MICHIGAN
The Great Lakes State
.
.
From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”
All-Time Favorite Michigan Track:
Silverdome – Pontiac
Current lifetime trackchasing state rank: 3
Best Memories:
The state of Michigan is unique in one regard. They have more county fair once a year racing than any other state by far! I’ve seen racing at close to 100 county fairs/festivals in the Wolverine state. My records show I have more than 80 locations, mostly fairs, that have raced in the recent past that I still haven’t seen.
I scored the race from the press box at the Armada County Fairgrounds. Do I remember doing that? Absolutely not! However, I do keep meticulous records. Carol saw her 200th-lifetime track at the Bay County Fair Derby Arena. I saw NASCAR’s Bobby Labonte compete at the Berlin Raceway. I sat in one of the most steeply pitched grandstands at the Butler Motor Speedway (above).
I stopped off at the Chippewa Lake Ice Track returning from a Mexican Riviera cruise. The Coopersville Festival Grounds provided one of the worst shows I’ve ever seen. I saw indoor arena racing at the DeltaPlex Arena. I got free tickets to the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix and still couldn’t see a thing! The Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds was the “worst track ever” according to my racing mate that night, P.J. Hollebrand (above). At the Galesburg Speedway figure, 8 school bus race passengers rode in the bus during the race!! I had never ever seen that.
The Gingerman Raceway and Grattan Raceway Park road courses were scenic reminding me of California’s Napa Valley and Road America. Excellent flat track F8 racing at the Marion County Fairgrounds. I found a flyer in a grocery store announcing the racing, beginning about an hour after I saw the flyer, for the Orleans Raceway. Wild racing from the Posen (above) Summer Slam! The U.S. 13-14-year-old national girl’s softball team appeared before the figure 8 race at the Sanilac County Fairgrounds.
The Spartan Speedway provided maybe the fastest and the best F8 racing I’ve ever seen. I left Standish Asphalt Raceway with the comment, “The biggest disaster of a track I have ever seen that’s still active”. The Winston Motor Speedway was one of the best tracks I saw in all of 2007. I’ve seen a lot of really bad shows with small car counts in Michigan. On the other hand, the Unique Motorsports and USA Derby groups have entertained me all over the state. At the Manchester County Fairgrounds, I got to wish Sonny Hall (above) of USA Derby a happy retirement. As you can see he was wearing a “Reader Rest” to hold his glasses. I do too!
Racing indoors with the ASA stock cars at the Silverdome provided the ingredients for my all-time favorite track in Michigan. I got to talk with and get my picture with Dick Trickle. He told me he had to “take what the track would give him”. Butch Miller won that race.
# | TRACK | CITY | STATE | COUNTRY | DATE | TRACK TYPE |
1 | Butler Motor Speedway | Butler | Michigan | United States | August 28, 1981 | DO |
2 | Silverdome | Pontiac | Michigan | United States | February 27, 1983 | INDOOR-PO |
3 | Flat Rock Speedway | Flat Rock | Michigan | United States | September 8, 1996 | PO |
4 | Auto City Speedway | Clio | Michigan | United States | June 8, 2000 | PO |
5 | Spartan Speedway | Lansing | Michigan | United States | June 9, 2000 | OUTER-PO |
6 | Michigan Speedway | Brooklyn | Michigan | United States | June 10, 2000 | PO |
7 | Mottville Speedway | Mottville | Michigan | United States | June 11, 2000 | PO |
8 | Dixie Motor Speedway | Birch Run | Michigan | United States | June 29, 2001 | PF8 |
