Eagle Raceway

Did You Know?

• Future NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon (1990) and Tony Stewart (1994) won the Midsummer Midget Classic at Eagle Raceway.
• A 100,000-watt sound system was added in 1997, and track announcer Rick Allen Schwieger (now NBC Sports' play-by-play announcer) was notable there.
• Since 2023, the High Limit Sprint Car Series has visited Eagle Raceway yearly.

Track History

Dale Halvorsen and Harvey Kropp built the racetrack in 1963 on farm ground owned by Halvorsen, with Kropp serving as promoter. The terrain allowed a high-banked bowl-shaped track to be carved from surrounding hills, which also provided a location for above-track grandstands. Kropp and Halvorsen promoted open wheel racing through the 1960s and 1970s, ending after an abbreviated 1976 season that saw the track's only death when Jim Golden flipped in turn one after releasing his seatbelts following a preliminary heat race win.

The track remained dormant until 1978, when Paul Saenz leased it from Halvorsen and ran weekly Late Model Stock Cars. In 1984, John Beecham, his wife Laura, and John's brother Marty purchased the track. The Beechams razed the decaying scorer's tower and concession stands, constructing a new two-level concession stand and scorer's/VIP area, and replaced old seats with seating for about 5000 fans. The 1987 season introduced the USAC Midget Series in the Midsummer Midget Classic; winners included Jeff Gordon in 1990 and Tony Stewart in 1994.

In 1997, the Beecham family sold the track to Craig Cormack and Dean Orth operating as Eagle Entertainment, LLC. Cormack took full control in 1999, replacing wooden bleachers with concrete and aluminum stadium seating, and added two sections in 2000 including a 40-foot-high aluminum grandstand and a 750-seat wood bleacher section, raising capacity to 7500.