Ona Speedway

Ona Speedway

"Where Legends Are Born"
Aerial of Ona Speedway in 2017
Location	2674 Prichard Road,Ona,West Virginia25545
Time zone	UTC−5/ −4 (DST)
Coordinates	38.43927°N 82.20099°W/38.43927; -82.20099
Capacity	3,000-5,000
Owner	Ona Land Management Services, LLC
Operator	TK Promotions
Broke ground	1962
Opened	1963
Construction cost	$750,000 (1962)
Architect	J.H Milam Inc.
Former names	West Virginia International Speedway (1963–1969) International Raceway Park (1970–1976)
Oval Track
Surface	Asphalt
Length	0.438 miles (0.704 km)
Turns	4
Banking	Turns: 13° Straights: 4°
Race lap record	0:16.40 (96.15 mph) (Charlie Perry, Perry Racing, 1997, Open Wheel Modified)
Race lap record	0:17.40 (90.41 mph) (Larry Dickson,Vollstedt Racing, 1969,USAC Sprint Car)
Race lap record	0:18.20 (84.05 mph) (Bobby Allison,Melvin Joseph, 1971,NASCAR Winston Cup)

Ona Speedwayis anAuto racingovalshort trackvenue located inOna, West Virginia.Ona Speedway is known for being the only paved oval race track in West Virginia and hostingNASCAR Cup Seriesraces in 1963, 1964, 1970, & 1971. It is located adjacent to the Ona Airpark between the cities ofHuntingtonandCharleston.

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.The track hosted twoNASCAR Cup Seriesraces 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 byFred Lorenzen. The 1964 Mountaineer 500 was held on August 16, 1964, with an attendance of 12,000. The 500 lap race was won byRichard Petty.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 includeJunior Johnson,Ned Jarrett,Jim Paschal,David Pearson,Wendell Scott,Buck Baker,andJoe Weatherly. 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 entertainerDick Clarkand the Lashinsky brothers in 1969.

1963 Mountaineer 300 Billboard

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.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 toDarlington Racewayin terms of speed and fan attendance. The original backstretch wall was built with the short track and still stands today.

Blueprint of the planned Ona, WV Motorsports Park

1970s

The track hosted twoNASCAR Cup Seriesraces in the 1970s and became a local concert venue. On June 12, 1970, it hosted the "Summers On Festival" with bandsGrand 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 byRichard Petty.During the race the track lighting system went out leaving drivers in the dark as the cars did not have headlights. The1971 West Virginia 500was held on August 8, 1971, with an attendance of 10,000. The 500 lap race was won byRichard Petty. Other notable drivers who raced at the track in the 1970s includeJames Hylton,Dave Marcis,Cecil Gordon,Elmo Langley,Ron Keselowski,Bobby Isaac,Bobby Allison,Buddy Baker,andBenny Parsons. The track shut down in 1976 after financial trouble after removal from the NASCAR schedule.

Wendell Scott, Bobby Allison, and Richard Petty at Ona Speedway in 1971.

1980s

The track sat dormant with no known races held at the facility. The adjacent Ona Airpark was completed and opened in 1987.

1990s

In 1995, the track was repaved and reopened by Donnie Chapman.The track record of 16.40 was set by Charlie Perry racing an open-wheel modified in 1997.On June 28, 1997, the track hosted Nascar DriversErnie Irvan,Sterling Marlin,Kenny WallaceandJeremy Mayfield.

On July 18, 1998Cale Yarborough,David Pearson,Harry Gant,Buddy BakerandBobby Allisonraced 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 driversMichael Waltrip,Sterling Marlin,Jeff Green,andKenny Wallace.TheOrange County Choppersalso were in attendance. In 2007 the track hosted NASCAR driversDale Earnhardt Jr.,Sterling Marlin,Martin Truex Jr.,Kenny Wallace,andClint Bowyer

2010s–present

The track is currently operating, hosting bi-weeklystock car racing.Classes of cars raced includeLate Models,Modifieds,Legends,Street Stocks, Crown Vics, and UCARs.

Other car classes have run periodically including Classics, Compacts, USAC Midgets, CRS Trucks, and Baby Grands.

Cars race at Ona Speedway in 2020

External links

Ona Speedway Official Website https://www.onaspeedway.com/

Ona Speedway Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Ona-Speedway-119937481431577/

Ona Speedway History Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/163571698791140/