9 | Dixie Motor Speedway | Birch Run | Michigan | United States | June 29, 2001 | INNER-PO |
10 | Flat Rock Speedway | Flat Rock | Michigan | United States | Retroactive – 2001 | DF8 |
11 | Galesburg Speedway | Galesburg | Michigan | United States | May 18, 2002 | PO |
12 | Kalamazoo Speedway | Kalamazoo | Michigan | United States | May 18, 2002 | PO |
13 | Hartford Speedway Park | Hartford | Michigan | United States | June 7, 2002 | DO |
14 | Ionia County Fairgrounds | Ionia | Michigan | United States | July 28, 2004 | DF8 |
15 | Munger Fireman’s Park | Munger | Michigan | United States | July 29, 2004 | DF8 |
16 | Tri-City Motor Speedway | Auburn | Michigan | United States | July 29, 2004 | INNER-PO |
17 | Tri-City Motor Speedway | Auburn | Michigan | United States | July 29, 2004 | OUTER-PO |
18 | Crystal Motor Speedway | Crystal | Michigan | United States | June 29, 2005 | DO |
19 | Gingerman Raceway | South Haven | Michigan | United States | July 2, 2005 | PRC |
20 | Thunder Valley Motorsports Arena | Jones | Michigan | United States | July 2, 2005 | PO |
21 | Livingston County Fairgrounds | Fowlerville | Michigan | United States | July 11, 2005 | DF8 |
22 | Eaton County Fairgrounds | Charlotte | Michigan | United States | July 13, 2005 | DF8 |
23 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa | Michigan | United States | July 15, 2005 | INNER-DO |
24 | I-96 Speedway | Lake Odessa | Michigan | United States | July 15, 2005 | OUTER-DO |
25 | Thunderbird Racepark | Muskegon | Michigan | United States | July 16, 2005 | DO |
26 | Bob’s Family Racetrack | Clarksville | Michigan | United States | July 17, 2005 | DRC |
27 | Mid Michigan Raceway Park | Muir | Michigan | United States | July 17, 2005 | PO |
28 | Orleans Raceway | Orleans | Michigan | United States | July 17, 2005 | DO |
29 | Western Michigan Fairgrounds | Ludington | Michigan | United States | July 28, 2005 | DF8 |
30 | Saginaw County Fairgrounds | Chesaning | Michigan | United States | August 2, 2005 | DF8 |
31 | Ingham County Fairgrounds | Mason | Michigan | United States | August 3, 2005 | DF8 |
32 | Goodells County Park | Goodells | Michigan | United States | August 4, 2005 | DF8 |
33 | Cheboygan County Fairgrounds | Cheboygan | Michigan | United States | August 6, 2005 | DRC |
34 | Northern Michigan Speedway | Elmira | Michigan | United States | August 6, 2005 | PO |
35 | Spartan Speedway | Lansing | Michigan | United States | August 7, 2005 | PF8 |
36 | Standish Asphalt Raceway | Standish | Michigan | United States | August 7, 2005 | PO |
37 | Branch County Fairgrounds | Coldwater | Michigan | United States | August 8, 2005 | DF8 |
38 | Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds | Imlay City | Michigan | United States | August 9, 2005 | DF8 |
39 | Bay County Fair Derby Arena | Bay City | Michigan | United States | August 10, 2005 | DF8 |
40 | Shiawassee County Fairgrounds | Corunna | Michigan | United States | August 11, 2005 | DO |
41 | Mt. Pleasant Speedway | Mt. Pleasant | Michigan | United States | August 12, 2005 | DO |
42 | Jackson Speedway | Jackson | Michigan | United States | August 13, 2005 | PO |
43 | Owosso Speedway | Owosso | Michigan | United States | August 13, 2005 | PO |
44 | Waterford Hills Road Race | Clarkston | Michigan | United States | August 13, 2005 | PRC |
45 | Galesburg Speedway | Galesburg | Michigan | United States | August 14, 2005 | PF8 |
46 | Grattan Raceway Park | Grattan | Michigan | United States | August 14, 2005 | PRC |
47 | Ionia Fairgrounds Speedway | Ionia | Michigan | United States | August 14, 2005 | DO |
48 | Lenawee County Fairgrounds | Adrian | Michigan | United States | August 15, 2005 | DF8 |
