Qlispé Raceway Park

{{short description|Motorsport facility in Airway Heights, Washington, U.S.}}

{{Infobox motorsport venue

|Name = Qlispé Raceway Park

|Nicknames =

|Time = UTC−08:00 (UTC−07:00 DST)

|Location = Airway Heights, Washington

|Coordinates = {{coord|47.660|-117.573|type:landmark_region:US-WA|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|Image =

|Image_caption =

|Address = 750 N Hayford Rd

|Capacity =

|Owner = Kalispel Tribe (May 2021–present)

|Operator =

|Broke_ground =

|Opened = 1974

|Closed =

|Construction_cost=

|Architect =

|Former_names = Spokane County Raceway

|Events = Former:
NASCAR K&N Pro Series West (2011, 2013, 2017)

|Layout1 = Oval

|Surface = Asphalt

|Length_km = 0.805

|Length_mi = 0.500

|Turns =

|Banking =

|Record_time =

|Record_driver =

|Record_car =

|Record_year =

|Record_class =

|layout2 = Road Course

|surface2 = Asphalt

|length2_km = 3.701

|length2_mi = 2.300

|turns2 =

|banking2 =

|record_time2 =

|record_driver2 =

|record_car2 =

|record_year2 =

|record_class2 =

|layout3 = Drag Strip

|surface3 = Concrete / asphalt

|length3_km = 0.402

|length3_mi = 0.250

|turns3 =

|banking3 =

|record_time3 =

|record_driver3 =

|record_car3 =

|record_year3 =

|record_class3 =

|website = {{URL|https://www.qrpracing.com/}}

}}

Qlispé Raceway Park (formerly the Spokane County Raceway) is a multi-venue motorsport facility in the western United States, in Spokane County, Washington.{{cite web| last = Shoot| first = Jason| title = New road ahead: Fueled by its history and plenty of optimism, Qlispé Raceway Park embarks on its first day of racing| newspaper = Spokesman-Review| date = May 14, 2022| url = https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/may/14/new-road-ahead-fueled-by-its-history-and-plenty-of/| access-date = January 2, 2023}}

Located northeast of Airway Heights and west of the city of Spokane, it includes a {{cvt|0.250|mi|km|abbr=on}} drag strip, a {{cvt|2.300|mi|km|abbr=on}} road course, and a {{cvt|0.500|mi|km|abbr=on}} oval track. The raceway is currently a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) member; it previously hosted International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) events. It is used as well for driving schools for marque-specific clubs, and has also hosted ICSCC (International Conference of Sports Car Clubs) championship events.

The average elevation of the facility is approximately {{convert|2350|ft|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.

Spokane County Raceway hosted 3 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races, in 2011, 2013 and 2017.

History

The raceway opened {{Years or months ago|1974}} in 1974,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g7IRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ze0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4877%2C6376348 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Track's ready, so let 'em roar |last=Larrigan |first=Bob |date=May 31, 1974 |page=26}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DuQRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7uwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5247%2C1176377 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=It's 'Maple Leaf power!' |last=Larrigan |first=Bob |date=June 3, 1974 |page=16}} when investors produced more than two million dollars to build the facility.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gmhWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3PIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6514%2C5832148|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Revised suit filed in track dispute |last=Morlin |first=Bill|date=August 18, 2004 |page=B3 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XmdWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5fIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2347%2C494384 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Angry investors gain legal win |last=Morlin |first=Bill |date=November 11, 2004 |page=B1 }}{{cite news|author=Morlin, Bill|url=http://www.spokesmanreview.com/local/story.asp?ID=14024|title=Losing Track|publisher=Spokesman Review|date=2004-07-04|access-date=2007-11-18}}

