Race track in the U.S. state of New Hampshire
Star Speedway
is a
short-track
oval
race track
located in
Epping, New Hampshire
. It hosts a tour-type
modified stock car racing
division under the management of the Webber family.
History
[
edit
]
Star Speedway opened in 1966,
[1]
having been primarily built by Charlie Elliot, a contractor, restaurant owner, and car enthusiast from nearby
Dover, New Hampshire
.
[2]
The prior year, Elliot had gone into business with Kendall C. Smith and local journalist
Russ Conway
to build a race track on what had formerly been Star Brick Yard in
Epping, New Hampshire
.
[3]
Elliot, Smith, and Conway sold their interests in the track by late 1983, when they purchased Lee Raceway (later known as
Lee USA Speedway
) in nearby
Lee, New Hampshire
.
[4]
The track has a long history of notable drivers, highlighted by
Ollie Silva
, a
modified
and
supermodified
standout who won features races from Canada to Florida with less-than-top equipment.
[5]
In the 1970s, Star Speedway hosted modified and supermodified races weekly, and Silva's battles with "Big Daddy" Don McLaren, Eddie West, Jim Cheney, Dick Batchelder, and Paul Richardson provided fans with great thrills and memories.
[
citation needed
]
The speedway also held promotional races featuring some
Boston Bruins
players.
[6]
It even hosted what was then thought to be the heaviest
wedding cake
in history, tipping the scales at over 700 pounds (320 kg).
[
citation needed
]
Star Speedway hosted one
NASCAR North Tour
race in 1985.
[7]
The track hosted 20
NASCAR Busch North Series
[7]
events between 1987 and 2001, and four
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour
events between 1985 and 1990.
[7]
Since 2000
[
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]
The track struggled in the early years of the 21st century, often failing town inspection.
In 2008, Robert MacArthur took over the management, renamed the speedway "All-STAR", and promoted a very aggressive and diverse program including Supermodifieds, Modifieds and Late Models. Unfortunately, the promotion did not draw enough fans to be successful, leaving the track and promoter seriously in debt.
The track was closed for most of the 2010 season due to issues between track manager and promoter MacArthur and the town of Epping.
[8]
The track was permitted by the town of Epping to be open for three days at the end of October, subject to the completion of required repairs to the facility.
The facility had two
ACT Late Model Tour
races, one in 2013 and the other in 2019.
[7]
The track hosts the Star Classic every fall, featuring the
ISMA Super Modifieds
. Drivers such as Chris Perley (the 2005 winner), Russ Wood, Mike Ordway and
Indianapolis 500
veteran
Bentley Warren
have participated in the 200-lap race.
Owner Bob Webber has been operating the track since the departure of MacArthur and has made many improvements. Star Speedway currently
[
when?
]
hosts many popular touring series including PASS, ISMA, Granite State Pro Stock, Tri-Track modified and Northeast Classic Lites to name some. Star Speedway "sold out" an event in 2015, something never seen before in the modern era.
[
clarification needed
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Epping Track Opens Friday"
.
The Portsmouth Herald
.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. August 24, 1966. p. 15
. Retrieved
February 27,
2022
– via newspapers.com.
- ^
Nason, Jerry (August 19, 1970).
"Star Speedway a small miracle"
.
The Boston Globe
. p. 51
. Retrieved
February 27,
2022
– via newspapers.com.
- ^
"Hockey, Racing Hall of Famer Russ Conway Salutes Ken Smith"
.
WHAV
. 2017-05-17
. Retrieved
2018-11-03
.
- ^
Cadigan, Barry (December 19, 1983).
"Auto Racing (column)"
.
The Boston Globe
. p. 101
. Retrieved
February 27,
2022
– via newspapers.com.
- ^
Long, Tom (August 20, 2004).
"Ollie Quick Silva, at 75; lapped competition on track"
.
Boston.com
.
- ^
McDonough, Will
(September 6, 1979).
"Once near death, he's racing back"
.
The Boston Globe
. p. 58
. Retrieved
February 27,
2022
– via newspapers.com.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"STAR SPEEDWAY"
.
racing-reference.info
. Retrieved
February 27,
2022
.
- ^
Kathleen D. Bailey (October 15, 2010).
"Speedway is open again"
. Seacoastonline.com
. Retrieved
October 21,
2010
.
External links
[
edit
]