49 | Genesee County Fairgrounds | Mount Morris | Michigan | United States | August 16, 2005 | DF8 |
50 | Berlin Raceway | Marne | Michigan | United States | August 17, 2005 | PO |
51 | Dixie Motor Speedway | Birch Run | Michigan | United States | September 9, 2005 | OUTER-PO |
52 | Eagle Park Fairgrounds | Eagle | Michigan | United States | September 9, 2005 | DF8 |
53 | Richmond Good Old Days Festival | Richmond | Michigan | United States | September 10, 2005 | DF8 |
54 | Armada County Fairgrounds | Armada | Michigan | United States | August 17, 2006 | DF8 |
55 | DeVos Place | Grand Rapids | Michigan | United States | December 15, 2006 | INDOOR-PO |
56 | Barry Expo Center | Hastings | Michigan | United States | July 16, 2007 | DF8 |
57 | Van Buren County Youth Fairgrounds | Hartford | Michigan | United States | July 19, 2007 | DRC |
58 | Newaygo County Fairgrounds | Fremont | Michigan | United States | August 6, 2007 | DF8 |
59 | Newaygo County Fairgrounds | Fremont | Michigan | United States | August 7, 2007 | DRC |
60 | Shiawassee County Fairgrounds | Corunna | Michigan | United States | August 8, 2007 | DF8 |
61 | Coopersville Festival Grounds | Coopersville | Michigan | United States | August 10, 2007 | DRC |
62 | Winston Motor Speedway | Rothbury | Michigan | United States | August 10, 2007 | DO |
63 | Jackson Speedway | Jackson | Michigan | United States | August 11, 2007 | DO |
64 | Springport Motor Speedway | Springport | Michigan | United States | August 11, 2007 | PO |
65 | DeltaPlex Arena | Grand Rapids | Michigan | United States | February 8, 2009 | PO |
66 | Saline County Fairgrounds | Saline | Michigan | United States | September 9, 2009 | DF8 |
67 | Auto City Speedway | Clio | Michigan | United States | September 12, 2009 | PF8 |
68 | Auto City Speedway | Clio | Michigan | United States | September 12, 2009 | INNER-PO |
69 | Chippewa Lake Ice Track | Chippewa Lake | Michigan | United States | January 31, 2010 | ICE-O |
70 | Kinross Speedpark | Kinross | Michigan | United States | June 17, 2011 | PO |
71 | Mecosta County Fairgrounds | Big Rapids | Michigan | United States | July 14, 2011 | DFG |
72 | Ottawa County Fairgrounds | Holland | Michigan | United States | July 25, 2011 | DO |
73 | Clare County Fairgrounds | Harrison | Michigan | United States | August 1, 2011 | DO |
74 | Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds | Traverse City | Michigan | United States | August 12, 2011 | DO |
75 | Sanilac County Fairgrounds | Sandusky | Michigan | United States | August 24, 2011 | DF8 |
76 | Chelsea County Fairgrounds | Chelsea | Michigan | United States | August 25, 2011 | DF8 |
77 | Tri-City Motor Speedway | Auburn | Michigan | United States | August 26, 2011 | DO |
78 | Tri-City Motor Speedway | Auburn | Michigan | United States | August 26, 2011 | DF8 |
79 | Cherry Raceway | Fife Lake | Michigan | United States | May 25, 2012 | DO |
80 | Onaway Speedway | Onaway | Michigan | United States | May 26, 2012 | PO |
81 | Red Bud MX | Buchanan | Michigan | United States | May 26, 2012 | DRC |
82 | Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix | Detroit | Michigan | United States | June 2, 2012 | STREET-RC |
83 | Owosso Kart Speedway | Owosso | Michigan | United States | June 30, 2012 | DO |
84 | Merritt Speedway | Lake City | Michigan | United States | July 1, 2012 | DO |
85 | Merritt Speedway | Lake City | Michigan | United States | July 1, 2012 | DF8 |
86 | Berlin Speedway | Marne | Michigan | United States | July 17, 2012 | TEMPORARY-DO |
87 | Tuscola County Fairgronds | Caro | Michigan | United States | July 20, 2012 | DO |
88 | Northern District Fairgrounds | Cadillac | Michigan | United States | August 18, 2012 | DO |
