Tucson Speedway

Racetrack in Arizona, US

Tucson Speedway

Location| 11955 S Harrison Rd, Tucson, AZ 85747
Time zone| UTC−07:00
Coordinates| 32°2′15″N 110°47′20″W﻿ / ﻿32.03750°N 110.78889°W﻿ / 32.03750; -110.78889
Owner| John Lashley (2013–present)
Mark Ebert (2008–2012)
Dan & Joyce Ruth (2005–2008]
Deery Sports West, Inc. (2002–2005)
International Speedway Corporation (1982–2002)
Operator| Shelly McGriff
Broke ground| 1967
Opened| 1968
Former names| Tucson Raceway Park (1990–2012)
Raven Raceway (1987–1989)
Corona Speedway (1968–1986)
Major events| Current:
ARCA Menards Series West (1974, 1993–1999, 2001, 2015–2019, 2025)
NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series
Chilly Willy 150 (2014–present)
Former:
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
NAPA 200 (1995–1997)
NASCAR Southwest Series (1993–2001, 2003–2004)
Paved Oval (1987–present)
Length| 0.604 km (0.375 miles)
Banking| 3° – 9° Variable Banking

Tucson Speedway is a 0.375 mi (0.604 km) paved oval racetrack located at the Pima County Fairgrounds, off Interstate 10 just south of Tucson, Arizona. It is one of only three paved ovals in the state of Arizona (the others are Phoenix Raceway and Havasu 95 Speedway).

## History

[edit]

The track was built in 1967 as the Corona Speedway. The original track layout was a dirt/clay half mile oval, with an infield quarter mile track that connected via the frontstraightaway. [1] T.A.S.C.A. would operate the track until 1981, when internal issues would arise in T.A.S.C.A. Bob Frakes would take over as the operator until passing the torch to Calvin Renard in 1983. The track would close in the winter of 1983 before B.O.P. Incorporated would take the lease and operate the track until 1986.

In 1987, dirt racer Dan Manes and his wife Linda would take over the track, reconfiguring it into a 0.375 mi (0.604 km) oval and renaming the facility "Raven Raceway". One change brought by the Manes was the addition of the NASCAR Winston Racing Series program to the track, which is still part of the weekly program as of 2024.

In 1990, a subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation, Great Western Sports, would purchase the lease and take over from the Manes family, also renaming the track for a second time as "Tucson Raceway Park". the In this time, Brian France would take over track operations. In late 1992, the track was paved to an asphalt surface.

One major change during the ISC era of Tucson Raceway Park, was the addition of NASCAR Winter Heat. From Winter of 1994 to Winter of 1999, Winter Heat would nationally televise races held at the track first on TNN Sports before switching over to ESPN2 by the end of the decade. Winter Heat would feature NASCAR Winston Weekly Series late models, the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour, and the NASCAR Winston West Series. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series would also make an appearance at the inaugural Winter Heat in 1994/1995, running several exhibition races prior to the series' debut at Phoenix in January of 1995.

After over a decade of operation, ISC sold TRP's lease to David Derry and Deery Sports West, Inc. in February of 2002..[2]

In 2005, the track was sold to Dan and Joyce Ruth, who made many track improvements. Three years later, Ruth sold the track to Mark Ebert, who made it an ASA Member track.[3]

In 2012, Tucson businessman John Lashley bought the lease on the track and spent six months renovating the facility, which included a change back to asphalt. It re-opened in 2013 as Tucson Speedway. In 2014 Tucson Speedway joined NASCAR as an authorized Hometrack. 2014 would also be the year that introduced the track's biggest race the Chilly Willy 150.

## Chilly Willy 150

[edit]

Since 2014 the Chilly Willy 150 has become the marquee event at the Tucson Speedway. The race debuted on February 8th, 2014 as a 100 lap (37.5 Mile) race. Las Vegas native Dustin Ash would take home $2,000 in the inaugural Chilly Willy, in a race that featured a total of 16 starters.[4] [5]

As of 2024, the Chilly Willy has grown to become a major super late model event on the West Coast. The race kicks off the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and currently pays $15,000 to the winner of the race. The race typically sees over 30 entries, with the record being 40 entries in 2019.

Year  | Driver

|

2014  | Dustin Ash
2015  | Tayler Riddle
2016  | Chuck Wares
2017  | Owen Riddle
2018  | Chris Eggleston
2019  | Michael Scott
2020  | Preston Peltier
2021  | Christian McGhee
2022  | Preston Peltier (2)
2023  | Preston Peltier (3)
2024  | Kole Raz

## Former events

[edit]

### ARCA Menards Series West

[edit]

The Tucson Speedway hosted the ARCA Menards Series West in various stretches from 1974 to 2019. The inaugural race was held in May of 1974, as fifth round of the NASCAR Winston West Series on. Ray Elder would win the Corona 100, beating 23 other competitors on the then half mile dirt track in a 100 lap (50 mile) event. The series wouldn't make their return until nearly two decades later, on June 12th, 1993 with a 200 lap (75 miles) event with Dirk Stephens reigning victorious over the field of 18 cars, including Tucson's Paul Banghart. [6]

Starting in 1995, the track would see the then NASCAR Winston West Series twice a year, once in the spring and once in the winter as a part of Winter Heat. The race distance at Tucson would stay at 200 laps (75 miles) with the exception of Winter Heat 1996 & 1997 when the race would be run as a 150 lap (56 mile) race.[7]

After the end of Winter Heat, the series would return as a 250 lap (95 miles) race for a one off event in March of 2001., which would be won by Johnny Borneman III. [8]

The series would make its return 14 years later in 2015, as an annual 150 lap race before changing over to a twin 100 lap race format for 2018 and 2019.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pima County Attractions – Tucson Raceway Park". Pima County Attractions. Archived from the original on February 22, 2006. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
2. ^ Finley, Patrick (May 25, 2006). "Phoenix man seeking takeover of TRP lease". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
3. ^ "Tucson Speedway – NASCAR Home Tracks". hometracks.nascar.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
4. ^ "2014 Chilly Willy 100 - the Third Turn".
5. ^ http://www.pimacountyattractions.com/press.html|website=Pima
6. ^ "1993 Valvoline 200". Racing Reference. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
7. ^ "Tucson Speedway". Racing Reference.
8. ^ "2001 Tucson 250". Racing Reference.