Questionable management resulted in a lawsuit against president and operator Orville Moe,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=upRXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yfIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5355%2C6009375 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |last=Blocker |first=Kevin |title=Raceway Park owners sue |date=October 29, 2003 |page=B2 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D7syAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HPMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6403%2C4475952 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Closure recommended for raceway |last=Morlin |first=Bill|date=December 13, 2005 |page=B1 }}{{cite news|last=Morlin |first=Bill|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C2hWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b_MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6811%2C4868484|title=Raceway trustee files lawsuits |newspaper=Spokesman Review |date=September 6, 2007 |page=B6}} and bankruptcy hearings.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WxdZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PPMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3886%2C2263720 |newspaper=Spokesman Review |last=Morlin |first=Bill |title=Moe files for bankruptcy, avoids hearing |date=August 26, 2006 |page=B2}}{{cite court |url=http://www.waeb.uscourts.gov/HearingCalendar/PCW%2011-26-2007%20SPO.PDF |format=PDF |litigants=Spokane Raceway Park Inc. vs. Orville L. Moe |court=United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Washington}} Moe was eventually fired in June 2006.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pWlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YfMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6811%2C6113691 |newspaper=Spokesman Review |last=Morlin |first=Bill |title=Court asked to fire Moe, sell racetrack |date=March 18, 2006 |page=B6}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bmZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LvMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4506%2C969550|newspaper=Spokesman Review |last=Morlin |first=Bill |title=Moe fired as raceway manager |date=June 2, 2006 |page=A1}}{{cite web |url=http://www.competitionplus.com/2006_08/orville_moe.html |title=Banned from home? |access-date=2007-11-18 |publisher=CompetitionPlus.com |author=Mark Klaas}} The track was sold as of April 10, 2008, purchased by the county,{{cite news |url=http://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2008/04/17/sports/looking-at-the-bigger-picture-of-spokane-countys-raceway-buy/3964.html |newspaper=Cheney Free Press |last=Delaney |first=Paul |title=Looking at the bigger picture of Spokane County's Raceway buy |date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EORfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TPAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5692%2C3150644 |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |location=Idaho-Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Spokane County buys Raceway Park |date=June 27, 2008 |page=5A}} and renamed "Spokane County Raceway."

The operator in 2009 was Bucky Austin of Austin Motorsports Management,{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jul/06/spokane-raceway-operator-vows-pay-bills/ |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Spokane raceway operator vows to pay bills |last=Camden |first=Jim |date=July 6, 2009 |access-date=October 28, 2015}} which had a 25-year contract,{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/08/emergency-crews-responding-spokane-raceway-park/ |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |last=Prager |first=Mike |title=Driver strikes, kills pedestrian at Spokane County Raceway |date=May 8, 2009 |access-date=October 28, 2015}} but was terminated after less than one year due to mismanagement.{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/29/spokane-county-expected-terminate-raceway-contract/ |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Spokane County fires racetrack operator |last=Camden |first=Jim |date=October 29, 2009 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/money-pit/Content?oid=2132767 |magazine=Pacific Northwest Inlander |title=Money pit |last=Walters |first=Daniel |date=August 25, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2015}}

The track then was operated by Charlie Allen and Ron Hodgson; Allen had run the Firebird International Raceway in Arizona since 1983, and Hodgson was part owner of the Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta. In February 2012, Allen was replaced by Spokane local Craig Smith, originally of Odessa, a one-time successful world champion dragster.{{cite news |url=http://www.inlander.com/spokane/another-lap/Content?oid=2137372|magazine=Pacific Northwest Inlander |title=Another lap |last=Walters |first=Daniel |date=February 15, 2012 |access-date=October 28, 2015}} In May 2021, it was announced that Spokane County had accepted an offer to sell the raceway for $6.1 million dollars to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/jun/29/off-to-the-races-county-sells-raceway-to-kalispel-/|title = Spokane County to sell raceway to Kalispel Tribe for $6.1 million | the Spokesman-Review}}

References

External links

{{official website|https://qrpracing.com/}}
[https://archive.today/20130415223141/http://www.spokanecounty.org/parks/MotorSportsPark/ 2013 Archive of Spokane County Raceway site]
[http://www.racing-reference.info/tracks/Spokane_County_Raceway Spokane County Raceway archive] at Racing-Reference

Category:Motorsport venues in Washington (state)

Category:Buildings and structures in Spokane County, Washington

Category:NASCAR tracks

Category:Sports venues in Spokane, Washington

Category:Tourist attractions in Spokane County, Washington

Category:1974 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Sports venues completed in 1974