89 | Northern District Fairgrounds | Cadillac | Michigan | United States | August 18, 2012 | DF8 |
90 | Wayne County Fairgrounds | Belleville | Michigan | United States | August 7, 2013 | DO |
91 | Wayne County Fairgrounds | Belleville | Michigan | United States | August 7, 2013 | DF8 |
92 | Calhoun County Fairgrounds | Marshall | Michigan | United States | August 12, 2013 | DO |
93 | Armada County Fairgrounds | Armada | Michigan | United States | August 13, 2013 | DO |
94 | Ogemaw County Fairgronds | West Branch | Michigan | United States | August 14, 2013 | TEMPORARY-DO |
95 | Midland County Fairgrounds | Midland | Michigan | United States | August 15, 2013 | DF8 |
96 | Adventure Mountain Raceway | Greenland | Michigan | United States | August 16, 2013 | DO |
97 | Upper Peninsula International Raceway | Escanaba | Michigan | United States | August 17, 2013 | DO |
98 | Upper Peninsula International Raceway | Escanaba | Michigan | United States | August 18, 2013 | TEMPORARY-DO |
99 | Hudsonville County Fairgrounds | Hudsonville | Michigan | United States | August 20, 2013 | TEMPORARY-DRC |
100 | Manistee County Fairgrounds | Onekama | Michigan | United States | August 24, 2013 | DF8 |
101 | Manistee County Fairgrounds | Onekama | Michigan | United States | August 24, 2013 | TEMPORARY-DO |
102 | Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn | Michigan | United States | August 24, 2013 | PRC |
103 | Elkton Autumnfest Oval | Elkton | Michigan | United States | August 31, 2013 | DO |
104 | Elkton Autumnfest road course | Elkton | Michigan | United States | August 31, 2013 | DRC |
105 | Silver Bullet Speedway | Owendale | Michigan | United States | August 31, 2013 | DO |
106 | Farwell Fairgrounds | Farwell | Michigan | United States | September 1, 2013 | DF8 |
107 | Croswell County Fair | Croswell | Michigan | United States | June 19, 2014 | DF8 |
108 | Eaton County Fairgrounds | Charlotte | Michigan | United States | July 8, 2014 | TEMPORARY-DRC |
109 | Oakland County Fair | Davisburg | Michigan | United States | July 10, 2014 | DO |
110 | Oakland County Fair | Davisburg | Michigan | United States | July 11, 2014 | DF8 |
111 | Barry County Expo | Hastings | Michigan | United States | July 17, 2014 | DO |
112 | Mason County Fairgrounds | Ludington | Michigan | United States | August 5, 2014 | DO |
113 | Allegan County Fairgrounds | Allegan | Michigan | United States | September 8, 2014 | DO |
114 | St. Joseph County Grange Fair | Centreville | Michigan | United States | September 16, 2014 | DO |
115 | Ionia Free Fairgrounds | Ionia | Michigan | United States | July 19, 2015 | TEMPORARY-DO |
116 | Chippewa County Fairgrounds | Kinross | Michigan | United States | September 2, 2015 | DF8 |
117 | Kellogg Arena | Battle Creek | Michigan | United States | January 9, 2016 | INDOOR-CO |
118 | Branch County Fairgrounds | Coldwater | Michigan | United States | August 11, 2016 | TEMPORARY-DO |
119 | Ogema County Fairgrounds | West Branch | Michigan | United States | August 17, 2016 | TEMPORARY-DRC |
120 | Otsego County Fairgrounds | Gaylord | Michigan | United States | August 18, 2016 | TEMPORARY-DO |
121 | Sands Speedway | Sands | Michigan | United States | August 21, 2016 | PO |
122 | Goodells County Park | Goodells | Michigan | United States | July 21, 2017 | DO |
123 | Sumpter Township Fairgrounds | Belleville | Michigan | United States | May 28, 2018 | DF8 |
124 | Marion County Fairgrounds | Marion | Michigan | United States | June 23, 2018 | DF8 |
125 | Montcalm 4-H County Fairgrounds | Greenville | Michigan | United States | June 24, 2018 | DF8 |
