For over
seventy-five years, Portland Speedway has been a vibrant automobile racing facility in the
heart of a city known for its love of motorsports.
Originally constructed as a clay
oval track, Portland Speedway has a rich and storied history dating back to the mid
1920’s when its creators carved the original 5/8-mile surface out of a north Portland
field. In Portland Speedway’s early
years, it was a popular destination for aficionados of the rapidly-growing sport of
automobile racing, and played host to Big Car, Midget, and Stock Car races through the
start of World War II. In 1946, the
track’s operators paved and shortened Portland Speedway to a half-mile oval, riding
the growth of sedan racing on asphalt in post-war America.
In 1984, Western Speedways, Inc
acquired the lease for Portland Speedway, and the track solidified a sanctioning agreement
with NASCAR. In the fifteen years to follow,
Portland Speedway experienced tremendous growth, in terms of competitor participation and
spectator attendance. Similarly, the sponsors
and advertisers affiliated with Portland Speedway experienced significant gains in the
return on their promotional investments at the track.
Responding to the explosion of dirt
stock car and open wheel racing in America, Western Speedways, Inc. successfully converted
Portland Speedway back to its original clay surface in the year 2000 -- a triumphant
accomplishment that quickly led to a coveted sanctioning agreement with the country’s
fastest-growing short track touring series, the Pennzoil World of Outlaws.
As the Portland Speedway enters the
new millennium, the enduring facility stands tall -- empowered with the most popular
motorsports entertainment, generations of loyal fans, and a seventy-five year success
story.
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