Birch Run Speedway and Event Center, until 2017 known as Dixie Motor Speedway, is a 4/10 (.400) mile, progressively banked, D-shaped oval short track, with an adjoining 1/3 (.333) mile as well as a Figure 8 course located near

Birch Run, Michigan Birch Run is a village in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,553 at the 2010 census. The village is located within Birch Run Township. Birch Run was the home of the Great Lakes Storm, a defunct member of the Con ...

. The speedway changed its name from Dixie Speedway to Birch Run Speedway in 2017.

Track history

Birch Run Speedway opened in 1948 as a 1/3 mile dirt oval. The track spent its opening decade plus as a dirt track before being paved in the early-1960s. The track experienced consistent growth over the decades, under the ownership of the Doering and Scrivo families, with a Figure 8 course being built through the in-field pit area, moving that area to outside of the 1/3 mile oval. The Kern family took ownership in 1996 and the Speedway then saw its greatest period of growth. A luxury VIP box was built at the top of the main grandstands, new bathrooms were installed, brand new stadium quality lights were installed to replace to outdated system previously there, a new tech barn was built in the pits and the most noticeable addition was the building of a progressively banked 4/10s mile oval. At the conclusion of the 2008 season, the Kern family announced their intentions to retire as track operators, handing over the reins of the facility to Checkered Flag Promotions. In 2017 the track was purchased by local car dealer Andy Suski and renamed the Birch Run Speedway & Event Center. Though the facility name has been changed the big ovals in the middle are still called the Dixie.

Notable alumni

Benny Parsons Benjamin Stewart Parsons (July 12, 1941 – January 16, 2007) was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst/pit reporter on SETN, TBS, ABC, ESPN, NBC, and TNT. He became famous as the 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, a ...

– 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion
Cy Fairchild – Michigan Motorsports Hall of Fame driver

Parnelli Jones Rufus Parnell Jones (born August 12, 1933) is an American former professional racing driver and racing team owner. He is notable for his accomplishments while competing in the Indianapolis 500 and the Baja 1000 desert race. In 1962, he became t ...

– 1963 Indianapolis 500 Champion

Junior Hanley Edward "Junior" Hanley (born September 9, 1944) is a Canadian stock car driver and race car builder. Born in Nova Scotia Canada, he migrated to Ontario in the early-1970s at the suggestion of his Friend/Rival Don Biederman He has built race cars f ...

– Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame driver
Ed Howe – Founder of Howe Racing Enterprises

Mike Eddy Michael Eddy (born July 17, 1952 in Midland, Michigan) is a stock car auto racer. He is most notable for racing in the now defunct American Speed Association (ASA). He was a seven time ASA National Champion, which is the most in ASA history ...

– Seven-time

American Speed Association The American Speed Association (ASA) is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana, and later in Daytona Beach, Florida. The ASA sanctioned asphalt and dirt tracks in t ...

Champion

Brad Keselowski Bradley Aaron Keselowski (; born February 12, 1984) is an American professional stock car racing driver, team owner, and entrepreneur. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 6 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing, a team he also ...

– 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion
Joy Fair – Hall of Fame driver and Midwest legend

Erik Jones Erik Benjamin Jones (born May 30, 1996) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Petty GMS. His nicknames are EJ, his initials, and That J ...

- 2015 NASCAR Truck Series Champion and 2016 Xfinity Rookie of the Year. Also 2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup series Rookieof the Year.

Current operations

The Birch Run Speedway currently races Friday night from late-April through September, with Eve of Destruction events usually coinciding with the summer holidays. The regular Friday night divisions include Modifieds on the 4/10s mile oval. The American Truck Series and Pure Stocks on the 1/3 mile. Special events include the Big One with the Outlaw Super Late Models, the I-75 Modified Challenge for the Mods, The Shootout at the Dixie for the ARCA/CRA Super Series, the CRA All-Star Tour, and the CRA Jr. Late Model Divisions, and the Dixie Classic for the Outlaw Super Late Models.

References

* http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/MI/DixieMS.html * http://www.waterwinterwonderland.com/speed.asp?id=1648&type=9

External links

Birch Run Speedway official siteBirch Run Speedway page
at Water Winter Wonderland. {{DEFAULTSORT:Dixie Motor Speedway Motorsport venues in Michigan Tourist attractions in Saginaw County, Michigan Buildings and structures in Saginaw County, Michigan Sports venues completed in 1948