Davenport Speedway

Closed

Open to any spectator with a 1950 or newer car

Raced: 1952
State: Iowa
What's left: A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
On the site today: The oval still runs at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds
Raced on: Fairgrounds
Surface: Dirt
Location: Half-mile dirt track at the Davenport fairgrounds
Elevation: 724 ft (221 m)
Coordinates: 41.53541, -90.61815

As a special attraction, drag races ran at a couple of meets in May and June 1952 on the half-mile dirt track at the Davenport fairgrounds, between the midget races. Late model stock cars, 1950 or newer, took part, and any spectator could enter. Cars started at the left turn and raced in pairs to the finish line in front of the grandstand. Don Doty won the drag races on May 30, 1952, in his Oldsmobile 88. The track still runs at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

Background

Davenport Speedway now races on a quarter-mile dirt track. The half-mile the drags used is no longer in service, but in 1953 it became the first Iowa track to host a NASCAR race, a Grand National event won by Herb Thomas.

Background

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