| City/Town: • Tulsa |
| Location Class: • Commercial |
| Built: • 1985 | Abandoned: • 2005 |
| Status: • Demolished |
| Photojournalist: • Johnny Fletcher |
Tulsa Speedway is a well known track in Oklahoma getting it’s roots at near what’s now Fair Meadows horse track. The first track was built at what is now the parking lot for the Fair Meadows simulcast center in the 1930’s. It was originally built as a 1/2 mile track but was later shortened to a 3/8 mile track. Both configurations had a 1/5 mile track inside. The last year for the track in this location was 1973, where it then moved to where Fair Meadows is now. Hugh Finnerty was the original owner (as far back as I can tell, as of 1979). The speedway was relocated to 66th street north off of Highway 75 on the outskirts of Tulsa in 1985 where it still stands today. Once the track moved they started the first sprint car program in 1988.
For Much more info and to read the rest of this article, visit Amanda Turnham’s great site ForgottenTracks.com
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Amazing Article
This is awesome to see. I don't think I have been to the track since my grandfather sold it, but I literally grew up at the track I miss it so much!
My dad was the cruiser champion in 2003
Who own the speedway now????? My husband and his friend stopped outside the gates. On there way to the scrap yard down the street. They werent even on the property. Anyways a cop stopped. Long story short, the motors they had on the trailer the cops are saying they stole from the speedway. Who ever is supposably taken care of the speedway which is doing a really good job everyone can see, is saying they stole motors from there. They are going to get my husband and his cousin with felonies!!!!!! Anyone who might know who owns this trashed out… Read more »
iI GREW UP AT THAT SPEEDWAY. COULDNT WAIT FOR SATURDAY NIGHTS. I WAS PROBABLE AROUND 10 YEARS OLD WHEN I FIRST WENT TO THE TRACK. I REMEMBER THE LIKES OF BUDDY CAGLE,AL LEMMONS, BENNY TAYLOR, JACKIE HOWERTON, HAROLD LEEP, BILL SANDERS AND MANY OTHERS. I EVENTUALLY WAS A VENDER AT THE TRACK SELLING POP AND POPCORN THROUGH THE CROWD. BUT WHEN THE A FEATURE WAS ABOUT TO START I WAS SITTIN WATCHING THE RACE INSTEAD OF SELLING. GOT CAUGHT A COUPLE TIMES,LOL. I REMEMBER GOIN OUT INTO THE PITS AFTER THE RACES TO CHECK THE DAMAGE TO THE CARS THAT… Read more »
you bringing back memories, and dont forget emmit hahn, chick chaddex, evard humphries and many more.
It's a shame that this speedway has gone to waste. I went every Saturday night when they were held at the Fairgrounds. After the move up to this track I just didn't have the interest as I once did. Racing is becoming a dying sport here in Oklahoma. Very sad, indeed. It was good family fun.
i was there the night gene daniel died its a wreck i wouldnt want to see again i am glad that video wasnt as widely used back then
gene daniel and jr taft both passed doing what they loved i gont care to see the video of either if there is one
If anyone has any video of the 9/5/81 crash that killed Gene Daniel, I would certainly like to see it.
Thank you.
GAD
I have information that was passed to me. Seeing as how I was born in '83 I wouldn't remember 1970 anything. I'll recheck my info but you're the FIRST to tell me the info was wrong.
Sad state of affairs about the speedway. Bad promoters were its downfall. The statement saying Hugh Finnerty was the original owner is ignorant. The county owns the fairgrounds and the track was on the fairgrounds. Finnerty was promoter in maybe the late 60's and much of the 70's but not owner. Misinformation at its finest.
I have information that was passed to me. Seeing as how I was born in ‘83 I wouldn’t remember 1970 anything. I’ll recheck my info but you’re the FIRST to tell me the info was wrong.
Well, your info was wrong.
I'm not so sure. I remember that place when I was a kid (I'm only 17 now, so still a "kid" xD) and it was pretty awesome. The building would probably have to be demolished and rebuilt from the looks of it, but I'm sure the grounds themselves could be renovated without demolition involved. The stupid owner of the place needs to do SOMETHING with it before it becomes far too late to do anything about it. :
the stupid owner is dead. the person that now owns it is finding issues with the citys an boards to redo it. they cant even sell it. do some reading. brings things up to code are hard an alot of money
who now owns it?
Geez lady, responded to something I wrote when I was 17 (going on 25 now…) 313 weeks after the fact. I guess I can't say much, I'm responding to your response 75 weeks later haha! I'll have to do some reading and see if anything ever came of this place (though I doubt it)
Yeah its a shame. I had never went to a race there. I was into the drags & monster trucks & not so much dirt track. but it is a shame to see that place go to waste cause I know it ment a lot to the racing comunity. I am a Bartlesville native so I remember driving by it on the highway ever since I was kid & always wondering what it looked like over that hill. Some of the bldgs & grounds are so far gone there is just no repairing it. The only thing they could do… Read more »
I love the video of the old tulsa speedway. I wish It was still going. I live just a few minutes from it and I drive to coffeyville now to race. Looks like the city of tulsa would push to get something done since its just becoming a trash pile and the police have to go by and keep a eye on it! Looks like who owns it would be trying to sell it rather than oweing taxes. Heck if it was running and they could get anything like is wrote in the story with the video of 2600 plus… Read more »
Your welcome! Thats Awesome about your uncle. Thanx for the extra info!
my uncle Lester Davis won the very first superstock championship in Tulsa Speedway at 1985, and i think he won again in 1998
I remember this racetrack, brings memories of my uncle last racing career championship was at Tulsa Speedway back in 1998, Thanks Guys.
Now thats a fantastic Video! Fitting music too! Great job guys thank you!
yeah, yeah, yeah…. your welcome….! I went back to the old way of making these videos just for you… I guess it pays to do it the hard way….