The Southern National Speedway is a NASCAR oval track in Louisville, Georgia. It is one of the most renowned and historic tracks in the world. It was first opened in June 1947 and has been host to some of the most memorable motorsport events ever. A few weeks back, we took a look at the history of the legendary track and told you all about the drivers and the cars that have raced there.
But what exactly is the Southern National Speedway? Where does it lie? And who manages the track these days? We took a look at the answers to these questions in this article and found out all there is to know about the Southern National Speedway.
The Track And Its Co-founder Bill Pollack
The Southern National Speedway in Louisville, Georgia is one of the most well-known and prestigious motorsport venues in the world. The track was first opened in June 1947 and has been host to some of the most memorable motorsport events ever. It is currently owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation (ISC), and was built and designed by William Blair “Bill” Pollack.
After years of planning and consideration, Bill Pollack began working on what would eventually become the Southern National Speedway on a plot of land he owned in Louisville, Georgia. He purchased a 50-acre tract at the intersection of Bardeen Road and the Highland Road in the city. The track was constructed and designed by the legendary auto engineer A.J. Foyt, and would eventually host many of Foyt’s and other famous drivers’ races.
The first two NASCAR races held at the Speedway were the 1947 Southern 500 and the 1957 Southern 500. In those two races, Andy Talbert and Rex White, respectively, became the first and only African-Americans to win a NASCAR race. In 1997, the 100th anniversary of the Southern 500, NASCAR held a special day of racing and festivities at the Speedway. The event was titled the “The Most Memorable Year In Automotive History,” and featured several famous drivers and their cars. A 50-lap classic has also been named after Talbert and White in honor of their historic wins at the track. The event is still referred to as the “Talbert-White Grand Prix.’
The NASCAR Hall Of Fame And Its Role At The Southern National Speedway
The International Speedway Corporation (ISC) owns and operates several other tracks, including Atlanta’s Turner Field and the Kentucky Speedway. As part of the settlement of a lawsuit, the company was also granted the rights to the NASCAR Hall of Fame by Bill France, Sr. The center was also given to NASCAR as a part of the settlement, and was opened to the public in 1980. The lawsuit was settled in 1969, and allowed France, Bill Pollack, and others to establish NASCAR.
The creation of the NASCAR Hall of Fame came with certain stipulations. One of those stipulations was that the Hall of Fame would have a presence at one of NASCAR‘s premier circuit tracks. The choice of the track would be determined by a vote of the former contenders, and it would then be decided which track the iconic center would grace. The Southern National Speedway ended up being the choice of the former drivers. It was not quite what Pollack or France had in mind when the Hall of Fame was being established, but it still serves as a fitting tribute to the careers of Andy Talbert and Rex White, and the many drivers they influenced.
The Other Grand Slams That The Speedway Has Hosted
Besides the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Southern National Speedway has also hosted several other prestigious motorsport events. These events include the 1955–1956 AAA Championship Car Races, the 1966–1967 Indy 500, and the 1971 NASCAR All-Star Race, among others.
The AAA Championship Car Races were held from 1955 to 1956 and were one of the earliest races of their kind. It was run on the Friday night before the Indy 500, and was considered the sport’s “other major championship.” The two-day event was won by Dan Gurney and Barney Hall. In 1966, the Indy 500 was moved to the Friday night before the NASCAR Grand Nationals, and the race was renamed the “Dominica Grand Prix.’ It was originally called the “Indy 500 Grand Prix’ during its first year. The race has since been moved back to the Sunday after the Indy 500, and will be held in June at the beginning of the NASCAR season.
The NASCAR All-Star Race was first held at the Southern National Speedway in 1971 and was won by Richard Petty. The race was created to honor the men and women who had served in World War II. The race was expanded to include a 400-mile run from Atlanta to Birmingham, and back. In 1973, the race was moved again, this time to the spring, and it became the “Winternationals’”. That same year, the race was also made an annual event, and is still held annually in the spring.
The Layout Of The Track
The Southern National Speedway is an “oval” track, which means it is shaped somewhat like a circle. A track that is shaped like a circle is considered to be one of the most basic and fundamental track layouts, and the reason why many tracks are oval is because it is such an easy layout to design and build. An oval track usually has two sets of straightaways, called “corners,” which branch off into two sets of “banks,” or curved turnarounds. The track is usually fairly long, and the turns are generally tight and well-spaced. If the track is on a mountainous terrain, there may also be some straights tucked away in the valleys between the hills.
Additional Facts About The Track & Its Operations
The Southern National Speedway is one of the most prestigious and historic venues in NASCAR. It was first opened in June 1947 and has been host to some of the most memorable motorsport events ever. A few weeks back, we took a look at the history of the legendary track and told you all about the drivers and the cars that have raced there. This article will go over some additional information about the track and its operations that might not be familiar to you.
The International Speedway Corporation (ISC) owns and operates several other tracks, including Atlanta’s Turner Field and the Kentucky Speedway. As part of the settlement of a lawsuit, the company was also granted the rights to the NASCAR Hall of Fame by Bill France, Sr. The center was also given to NASCAR as a part of the settlement, and was opened to the public in 1980. The lawsuit was settled in 1969, and allowed France, Bill Pollack, and others to establish NASCAR.
The creation of the NASCAR Hall of Fame came with certain stipulations. One of those stipulations was that the Hall of Fame would have a presence at one of NASCAR’s premier circuit tracks. The choice of the track would be determined by a vote of the former contenders, and it would then be decided which track the iconic center would grace. The Southern National Speedway ended up being the choice of the former drivers. It was not quite what Pollack or France had in mind when the Hall of Fame was being established, but it still serves as a fitting tribute to the careers of Andy Talbert and Rex White, and the many drivers they influenced.