## External links

[edit]

* Tucson Speedway Official Website

* v
* t
* e

ARCA Menards Series East and West track venues

East|

| Current (2025)|

* Pensacola
* Rockingham
* Nashville Fairgrounds
* Flat Rock
* Dover
* Indianapolis (IRP)
* Iowa
* Bristol

|

Former|

* Adirondack
* Beech Ridge
* Berlin
* Bowman Gray
* Charlotte
* Clearfield
* Columbus
* Darlington
* Daytona (superspeedway)
* Daytona (short oval)
* Dominion
* Elko
* Epping
* Flemington
* Gateway
* Greenville-Pickens
* Holland
* Jefferson
* Jennerstown
* Kenly
* Lake Erie
* Langley (VA)
* Lee
* Lime Rock
* Mansfield
* Martinsville
* Memphis
* Milwaukee
* Mobile
* Monadnock
* Motordrome
* Motor Mile
* Nazareth
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Smyrna
* Oxford
* Richmond
* Riverside Park
* Road Atlanta
* Seekonk
* Shangri La
* South Boston
* Spencer
* Stafford
* Thompson
* Thunder Road
* Toledo
* Tri-County
* Unity
* Virginia
* Waterford
* Watkins Glen
* White Mountain
* Wiscasset

West|

| Current (2025)|

* Kern County
* Phoenix
* Tucson
* Colorado
* Sonoma
* Tri-City
* Portland (Road Course)
* Roseville
* Madera
* Las Vegas (Bullring)

|

Former|

* Altamont
* Albuquerque
* Ascot
* Bakersfield
* Balboa
* Belmont
* Brainerd
* Bremerton
* Caesars Place
* California State
* Castle Rock
* Cajon
* Central Texas
* Chula Vista
* Clovis
* Coos Bay
* Contra Costa
* Corona
* Craig Road
* Daytona (Short Oval)
* Douglas County
* Elko
* Eugene
* Eureka
* Evergreen
* Fontana (Oval)
* Fontana (Road Course)
* Gardena Stadium
* Gateway
* Havasu
* Indianapolis
* Iowa
* Irwindale
* Kalispell
* Kansas
* Klamath Falls
* Laguna Seca
* Langley (B.C.)
* Las Vegas (Dirt Track)
* Las Vegas (Speedway)
* Lebanon
* Manzanita
* Melford
* Meridian
* Mesa Marin
* Motegi
* Olympia
* Ontario
* Orange Show
* Petaluma
* Pikes Peak
* Pleasanton
* Portland (Oval)
* Post Falls
* Race City
* Riverside
* Rocky Mountain
* Sacramento
* Salem
* San Gabriel
* San Jose
* Santa Clara Fairgrounds
* Santa Maria
* Santa Rosa
* Saugus
* Seattle
* Shasta
* Sierra Mesa
* Skagit
* Spanaway
* Spokane
* Stateline
* Stockton
* Tacoma
* Texas World
* Umatilla
* Utah
* Victoria
* West Capitol
* Westwood
* Willow Springs
* Yakima

* v
* t
* e

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race venues

Current (2025)|

| Short track|

* Martinsville
* Bristol
* North Wilkesboro
* Indianapolis (IRP)
* Richmond

|

Mile oval|

* Rockingham
* New Hampshire
* Phoenix

Intermediate|

* Atlanta
* Las Vegas
* Homestead
* Texas
* Kansas
* Charlotte (Oval)
* Nashville
* Darlington

Superspeedway|

* Daytona (Oval)
* Michigan
* Pocono
* Talladega

Road courses|

* Lime Rock
* Watkins Glen
* Charlotte (Roval)

Former|

| Short track|

* Bristol (Dirt Track)
* Colorado
* Eldora
* Evergreen
* Flemington
* I-70
* Iowa
* Knoxville
* Louisville
* Mansfield
* Memphis
* Mesa Marin
* Nashville Fairgrounds
* Portland (Oval)
* Saugus
* South Boston
* Tucson

|

Mile oval|

* Chicago
* Dover
* Milwaukee
* Nazareth
* Pikes Peak
* Walt Disney World

Intermediate|

* Chicagoland
* Gateway
* Kentucky

Superspeedway|

* Fontana

Road courses|

* Austin
* Daytona (Road Course)
* Mid-Ohio
* Mosport
* Portland (Road Course)
* Sonoma
* Topeka

* v
* t
* e

NASCAR Elite Division Southwest Series race venues (1986–2006)

Ovals|

* Altamont
* Cajon
* Carson City
* Colorado National
* Irwindale
* Las Vegas
* Las Vegas (Bullring)
* Madera
* Mesa Marin
* Orange Show
* Phoenix
* Pikes Peak
* Redwood Acres
* Rocky Mountain
* Roseville
* Sandia
* Saugus
* Shasta
* Stockton
* Suntana
* Tucson

Road Courses|

* Los Angeles
* Riverside
* Sonoma
* Willow Springs

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