Raceway Park (Illinois)

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Raceway Park (1938–2000) was a quarter-mile stock car race track located in Blue Island, Illinois, on 130th Street and Ashland Avenue between Western Avenue and Halsted Avenue, used for stock car races from the mid-1930s until 2000. In all advertising, it was billed as being located in Blue Island, Illinois, but was really located right across the border in the town of Calumet Park.

History

Raceway Park had originally been created as a dog racing track, but in the early 1930s, the state of Illinois made dog racing illegal. Harry Malone then led a group promoting the track as a midget car track. Raceway finally opened for competitive racing on September 24, 1938. The winner of the first race was Harry McQuinn, who eventually went on to compete in the Indianapolis 500. The track had changed management many times during the early 1940s. Art Folz and Wally Zale assumed the management position in 1940, but their management reign was cut short when Zale was killed in a car-train wreck in 1942. Then, World War II stopped all racing in America for the time being. Rudy Nichels started promoting the track after the war but with only limited success. The track was demolished in the early 2000s and is now the site of the Raceway Park Center a shopping center that houses Ultra Foods, AJ Wright and Aldi Food Store among other businesses

The Jenin Brothers

Pete and Nick Jenin purchased the land in 1947, and immediately made drastic changes. The Jenin's slightly banked the oval, erected grandstands and concessions, and purchased more land for more parking. In 1951 the track was changed from clay to asphalt. In the same year, an 80-race season took place. During its prime, races were held Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The track soon took on the nickname "World's Busiest Track". The track became so popular that the Jenin brothers entertained the thought of racing 7 days a week, so they could handle the massive crowds.

The end of the Jenin Brothers partnership

In 1952 Nick Jenin sold his share of the track to Jimmy Derrico. Derrico accompanied Pete Jenin in the ownership of the oval until 1968. The track was then leased to N. Perry Luster of National Racing Affiliates Insurance fame. In 1970 Peter Jenin became the sole promoter of the track. During Jenins' second term as track promoter the track was repaved, the pits were expanded, a digital scoreboard was erected, and a bandstand was also erected. In 1980 Jenin wanted to spend more time on his other business, so he joined a 5- man promotional team. But the pact was voided in 1982 and Jenin once again became the sole owner of the track.

The Koehler and Pronger Era

Bud Koehler racked up 490 career wins at Raceway Park and 11 late-model track championship awards before retiring in 1979. Bob Pronger raced in the Daytona 500 and won the Raceway Park late-model championship in 1961 and 1969 and compiled 148 career wins at Raceway. - Short track Racing Magazine January 1994- Article by Rick Dal Corobbo. In Memory of Rick Dal Corobbo.

Track Champions

Midgets

Convertibles

Novices

Rookies

Claiming

Amateurs

6-Cylinders

Modifieds

  • 1970 Dave Decker
  • 1971 Dave Decker
  • 1975 Klaus Wever
  • 1976 Bob Reiter
  • 1984 Alberto Cabrera
  • 1985 Alberto Cabrera
  • 1986 Alberto Cabrera
  • 1987 Ben Slachta
  • 1988 Russ Foust
  • 1989 Dave Botkin

Sportsmen

Spectator

Semi-Pros

Dwarf Cars

Late Model

  • 1973 Jack Thomas
  • 1974 Dave Urewicz
  • 1975 Burt Weitemeyer
  • 1976 Jerry Clark
  • 1977 Al Ponton
  • 1978 Barbara Bosak
  • 1979 Don Helwig
  • 1980 Mike Varner
  • 1981 Scott Sterkowitz
  • 1982 Craig Johnson
  • 1985 Dennis Ponton
  • 1986 Bob Copley
  • 1987 John Hargus
  • 1988 Hank Pugh
  • 1989 Tony Meier
  • 1990 Mike Tobuch
  • 1991 Mike Tobuch

  • 1978 Jack Annen

  • 1983 Paul Yancick
  • 1984 Dave Duckworth

  • 1983 Dan Weltmeyer
  • 1984 Dan Deutsch

  • 1992 Don Kritenbrink
  • 1993 Rob Delinsky
  • 1994 Ron Haney
  • 1995 Mike Szekley
  • 1996 Guy Baumann
  • 1997 Russ Vankuiken
  • 1998 D.J. Helwig
  • 1999 Ryan Dix
  • 2000 Scott Gardner

Enduros

References

  1. ^ "Tracks, Series & Organizations - Raceway Park (IL)". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.

External links

41°39′25″N 87°39′33″W / 41.65694°N 87.65917°W / 41.65694; -87.65917