Greetings from Quincy, Michigan
From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”
Butler Motor Speedway – Dirt Oval – Lifetime track #104
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My first ever track to see in Michigan.
I visited the Butler Motor Speedway back in 1981. As this is posted that’s 33 years ago! I didn’t begin writing my famous Trackchaser Reports until about track #430. The Butler Motor Speedway was my 104th lifetime track. It was the first track I ever saw in the Wolverine state. Now I’ve seen more than 100 tracks in Michigan.
I do have two specific memories of my time in Quincy. First, one of the most famous sprint car drivers of all time won the feature event. Who was that? Doug Wolfgang! I also remember the grandstands being some of the steepest I had ever seen. Can you imagine that after 33 years I still remember those grandstands! There’s one good sign about the Butler Motor Speedway. It’s still in business and ready to race in 2015! Probably less than half the tracks that operated in 1981 can say that.
I was seeing racing on a Friday night. The weekend before I had trackchased at the East Moline Speedway seeing Jim Sandusky and Gary Webb win twin features. The next weekend found me at the now defunct Santa Fe Speedway where Ken Pohlman was the main event winner. In 1981 my family and I were living in the Chicago suburbs. With family responsibilities I couldn’t stray far from home.
On the day I was watching Doug Wolfgang race the Doug Howell’s owned #4 into victory lane (Carol was with me for that race) John Hinckley pleaded innocent to shooting President Ronald Reagan. Diana Ross had the #1 song in the U.S.A. Endless Love.
Do you have any experience with auto racing at the Butler County Speedway?
By the way you might have remembrances about this track. If so, please feel free to share them in the comments section below. If you have any photos from back in the day, send them to me at Ranlay@yahoo.com. I’ll try to include them here.
6 comments
Butler speedway is still going and going strong. Tim Wilber bought it in 2022 and has done a great job. I raced back when it was oil and then went to clay. I seen record after record being broke this year at Butler. Sprints running in the 12 second range. Tim and his crew are doing a awesome job. You should make a return visit
My visit to the Butler Motor Speedway in Quincy, Michigan was a LONG time ago. I went there in 1981 to see Doug Wolfgang in the Doug Howell’s #4 sprinter win the feature event. That was lifetime track #104. To date I’ve seen racing at 2,919 tracks. Glad to hear the track is doing well!!
they ruined Butler Motor Speedway! They cut down the high banks and took out the oiled dirt! so sad! They are kucky when they get a full lap of racing in wothout a slide off
Jow, This doesn’t sound good! I haven’t been to the Butler Motor Speedway since 1981. That’s a long time. At least they are still in business. That can’t be said for many tracks that were racing in 1981. Thanks for writing. Randy
You really need to revisit Butler Motor Speedway in 2024. On June 1 High Limit Series coming to Butler. It would be awesome hearing a review from you on I will call The new Butler Motor Speedway
Hi, I first went to the Butler Motor Speedway in 1981. Maybe I’ll get back there. Thanks for the note.