Broadway Speedway (Knoxville)

Nothing left

Described by racer Shirl Greer as the first strip in that part of the country
Shirl Greer raced there early in his career in 1955

Raced: 1954-58
State: Tennessee
What's left: The site was never redeveloped, but every trace of the strip has been removed.
Raced on: At an oval speedway
First race: April 13, 1954
Track: 1/5 mile (on an 1,100-foot straightaway)
Surface: Part dirt, part asphalt
Location: Two miles north of Fountain City, just north of Coppen Gap, west of Maynardville Pike
People: East Tennessee Timing Association, requested and ran the drags (1954)
Elevation: 1,044 ft (318 m)
Coordinates: 36.06864, -83.93227

At the East Tennessee Timing Association’s request, this half-mile oval began running fifth-mile drag races on the night of April 13, 1954. Built that year, the speedway stood two miles north of Fountain City, just north of Coppen Gap and west of Maynardville Pike. Races used the 1,100-foot straightaway in front of the stands. Kenny Sharp won the first event, beating a 12-car field at 72 MPH in Ralph Powell’s Studebaker. Half a dozen car clubs ran the races at various times: the Drifters, Ridger Rnners, Hillbillies, Pacemakers, Atomic Busters and Rod Benders. Races were held at night and on Sundays. Shirl Greer of Kingsport raced there in 1955, early in his career. He said the Knoxville strip was the first in that part of the country and was rough to race on, part dirt and part asphalt.

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