MICHIGAN
The Great Lakes State
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From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”
All-Time Favorite Michigan Track: Silverdome – Pontiac Current lifetime trackchasing state rank: 4 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. At the Armada County Fairgrounds, I scored the race from the press box. 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 on the way back 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. 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 TRACK CITY STATE COUNTRY DATE TRACK TYPE Butler Motor Speedway Butler Michigan United States August 28, 1981 DO Silverdome Pontiac Michigan United States February 27, 1983 INDOOR-PO Flat Rock Speedway Flat Rock Michigan United States September 8, 1996 PO Auto City Speedway Clio Michigan United States June 8, 2000 PO Spartan Speedway Lansing Michigan United States June 9, 2000 OUTER-PO Michigan Speedway Brooklyn Michigan United States June 10, 2000 PO Mottville Speedway Mottville Michigan United States June 11, 2000 PO Dixie Motor Speedway Birch Run Michigan United States June 29, 2001 PF8 Dixie Motor Speedway Birch Run Michigan United States June 29, 2001 INNER-PO Flat Rock Speedway Flat Rock Michigan United States Retroactive – 2001 DF8 Galesburg Speedway Galesburg Michigan United States May 18, 2002 PO Kalamazoo Speedway Kalamazoo Michigan United States May 18, 2002 PO Hartford Speedway Park Hartford Michigan United States June 7, 2002 DO Ionia County Fairgrounds Ionia Michigan United States July 28, 2004 DF8 Munger Fireman’s Park Munger Michigan United States July 29, 2004 DF8 Tri-City Motor Speedway Auburn Michigan United States July 29, 2004 INNER-PO Tri-City Motor Speedway Auburn Michigan United States July 29, 2004 OUTER-PO Crystal Motor Speedway Crystal Michigan United States June 29, 2005 DO Gingerman Raceway South Haven Michigan United States July 2, 2005 PRC Thunder Valley Motorsports Arena Jones Michigan United States July 2, 2005 PO Livingston County Fairgrounds Fowlerville Michigan United States July 11, 2005 DF8 Eaton County Fairgrounds Charlotte Michigan United States July 13, 2005 DF8 I-96 Speedway Lake Odessa Michigan United States July 15, 2005 INNER-DO I-96 Speedway Lake Odessa Michigan United States July 15, 2005 OUTER-DO Thunderbird Racepark Muskegon Michigan United States July 16, 2005 DO Bob’s Family Racetrack Clarksville Michigan United States July 17, 2005 DRC Mid Michigan Raceway Park Muir Michigan United States July 17, 2005 PO Orleans Raceway Orleans Michigan United States July 17, 2005 DO Western Michigan Fairgrounds Ludington Michigan United States July 28, 2005 DF8 Saginaw County Fairgrounds Chesaning Michigan United States August 2, 2005 DF8 Ingham County Fairgrounds Mason Michigan United States August 3, 2005 DF8 Goodells County Park Goodells Michigan United States August 4, 2005 DF8 Cheboygan County Fairgrounds Cheboygan Michigan United States August 6, 2005 DRC Northern Michigan Speedway Elmira Michigan United States August 6, 2005 PO Spartan Speedway Lansing Michigan United States August 7, 2005 PF8 Standish Asphalt Raceway Standish Michigan United States August 7, 2005 PO Branch County Fairgrounds Coldwater Michigan United States August 8, 2005 DF8 Eastern Michigan Fairgrounds Imlay City Michigan United States August 9, 2005 DF8 Bay County Fair Derby Arena Bay City Michigan United States August 10, 2005 DF8 Shiawassee County Fairgrounds Corunna Michigan United States August 11, 2005 DO Mt. Pleasant Speedway Mt. Pleasant Michigan United States August 12, 2005 DO Jackson Speedway Jackson Michigan