Salem Speedway is a long paved oval racetrack in Washington Township, Washington County, near

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, approximately south of

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...

. The track has 33° degrees of banking in the corners. Major auto racing series that run at Salem are ARCA and USAC.

History

It opened in 1947; two drivers were killed on the first lap of the first race. The track received major storm damage in 1981 and it was not used until 1987. A thunderstorm had ripped the roof off the grandstands and fences were damaged. Don Gettelfinger Sr. bought the track in 1987 and he replaced the fence with concrete. The track closed in May 1995 when he declared bankruptcy. Owen and Beverly Thompson bought the track and reopened it in 1996 after adding a new building, redoing the grandstand seating to a new capacity of 6000 people, and renovating the pits. Thompson leased the track to Bill Kniesly starting in 2020. Former driver Nick Bohanon bought the racetrack in December 2022.

Appearance of Touring Series

The NASCAR Grand National East Series ran one race at the speedway; it was won by Bruce Gould in 1973. The

ASA National Tour 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 th ...

ran six races at the track, from 1998 through 2003 and the winners were Scott Hansen (twice), David Stremme, Tim Sauter,

Gary St. Amant Gary Wayne St. Amant (born October 19, 1962) is an American former stock car racing driver from Columbus, Ohio. While he competed in several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, his career is most notable for his success in the American Speed Asso ...

and Robbie Pyle. USAR ran seven races at the track between 2002 and 2008; winners include Brian Ross, Joel Kauffman,

Mikey Kile Mikey Kile (born February 6, 1983) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He is a veteran of the Pro Cup Series and the Automobile Racing Club of America. Personal life Kile was born in Westlake, Louisiana on February 6, 1983, and ...

Jeff Agnew Jeffrey Agnew (born August 17, 1965) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 27 for Hillman Racing in 2013. Racing career Agnew made his debut in r ...

. NASCAR Southeast Series ran two races at the facility between 1996 and 1997; the races were won by Steven Christian and Ron Young respectively. Salem Speedway has seen many great racers who are household names, such as Ruttman, Carter, Sweikert, O’Connor, Parnelli Jones, A. J. Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti, Vogler, Allison, Parsons, Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Busch, Kasey Kahne, Ken Schrader, Joey Logano, and the list goes on. In 2018,

Kody Swanson Kody Swanson (born March 3, 1988) is an American professional sprint car racing driver. He is a seven-time USAC USAC Silver Crown Series champion in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, plus a three-time Little 500 winner. Swanson is curr ...

broke the all-time USAC Silvercrown record with his 24th series win at Salem. As of 2019, the track has held more ARCA races than any other track (106th visit); it held races at the track since 1955. The ARCA qualifying record is 16.785 seconds/119.035 mph by Gary Bradberry in 1994.

Rich Vogler

On July 21, 1990, during the '' Joe James / Pat O'Connor Memorial'' sprint car event at the Salem Speedway, which was nationally broadcast on ESPN Thunder, sprint car driver Rich Vogler sustained fatal head injuries due to a crash in turn 4. Vogler, who was leading the event at the time and was about to take the white flag signaling one lap to go, hit head on with the turn 4 wall, violently throwing tires, Vogler's helmet, and other pieces of Vogler's car all over the track. The race was red flagged and would never restart. Vogler, now dead at the age of 39, was declared the winner posthumously because of USAC National Sprint Car Series rules on a red flag reverting to the previous completed lap. This was his 170th win. Finishing first among the survivors was a young driver from Pittsboro, Indiana, named Jeff Gordon.

References

External links

Speedway website

Salem Speedway race results
at Racing-Reference
Salem Speedway race results
at The Third Turn {{CARS Pro Cup racetracks Motorsport venues in Indiana ARCA Menards Series tracks NASCAR tracks Tourist attractions in Washington County, Indiana Buildings and structures in Washington County, Indiana 1947 establishments in Indiana Sports venues completed in 1947