Greetings from Sheridan, Wyoming
From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”
Interstate Speedway – Lifetime track #16
The Interstate Speedway is officially listed as my 16th lifetime racetrack to see. Interstate was part of my “group of 71”. What does that mean? Prior to 1980 I did not record official dates of my track visits. Therefore, for those 71 tracks, I have to rely upon my memory of my trip to the track.
My wife, Carol, and I both graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1971. NIU is located in DeKalb, Illinois about an hour west of Chicago. Following Carol’s high school graduation from a Chicago area suburb her family moved to the small Wyoming town of Dayton. Each summer during her college years Carol would return to Wyoming to help her parents and siblings manage the family business called Foothills Motel and Campground.
During those same summers I was working in the factories of the Caterpillar Tractor Company in East Peoria and Morton, Illinois. At the end of those summers (1969, 1970, 1971) I would drive out to Wyoming to see Carol. One summer I splurged, and for the first time ever flew on an airplane to Billings, Montana. I guess my love affair with flying (as a passenger) began on that trip.
The Foothills Motel and Campground is located (even today!) just a few miles south of the Montana/Wyoming border. We stopped there about five years ago and the owners told us their most famous guest is Peter Fonda. Fonda passes through the area on his way to the Sturgis motorcycle rally each year.
The Interstate Speedway was the nearest track to where Carol’s family was living in Dayton, Wyoming. The driving distance was 21 miles. I drove over to Sheridan one weekend afternoon. I can’t remember if it was a Saturday or a Sunday but it would have been in about 1970. I really have only one significant memory (and no photos that I’ve found yet) of the racing day.
It was warm and the track was dusty. I’ve seen my share of dusty tracks in my time. However, I can’t ever recall seeing a track any dustier than Interstate Speedway. I sat in the fourth turn. As the cars exited the fourth turn they were totally obliterated by dust by the time they reached the start/finish line! There is not much of a racing “heritage” in these parts compared to the South, Midwest and East. Secondly, there isn’t a whole lot of population in these areas. Therefore, I was just happy to see a race in a place like Sheridan, Wyoming.
Some records show this track as running from 1973-1978. However, I am certain I saw racing here prior to 1973. I don’t recall taking any photos because I don’t think I had a camera at the time.
Current condition of Sheridan Speedway
Some folks are trying to resurrect the old Sheridan Speedway that closed in 2006. I don’t really know if that track is the same as the old Interstate Speedway or not. If these are two separate locations some day I might find my way back to Sheridan, Wyoming. If I do I’ll be sure to stay at the Foothills Motel and Campground in Dayton, Wyoming.
You might have remembrances about the old Interstate Speedway. If so, please feel free to share 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.