Ona Speedway
{{short description|Motorsport track in the United States}}
{{Motorsport venue
|Name = Ona Speedway
|Nicknames = "Where Legends Are Born"
|Location = 2674 Prichard Road, Ona, West Virginia 25545
|Coordinates = {{coord|38.43927|N|82.20099|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|Image = Ona Speedway Aerial.jpg
|Image_caption = Aerial of Ona Speedway in 2017
|Capacity = 3,000-5,000{{cite web|last=Browning|first=Lexi|title=Ona, West Virginia is a town with two stop lights, but it's also a place where legends are made|url=https://www.ovaltracknews.com/ona-speedway/#:~:text=But%20after%20a%2022%2Dyear,used%20to%2C%E2%80%9D%20Marshall%20said.|publisher=Sporting News|access-date=December 28, 2020|date=February 22, 2020}}
|Owner = Ona Land Management Services, LLC
|Operator = TK Promotions
|Broke_ground = 1962
|Opened = 1963
|Closed =
|Construction_cost= $750,000 (1962)
|Architect = J.H Milam Inc.
|Former_names = West Virginia International Speedway (1963–1969)
International Raceway Park (1970–1976)
|Layout1 = Oval Track
|Surface = Asphalt
|Repaved = 1995
|Miles_first = True
|Length_mi = 0.438
|Length_km = 0.704
|Turns = 4
|Banking = Turns: 13°
Straights: 4°
|Record_time = 0:16.40 (96.15 mph)
|Record_driver = Charlie Perry
|Record_team = Perry Racing
|Record_year = 1997
|Record_class = Open Wheel Modified
|Record_time2 = 0:17.40 (90.41 mph)
|Record_driver2 = Larry Dickson
|Record_team2 = Vollstedt Racing
|Record_year2 = 1969
|Record_class2 = USAC Sprint Car
|Record_time3 = 0:18.20 (84.05 mph)
|Record_driver3 = Bobby Allison
|Record_team3 = Melvin Joseph
|Record_year3 = 1971
|Record_class3 = NASCAR Winston Cup
}}
{{Infobox Airport
| name = Ona Airpark
| nativename =
| image =
| caption =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| FAA = 12V
| type = Public
| owner = Private
| city-served = Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area
| location = Ona, West Virginia
| elevation-f = 550
| elevation-m = 168
| coordinates = {{coord|38|26|32.0483|N|082|12|33.0133|W|type:airport_region:US|display=inline}}
| website =
| r1-number = 7/25
| r1-length-f = 3154
| r1-length-m = 961
| r1-surface = Concrete
| stat-year = 1987
| footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation Administration{{FAA-airport|ID=12V|use=PU|own=PU|site=20858.1*A}}, effective July 25, 2024
}}
Ona Speedway is an Auto racing oval short track venue located in Ona, West Virginia. Ona Speedway is known for being the only paved oval race track in West Virginia and hosting NASCAR Cup Series races in 1963, 1964, 1970, & 1971. It is located adjacent to the Ona Airpark {{airport codes|||12V}}, a privately owned airport opened in September 1987, between the cities of Huntington and Charleston.
Track history
=1960s=
Constructed in 1962 by West Virginia Sports and Motor Sports Inc at a cost of $750,000, the track was phase 1 of a larger project that would include a 1.375-mile superspeedway and football field.{{cite magazine|magazine=West Virginia Tourism 1964|last=Cade|first=Lowell|title=Hot Iron Horses on the Ona Oval}} The track hosted two NASCAR Cup Series races in the 1960s.
The 1963 Mountaineer 300 was held on August 18, 1963, with an attendance of 16,000. The 300 lap race was won by Fred Lorenzen.{{cite web|date=December 28, 2020|title= 1963 Mountaineer 300 |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/1963_Mountaineer_300/W|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racing-reference.info}}
The 1964 Mountaineer 500 was held on August 16, 1964, with an attendance of 12,000. The 500 lap race was won by Richard Petty.{{cite web|date=December 28, 2020|title= 1964 Mountaineer 500 |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/1964_Mountaineer_500/W|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racing-reference.info}} During the race pieces of the pavement cracked and became displaced causing complaints from many of the drivers.
