SOUTH DAKOTA
The Mount Rushmore State
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From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”
All-Time Favorite South Dakota Track:
Interstate Speedway
Current lifetime trackchasing state rank: 1
Best Memories:
I’ve had a lot of interesting experiences up in South Dakota since my first visit to the Huset’s Speedway in 1984.
My visit to the Buffalo Chip race in Rapid City allowed me to visit the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis. It was their 75th anniversary. This was a major addition to my sports spectating resume. I want to go back when I can stay longer than one day and night.
Some of the most competitive racing I ever saw happened on a Saturday night at the Interstate Speedway in Jefferson. In the dictionary under, “little hole in the wall dirt bullring” you will find a picture of the Interstate Speedway. When I’m out in that neck of the woods I drive right by that track on I-29. It seems that I’m always rushing to somewhere else and don’t have time for a return visit.
Then there’s the Butte County Speedway in Belle Fourche. It took them a long time to open. Then they raced for only one show. I was there for that show! Carol and South Dakota’s Jim Holland joined me on that day. This driver raced at Belle Fourche for that one and only show.
The day of my visit to the Brown County Speedway I went golfing with Alan Brown. At the Black Hills Speedway, I had a great interview with newspaperman Jim Holland. At the Heartland Speedway, I almost didn’t get to see the racing because the EMT was late in showing up. At the Lake County Speedway, the entire place was evacuated in the middle of the program when a tornado approached. Then for the next few hours, I drove east on I-90 under the blackest of clouds trying to outrun that storm. About ten people died that evening from the tornado. Then there was the night Carol and I hooked Ed Esser up with reporter Jim Holland at the J.C. (Pappy Hoel) Short Track at the Jack Pines Motorcycle Club (above). At the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center indoor show I met Doug Napier and picked up fellow competitor Butch Knouse to give him a ride to this faraway event. I’ve also traveled with South Dakota race fan Rob Palmer to tracks in his home state and elsewhere. Of course, during my South Dakota trackchasing travels, I’ve taken the time to visit Mount Rushmore and Wall Drug. Lots of good times in the Mount Rushmore state.
| TRACK | CITY | STATE | COUNTRY | DATE | TRACK TYPE |
| Huset’s Speedway | Sioux Falls | South Dakota | United States | July 11, 1984 | DO |
| Hartford Speedway | Hartford | South Dakota | United States | May 28, 1998 | DO |
| Lake County Speedway | Madison | South Dakota | United States | May 30, 1998 | DO |
| Interstate Speedway | Jefferson | South Dakota | United States | September 20, 1998 | DO |
| Brown County Speedway | Aberdeen | South Dakota | United States | August 12, 2002 | DO |
| Turner County Fairgrounds | Parker | South Dakota | United States | August 13, 2002 | DF8 |
| Casino Speedway | Watertown | South Dakota | United States | May 29, 2005 | DO |
| Park Jefferson Speedway | Jefferson | South Dakota | United States | May 25, 2006 | DO |
| Tri-State Speedway | Sisseton | South Dakota | United States | May 29, 2006 | DO |
| Miller Speedway | Miller | South Dakota | United States | August 11, 2006 | DO |
| Black Hills Speedway | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States | June 27, 2008 | DO |
| Heartland Speedway | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States | June 27, 2008 | DO |
| Dakota State Fair Speedway | Huron | South Dakota | United States | July 16, 2009 | DO |
| Wagner Speedway | Wagner | South Dakota | United States | July 17, 2009 | DO |
| Butte County Raceway | Belle Fourche | South Dakota | United States | June 19, 2010 | DO |
| J.C. (Pappy) Hoel Short Track A the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track | Sturgis | South Dakota | United States | June 19, 2010 | DO |
| Rushmore Plaza Civic Center | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States | March 1, 2013 | INDOOR-PO |
| Buffalo Chip | Sturgis | South Dakota | United States | August 4, 2015 | DRC |
| Lonetree Creek Race Park | Scotland | South Dakota | United States | August 22, 2015 | DO |
| Turner County Fairgrounds | Parker | South Dakota | United States | August 16, 2016 | DO |
| Bandit Speedway | Box Elder | South Dakota | United States | July 24, 2021 | DO |
| Long Lake Ice Course | Madison | South Dakota | United States | January 23, 2022 | ICE-RC |
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