United States August 13, 2005 PO Owosso Speedway Owosso Michigan United States August 13, 2005 PO Waterford Hills Road Race Clarkston Michigan United States August 13, 2005 PRC Galesburg Speedway Galesburg Michigan United States August 14, 2005 PF8 Grattan Raceway Park Grattan Michigan United States August 14, 2005 PRC Ionia Fairgrounds Speedway Ionia Michigan United States August 14, 2005 DO Lenawee County Fairgrounds Adrian Michigan United States August 15, 2005 DF8 Genesee County Fairgrounds Mount Morris Michigan United States August 16, 2005 DF8 Berlin Raceway Marne Michigan United States August 17, 2005 PO Dixie Motor Speedway Birch Run Michigan United States September 9, 2005 OUTER-PO Eagle Park Fairgrounds Eagle Michigan United States September 9, 2005 DF8 Richmond Good Old Days Festival Richmond Michigan United States September 10, 2005 DF8 Armada County Fairgrounds Armada Michigan United States August 17, 2006 DF8 DeVos Place Grand Rapids Michigan United States December 15, 2006 INDOOR-PO Barry Expo Center Hastings Michigan United States July 16, 2007 DF8 Van Buren County Youth Fairgrounds Hartford Michigan United States July 19, 2007 DRC Newaygo County Fairgrounds Fremont Michigan United States August 6, 2007 DF8 Newaygo County Fairgrounds Fremont Michigan United States August 7, 2007 DRC Shiawassee County Fairgrounds Corunna Michigan United States August 8, 2007 DF8 Coopersville Festival Grounds Coopersville Michigan United States August 10, 2007 DRC Winston Motor Speedway Rothbury Michigan United States August 10, 2007 DO Jackson Speedway Jackson Michigan United States August 11, 2007 DO Springport Motor Speedway Springport Michigan United States August 11, 2007 PO DeltaPlex Arena Grand Rapids Michigan United States February 8, 2009 PO Saline County Fairgrounds Saline Michigan United States September 9, 2009 DF8 Auto City Speedway Clio Michigan United States September 12, 2009 PF8 Auto City Speedway Clio Michigan United States September 12, 2009 INNER-PO Chippewa Lake Ice Track Chippewa Lake Michigan United States January 31, 2010 ICE-O Kinross Speedpark Kinross Michigan United States June 17, 2011 PO Mecosta County Fairgrounds Big Rapids Michigan United States July 14, 2011 DFG Ottawa County Fairgrounds Holland Michigan United States July 25, 2011 DO Clare County Fairgrounds Harrison Michigan United States August 1, 2011 DO Northwest Michigan Fairgrounds Traverse City Michigan United States August 12, 2011 DO Sanilac County Fairgrounds Sandusky Michigan United States August 24, 2011 DF8 Chelsea County Fairgrounds Chelsea Michigan United States August 25, 2011 DF8 Tri-City Motor Speedway Auburn Michigan United States August 26, 2011 DO Tri-City Motor Speedway Auburn Michigan United States August 26, 2011 DF8 Cherry Raceway Fife Lake Michigan United States May 25, 2012 DO Onaway Speedway Onaway Michigan United States May 26, 2012 PO Red Bud MX Buchanan Michigan United States May 26, 2012 DRC Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix Detroit Michigan United States June 2, 2012 STREET-RC Owosso Kart Speedway Owossa Michigan United States June 30, 2012 DO Merritt Speedway Lake City Michigan United States July 1, 2012 DO Merritt Speedway Lake City Michigan United States July 1, 2012 DF8 Berlin Speedway Marne Michigan United States July 17, 2012 TEMPORARY-DO Tuscola County Fairgronds Caro Michigan United States July 20, 2012 DO Northern District Fairgrounds Cadillac Michigan United States August 18, 2012 DO Northern District Fairgrounds Cadillac Michigan United States August 18, 2012 DF8 Wayne County Fairgrounds Belleville Michigan United States August 