Canton Speedway was a dirt oval raceway located near the
Canada–United States border
The international border between Canada and the United States is the longest in the world by total length. The boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Canada' ...
in the
Northern Region of New York State.
Overview
Although the St. Lawrence County Fair had relocated decades before, property owner Dennis Woods continued to organize horse racing and other community events at the former Canton New York Fairgrounds. In early 1950, brothers-in-law Roy Mussaw and Austin Todd leased the property from Woods, and the first stock car race at the St. Lawrence Valley Speedway was held that fall. In 1953 Mussaw signed a solo lease for the property, and began operating it under the name of Canton Speedway, Inc.
As St. Lawrence Valley Speedway, the track was where journeyman
NASCAR Cup Series
The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the most prestigious stock car racing series in the United States.
The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, ...
driver
Dick May
Richard Shelton "Dick" May (November 7, 1930June 9, 2009) was an American NASCAR driver who competed in 185 races in the NASCAR Grand National/Winston Cup Series between 1967 and 1985.
Racing career
May began his racing career at the St. Lawre ...
drove his first race in 1950. The venue was also where 1960 and 1961
NASCAR Sportsman Division
NASCAR's Sportsman Division was formed in 1950, one year after the Strictly Stock (now NASCAR Cup Series) was launched and two years after NASCAR’s formation. It gave NASCAR three major series, along with the original Modifieds. It was replac ...
national champion
Bill Wimble
William (Bill) Wimble (January 11, 1932 – April 24, 2016) was an American stock car racing driver and two-time champion of the NASCAR Sportsman Division (predecessor of currently Xfinity Series).
Racing career
Bill Wimble began his racing ca ...
began his racing career in 1951 by finishing last.
Competition with the
Watertown Speedway
Watertown Speedway was a 1/2 mile dirt oval raceway located at the Jefferson County fairgrounds in Watertown, New York.
History
Auto racing was first presented at the former horse track located on Coffeen St in 1936 and again in 1940, when ...
, 60 miles to the southwest of the facility, and
Fort Covington International Speedway
Fort Covington International Speedway was a dirt oval raceway located just 1.5 miles from the Canada–United States border with New York State and 3.5 miles from the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne territory.
Overview
In spring of 1953, R. S. Lomber ...
, just 50 miles to the northeast, discouraged Mussaw from renewing the lease for 1958 and the grounds returned to harness racing.
The oval was used to exercise horses until 1966, when it was replaced with a residential project.
References
{{reflist
External links
St. Lawrence Valley Speedway
Motorsport venues in New York (state)
Sports venues in St. Lawrence County, New York
1950 establishments in New York (state)
Defunct horse racing venues in New York (state)
Sports venues completed in 1852