racing Association
Champion Racing Association is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States founded in 1997 by Glenn Luckett and R. J. Scott. All CRA cars must use Hoosier Racing Tires.-Super Series:...
Super Series is scheduled to include 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...
stars Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Thomas Busch, is an American NASCAR driver and team owner. He currently drives the No. 18 Mars/Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the No. 18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the No...
and David Stremme
David Stremme
David Andrew Stremme is an American stock car driver. He is most notable as the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, winning the award while running a part time for several different teams. He currently drives the #30 Chevrolet Impala for Inception Motorsports.-Early life:Stremme was...
.
Two of its races are held in memory of fallen drivers who won at the circuit: The Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler
Rich Vogler was a champion sprint car and midget car driver. He was nicknamed "Rapid Rich". He competed in the Indianapolis 500 five times, his best finish was eighth in 1989.-Racing career:...
Classic, and the Kenny Irwin Memorial.
It is a stop on the ARCA tour. The track has hosted numerous USAC
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
midget
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
, sprint
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 USAC Silver Crown
United States Automobile Club
The United States Auto Club is one of the sanctioning bodies of auto racing in the United States. From 1956 to 1979, the USAC sanctioned the United States National Championship, and from 1956 to 1997 the organization sanctioned the Indianapolis 500...
events that were televised on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
since the 1980s.