7, 2013 DO Wayne County Fairgrounds Belleville Michigan United States August 7, 2013 DF8 Calhoun County Fairgrounds Marshall Michigan United States August 12, 2013 DO Armada County Fairgrounds Armada Michigan United States August 13, 2013 DO Ogemaw County Fairgronds West Branch Michigan United States August 14, 2013 TEMPORARY-DO Midland County Fairgrounds Midland Michigan United States August 15, 2013 DF8 Adventure Mountain Raceway Greenland Michigan United States August 16, 2013 DO Upper Peninsula International Raceway Escanaba Michigan United States August 17, 2013 DO Upper Peninsula International Raceway Escanaba Michigan United States August 18, 2013 TEMPORARY-DO Hudsonville County Fairgrounds Hudsonville Michigan United States August 20, 2013 TEMPORARY-DRC Manistee County Fairgrounds Onekama Michigan United States August 24, 2013 DF8 Manistee County Fairgrounds Onekama Michigan United States August 24, 2013 TEMPORARY-DO Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn Michigan United States August 24, 2013 PRC Elkton Autumnfest Oval Elkton Michigan United States August 31, 2013 DO Elkton Autumnfest road course Elkton Michigan United States August 31, 2013 DRC Silver Bullet Speedway Owendale Michigan United States August 31, 2013 DO Farwell Fairgrounds Farwell Michigan United States September 1, 2013 DF8 Croswell County Fair Croswell Michigan United States June 19, 2014 DF8 Eaton County Fairgrounds Charlotte Michigan United States July 8, 2014 TEMPORARY-DRC Oakland County Fair Davisburg Michigan United States July 10, 2014 DO Oakland County Fair Davisburg Michigan United States July 11, 2014 DF8 Barry County Expo Hastings Michigan United States July 17, 2014 DO Mason County Fairgrounds Ludington Michigan United States August 5, 2014 DO Allegan County Fairgrounds Allegan Michigan United States September 8, 2014 DO St. Joseph County Grange Fair Centreville Michigan United States September 16, 2014 DO Ionia Free Fairgrounds Ionia Michigan United States July 19, 2015 TEMPORARY-DO Chipewa County Fairgrounds Kinross Michigan United States September 2, 2015 DF8 Kellogg Arena Battle Creek Michigan United States January 9, 2016 INDOOR-CO Branch County Fairgrounds Coldwater Michigan United States August 11, 2016 TEMPORARY-DO Ogema County Fairgrounds West Branch Michigan United States August 17, 2016 TEMPORARY-DRC Otsego County Fairgrounds Gaylord Michigan United States August 18, 2016 TEMPORARY-DO Sands Speedway Sands Michigan United States August 21, 2016 PO Goodells County Park Goodells Michigan United States July 21, 2017 DO Sumpter Township Fairgrounds Belleville Michigan United States May 28, 2018 DF8 Marion County Fairgrounds Marion Michigan United States June 23, 2018 DF8 Montcalm 4-H County Fairgrounds Greenville Michigan United States June 24, 2018 DF8 Montcalm 4-H County Fairgrounds Greenville Michigan United States June 24, 2018 DO Mecosta County Fairgrounds Big Rapids Michigan United States July 11, 2018 DO Posen Summer Slam Posen Michigan United States July 14, 2018 DO Manchester Community Fairgrounds Manchester Michigan United States July 14, 2018 DO Saginaw County Fairgrounds Chesaning Michigan United States August 1, 2018 DO Escanaba River Ice Oval Gladstone Michigan United States March 3, 2019 ICE-OVAL Ingham County Fairgrounds Mason Michigan United States July 31, 2019 DO Cass County Fairgrounds Cassopolis Michigan United States August 1, 2019 DO Whittemore Speedway Whittemore Michigan United States July 4, 2020 PO Norway Speedway Norway Michigan United States July 31, 2020 PO Luce West Mackinac Fairgrounds Newberry Michigan United States August 1, 2020 DO