126 | Montcalm 4-H County Fairgrounds | Greenville | Michigan | United States | June 24, 2018 | DO |
127 | Mecosta County Fairgrounds | Big Rapids | Michigan | United States | July 11, 2018 | DO |
128 | Posen Summer Slam | Posen | Michigan | United States | July 14, 2018 | DO |
129 | Manchester Community Fairgrounds | Manchester | Michigan | United States | July 14, 2018 | DO |
130 | Saginaw County Fairgrounds | Chesaning | Michigan | United States | August 1, 2018 | DO |
131 | Escanaba River Ice Oval | Gladstone | Michigan | United States | March 3, 2019 | ICE-OVAL |
132 | Ingham County Fairgrounds | Mason | Michigan | United States | July 31, 2019 | DO |
133 | Cass County Fairgrounds | Cassopolis | Michigan | United States | August 1, 2019 | DO |
134 | Whittemore Speedway | Whittemore | Michigan | United States | July 4, 2020 | PO |
135 | Norway Speedway | Norway | Michigan | United States | July 31, 2020 | PO |
136 | Luce West Mackinac Fairgrounds | Newberry | Michigan | United States | August 1, 2020 | DO |
137 | Montgomery County Fairgrounds | Atlanta | Michigan | United States | October 24, 2020 | DO |
138 | Kalkaska County Fairgrounds | Kalkaska | Michigan | United States | August 7, 2021 | DO |
139 | Baraga County Fairgrounds | Pelkie | Michigan | United States | August 8, 2021 | DO |
140 | Richmond Good Old Days Festival | Richmond | Michigan | United States | September 9, 2021 | DO |
141 | Haughton Lake Ice Oval | Prudenville | Michigan | United States | February 27, 2022 | ICE-OVAL |
142 | North Branch Lion’s Club | North Branch | Michigan | United States | June 25, 2022 | DO |
143 | Lake Odessa County Fairgrounds | Lake Odessa | Michigan | United States | June 26, 2022 | DO |
144 | Fowlerville Family Fairgrounds | Fowlerville | Michigan | United States | July 26, 2022 | DO |
145 | Alpena County Fairgrounds | Alpena | Michigan | United States | August 19, 2022 | DRC |
146 | Houghton County Fairgrounds | Hancock | Michigan | United States | August 26, 2022 | DO |
147 | Croswell Fairgrounds | Croswell | Michigan | United States | July 13, 2023 | DO |
148 | Arenac County Fairgrounds | Standish | Michigan | United States | June 1, 2024 | DO |
149 | Berlin Raceway | Marne | Michigan | United States | June 20, 2024 | PF8 |
150 | Vasser Memorial Park | Vasser | Michigan | United States | June 21, 2024 | DO |
151 | Northwest County Fairgrounds | Traverse City | Michigan | United States | August 4, 2024 | DF8 |
152 | Sanilac County Fairgrounds | Sandusky | Michigan | United States | August 5, 2024 | DO |
153 | Alumni Memorial Field | Manchester | Michigan | United States | August 9, 2024 | DF8 |
154 | Jackson County Fairgrounds | Jackson | Michigan | United States | August 10, 2024 | DO |
155 | Holly Oaks ORV Park | Holly | Michigan | United States | September 15, 2024 | DO |
If you see a track link in the above list simply click on it to be transferred to my Trackchaser Report. Here you will be able to read about my adventure at this particular track. Not only will you learn about my time at the track but you’ll hear about all of the interesting people, places and things I encountered during the entire trip, coming and going, to that speedway. Most of my Trackchaser Reports will also include a photo album and YouTube video. Check it all out. Don’t be afraid to use the “search” box in the upper right corner of my website’s home page. Just type in the track name or whatever and you’ll be directed to the place you want to be. Below is a key to surface types and track configurations so you can understand the above list just a little bit easier. Surface types: D-dirt; P-paved; M-mixed Configuration types: O-oval; RC-road course; F8-figure 8 track