Merrittville Speedway is a 3/8 mile
dirt
Dirt is any matter considered unclean, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty.
Common types of dirt include:
* Debris: scattered pieces of waste or remains
* Du ...
short track motor racing
Oval track racing is a form of motorsport that is contested on an oval-shaped race track. An oval track differs from a Road racing, road course in that the layout resembles an oval with turns in only one direction, and the direction of traffic i ...
oval, located 20 minutes west of
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York (s ...
, in
Thorold
Thorold is a city in Ontario, Canada, located on the Niagara Escarpment. It is also the seat of the Regional Municipality of Niagara. The Welland Canal passes through the city, featuring lock 7 and the Twin Flight Locks.
History
The first surv ...
,
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. The track hosts a weekly Saturday night program that runs from April to September each year and features
stock car
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing run on oval tracks and road courses. It originally used production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifically built for racing. It originated in the southe ...
,
sprint car
Sprint cars are open-wheel race cars, designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval, circular dirt or paved tracks. Historically known simply as "big cars," distinguishing them from "midget cars," sprint car racing is popular primar ...
and
modified races.
History
The speedway is known as the oldest operating race track in Canada as it has been in continuous operation since it opened on July 1, 1952.
New ownership took over the track in 2017 and it celebrated its seventieth anniversary in 2021.
Speedway classes
The tracks weekly racing program features six classes of racing:
*
358 Modifieds
* Sportsman
*
Stocks
Stocks are feet and hand restraining devices that were used as a form of corporal punishment and public humiliation. The use of stocks is seen as early as Ancient Greece, where they are described as being in use in Solon's law code. The law de ...
*
4 Cylinders
* Modified Lites
The track has also regularly featured touring series including the
Super DIRTcar Series
The Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds is a North American modified racing, big block modified touring series currently promoted by World Racing Group. The series primarily races on dirt track racing, dirt ovals in the Northeastern United S ...
,
World of Outlaws Late Model Series
The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series is a late model, Dirt Super Late Model touring series currently owned and sanctioned by the World Racing Group. The series competes on dirt track racing, dirt ovals across the United Stat ...
,
UMP Modifieds, DIRTcar Sportsman Series, Action Sprint Tour, Southern Ontario Sprints, Empire Super Sprints and the Patriot Sprint Tour.
The track also hosts a weekly
karting
Kart racing or karting is a motorsport discipline using open-wheel, four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits, although some professional kart races are also held on full-size motor ...
series on Tuesday nights.
See also
*
List of dirt track ovals in Canada
*
Humberstone Speedway
Humberstone Speedway was a 3/8 mile dirt oval raceway located in Port Colborne, Ontario. Races were held on Sunday nights, and regular events include Mini Stocks, 4-Cylinder Trucks, Street Stocks, RUSH Late Models, and DIRT Sportsman races.
Clo ...
*
Ohsweken Speedway
The Ohsweken Speedway is a dirt track in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. Ohsweken’s weekly Friday night racing program runs from May to September each year, featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Crate Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, and Mini Sto ...
References
External links
Merrittville Speedway Official Site
{{World of Outlaws Late Model Series race venues
Motorsport venues in Ontario
Dirt oval racing venues in Canada
Motorsport in Canada
1952 establishments in Ontario
Thorold
Tourist attractions in the Regional Municipality of Niagara