Delaware Speedway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Canada's Home Town Track | ||
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| Location | 1640 Gideon Drive, Delaware, Ontario, Canada | |
| Capacity | 7,000 (Estimated) | |
| Owner | Multiple owners | |
| Operator | Jerry Wilcox (Operations Manager) | |
| Opened | 1952 | |
| Former Names | Brodie's Delaware Speedway Delaware International Speedway |
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| Major Events | APC 300 Street Stock Showdown Truck Challenge Twin 75's Enduro Nationals Enduro All-Star Race
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| Egg Oval | ||
| Surface | Paved | |
| Circuit Length | 0.8 km (0.5 mi) | |
| Banking | Turns - 5-7 degrees (Estimated) | |
Delaware Speedway is a half-mile paved race track that is one of the oldest continuously operating tracks in Canada. It is located a few minutes west of London, Ontario northeast of Delaware, Ontario. It hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer. The track opened in 1952 as a quarter-mile dirt track and was later expanded to the 1/2 paved oval of today.
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[edit] Divisions
The track hosts six different divisions as part of its home classes (Late Model, Modified, Street Stock, Truck, Enduro, Junior Late Model).
[edit] Late Model
Late Models are purpose-built race cars. They are the fastest weekly class at the speeday. Late Model teams commonly travel back and forth between Delaware Speedway and Flamboro Speedway for large invitational events promoted by the Weekend Warrior Series. The signature event for the Late Models is "The Great Canadian Race" held on the long weekend in September.
[edit] Modified
The modified class is similar to the Late Model class but are open wheeled. The maximum speed of the cars is slightly slower than their late model counterparts. The class struggled for drivers in the early 2000's, but has bounced back in recent years with the introduction of a more aggressive body style, as well as increased participation in invitational events.
[edit] Super Stock
Sometimes described as "The Late Model of Yesterday" they have been modified with safety and performance in mind but still retain a stock frame, body and many chassis components. The division was known as the "Street Stock" class until its name was changed to "Super Stock" several races into the 2007 season. The change occurred as a result of gradual improvements to the quality of the cars in recent years and the signing of a new sponsor to the division.
[edit] Trucks
An entry level class that is a proving ground for future street stock, modified or late model drivers. The trucks use automatic transmissions to be easier to drive. The trucks are the largest weekly division at the speedway.
[edit] Enduro
The endurance division runs on a separate day from the regular divisions with an emphasis on staying out and making as many laps as possible. The division sees upwards of 80 drivers competing at the same time on the track. The minimum length for an enduro race is 250 laps. Once a year the top drivers face off in a Friday 25-lap format "All-Star Race". The at it's height in the mid-90's the enduro class boasted races of almost 200 cars competing in a single race. Today's enduro car has evolved from the original in significant safety strides. Many drivers and fans have offered different explanations for the decline, but many see the decrease in cars a result of lower availability of affordable used cars that were available in the early 90's.
[edit] Junior Racing League
The Junior Racing League races on Wednesday nights on a special roadcourse in the infield. The drivers (aged 8-17) years old race 1/2 scale late model stock cars. The program was formerly known as the "CASCAR Junior Program" and was founded in 1997. Racing is divided into two divisions - Junior (8-12 years old) and Senior (13-17 years old). The program has seen many drivers graduate to higher divisions in racing.
[edit] Chaos Cars
The speedway announced in the 2008 Rule package the introduction of a 4-cylinder "Chaos Car". The vehicles will run in "Novelty" type events before enduro races and occasionally at the intermission of the Friday program.
[edit] History
[edit] Super Modifieds
The 1/2 Mile asphalt surface is said to have been specifically built to accomidate super modifed racing. The "Supers" raced at the speedway from the 70's through 80's before being dropped from the racing card and replaced with Super Late models. Super Modified racing did not return to Delaware Speedway until 2006 when the International Super Modified Association (ISMA) touring series made a stop.
[edit] CASCAR
The history of CASCAR and Delaware Speedway are very closely connected together. Delaware is widely recognized as the “Birthplace of CASCAR”. The promoter of CASCAR, Tony Novotny was simultaneously promoter of both CASCAR Operations and Delaware Speedway before selling the track in 2001.
The track hosted CASCAR Super Series races from 1986 until 2005 when Delaware Speedway dropped CASCAR from its schedule in the same year the track left the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series after a two year membership. The reason for the drop was delays in the delievery of the CASCAR schedule, prompting Delaware to fill the 2 annual CASCAR dates with its own events. Observers also cited strained relations between the track and CASCAR over the series' operations being controlled by its impending buyer NASCAR. All of the CASCAR Super Series' races in 1986 were held at the track.