Other notable drivers who raced at the track include Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Jim Paschal, David Pearson, Wendell Scott, Buck Baker, and Joe Weatherly.{{cite web|date=December 28, 2020|title= West Virginia International Speedway |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/West_Virginia_International_Speedway|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racing-reference.info}}
In 1965 NASCAR did not return to Ona and the planned 1.375-mile superspeedway was canceled. A denied direct-access interstate ramp was partly blamed along with declining attendance, low driver payout, and the pavement issue during the 1964 race. The track continued to operate with local racing until it was purchased by entertainer Dick Clark and the Lashinsky brothers in 1969.{{cite web|title= Former NASCAR tracks: Where are they now |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2017/08/30/short-tracks-nascar-eliminated-from-schedule/617831001/|access-date=December 29, 2020|website=usatoday.com}}{{cite web|title=International Raceway Park (Ona) |url=https://dragstriplist.com/west-virginia|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=dragstriplist.com}}
==Unbuilt superspeedway==
The West Virginia Superspeedway was planned to be 1.375 miles in length with 32° banked corners, 12° straits, and 40ft wide racing surface.{{cite web|title=International Raceway Park (Ona) |url=https://dragstriplist.com/west-virginia|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=dragstriplist.com}} It was planned to be a tri-oval layout with a 30,000 seating capacity, a football field between pit road and the front stretch grandstands, and a pit area large enough to serve 50 cars. The track was expected to be similar to Darlington Raceway in terms of speed and fan attendance. The original backstretch wall was built with the short track and still stands today.File:Ona-Speedway-Blueprints.jpg
=1970s=
The track hosted two NASCAR Cup Series races in the 1970s and became a local concert venue.
On June 12, 1970, it hosted the "Summers On Festival" with bands Grand Funk Railroad, Zephyr, Bloodrock, Heavy Rain, and Quiet.
The 1970 West Virginia 300 was held on August 11, 1970, with an attendance of 8,600. The 300 lap race was won by Richard Petty.{{cite web|date=December 28, 2020|title= 1970 West Virginia 300 |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/1970_West_Virginia_300/W|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racing-reference.info}} During the race the track lighting system went out leaving drivers in the dark as the cars did not have headlights.{{cite web|date=December 31, 2020|title= Ona Speedway to Hold Richard Petty Tribute |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/ona-speedway-to-hold-richard-petty-tribute/article_68287a2c-ef10-52de-b376-8fb82287c3a2.html|access-date=December 31, 2020|website=herald-dispatch.com}}
The 1971 West Virginia 500 was held on August 8, 1971, with an attendance of 10,000. The 500 lap race was won by Richard Petty.{{cite web|date=December 28, 2020|title= 1971 West Virginia 500 |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/1971_West_Virginia_500/W|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racing-reference.info}}
Other notable drivers who raced at the track in the 1970s include James Hylton, Dave Marcis, Cecil Gordon, Elmo Langley, Ron Keselowski, Bobby Isaac, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, and Benny Parsons.{{cite web|date=December 28, 2020|title= West Virginia International Speedway |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/West_Virginia_International_Speedway|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racing-reference.info}}
The track shut down in 1976 after financial trouble after removal from the NASCAR schedule.
=1980s=
The track sat dormant with no known races held at the facility.
The adjacent Ona Airpark was completed and opened in 1987.{{cite web|title=Ona Airpark |url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/12v|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=airnav.com}}
=1990s=
In 1995, the track was repaved and reopened by Donnie Chapman.{{cite web|date=March 5, 2011|title=History of ona speedway |url=http://www.racingin.com/news/Details.aspx?Event_ID=1040#.X-pAyNhKguU|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=racingin.com}} The track record of 16.40 was set by Charlie Perry racing an open-wheel modified in 1997.{{cite web|date=August 14, 2014|title=Barboursville man remembers his car racing past |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/features_entertainment/clyde-beal-barboursville-man-remembers-his-car-racing-past/article_96d19368-68c2-5520-b07c-8f37d86528f5.html|access-date=December 29, 2020|website=herald-dispatch.com/.com}} On June 28, 1997, the track hosted Nascar Drivers Ernie Irvan, Sterling Marlin, Kenny Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield.{{cite web|date=June 27, 1997|title=PAST NEWS JUNE 1997|url=https://www.jayski.com/jayski-archives/june-1997-news-archives/|access-date=December 28, 2020|website=jayski.com}}
On July 18, 1998 Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Harry Gant, Buddy Baker and Bobby Allison raced trucks in a special exhibition race.
The track continued to host with weekly racing throughout the decade.
=2000s=
On June 7, 2003, the track hosted NASCAR drivers Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, Jeff Green, and Kenny Wallace. The Orange County Choppers also were in attendance.
In 2007 the track hosted NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sterling Marlin, Martin Truex Jr., Kenny Wallace, and Clint Bowyer{{cite web|date=June 12, 2013|title=Ona Speedway honors McGinnis |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/ona-speedway-honors-mcginnis/article_dc89777c-3c1c-51f1-8799-384aba1a71f2.html|access-date=December 29, 2020|website=herald-dispatch.com/.com}}
=2010s–present=
The track is currently operating, hosting bi-weekly stock car racing. Classes of cars raced include Late Models, Modifieds, Legends, Hobby Stocks, Classics, Compacts, and UCAR.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.onaspeedway.com/ Ona Speedway Official Website]
- [https://www.facebook.com/Ona-Speedway-119937481431577/ Ona Speedway Facebook Page]
- [https://www.facebook.com/groups/163571698791140/ Ona Speedway History Facebook Group]
- {{US-airport-minor|12V}}
{{NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racetracks}}
{{ARCA tracks}}