The Riverside International Speedway is an automobile racing facility at 151 Legion Road in
West Memphis, Arkansas
West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 26,245 at the 2010 census, ranking it as the state's 18th largest city, behind Bella Vista. It is part of the Memphis metropolitan area, and is ...
. Its facilities consist of a
Gumbo clay oval
with banked corners, bleacher seating on both straightaways. Amenities include a concession stand. The track was built in 1950 and opened June 10 of that year at an estimated cost of $150,000 by C L Montgomery, originally to showcase
midget car racing
Midget cars, also speedcars in Australia, is a class of racing cars. The cars are very small with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four cylinder engines. They originated in the United States in the 1930s and are raced on mos ...
. It has held a
World of Outlaws
The World of Outlaws (often abbreviated WoO) is an American motorsports sanctioning body. The body sanctions two major national touring series. It is best known for sanctioning the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Late ...
race.
The track is nicknamed "The Ditch".
History
The track was built in 1950 as a venue for
midget car racing
Midget cars, also speedcars in Australia, is a class of racing cars. The cars are very small with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four cylinder engines. They originated in the United States in the 1930s and are raced on mos ...
which was popular at the time.
Four area tracks were scheduled for weekly racing from Thursday to Sunday nights and Riverside was designed as the Saturday night option.
The first night on June 10 had 45 midget cars entered but it rained out being rescheduled for June 17.
On Thursday June 15, 1950 the first race was actually held as a
stock car event.
The stock cars were gaining popularity in the Mid-South and the midget cars were quickly discontinued.
Joie Chitwood
George Rice Chitwood (April 14, 1912 – January 3, 1988), nicknamed "Joie", was an American racecar driver and businessman. He is best known as a daredevil in the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show.
Background
Chitwood was born in Denison, Texas; he was ...
brought his "Thrill Show" to the track on October 1, 1950.
Notable drivers
Several World of Outlaws regular drivers who began racing at the track include
Sammy Swindell
Samuel Alan "Slammin Sammy" Swindell (born October 26, 1955) is an American sprint car driver. He is a three-time champion and four-time runner-up in the World of Outlaws series; he has also competed in NASCAR and Champ Car competition and attempt ...
, Bobby Davis Jr., and Jason Sides.
Historical place
Riverside is the oldest surviving dirt track in the
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
area, and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
Riverside is the oldest continuously operating track in Arkansas.
It is noted for its high concentration of clay in the gumbo soil (almost 37% clay compared to more typically 22%-27%).
Contributing properties include the race track, flagstand, original 1950 ticket booth (now an office), concession stand,
cotton candy
Cotton candy, also known as fairy floss and candy floss, is a spun sugar confection that resembles cotton. It usually contains small amounts of flavoring or food coloring.
It is made by heating and liquefying sugar, and spinning it centrifu ...
concession stand, and concession stand / bathroom.
The facility also contains the west grandstands that were brought to the facility from
Memphis-Arkansas Speedway
The Memphis-Arkansas Speedway was a dirt oval track located just west of West Memphis, Arkansas, United States, in the community of Lehi.
This speedway had a total distance spanning . Its elevation is 200 feet above sea level and all races used ...
in 2007-2008 and reconstructed.
Its eastern grandstands have aluminum seating.
The current wood ticket booth was built in 2008.
See also
*
References
External links
Riverside International Speedway web site
{{National Register of Historic Places
Sports venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas
Buildings and structures completed in 1950
Buildings and structures in West Memphis, Arkansas
Dirt oval race tracks in the United States
Motorsport venues in Arkansas
National Register of Historic Places in Crittenden County, Arkansas
Tourist attractions in Crittenden County, Arkansas
Culture of West Memphis, Arkansas