Old Dominion Speedway

Old Dominion Speedway (ODS) is a 3/8 mile (0.6 km) NASCAR Whelen All-American Series and drag racing track in Prince William County, just south of Manassas, Virginia (near Washington DC). The Potomac News reported in August 2006 that the track had been sold and that it would be leveled by developers in around a year.^[1][2] In early 2007 the track announced that a slumping housing market caused the deal to fall through. No closing date is currently pending.^[3]

Drag strip

The track hosts Friday night drag races and Wednesday evening Test and Tunes. Weekly divisions include: Super Pro, Foot Brake, Motorcycle, Quick 16, and Top Street 5.8. The drag strip, when first used in 1953, was originally an 1/8th-mile dirt track, and the first officially-sanctioned drag strip on the East Coast.

Oval track

The 3/8 mile track hosts Saturday night Late Models, INEX Legends, Mini Modifieds, Street Stocks, Bandeleros, and UCARS. The Late Models now run on 8-inch (200 mm) tires and there are a host of weight and carburetor rules depending on what type of motor is in the car. The track was built as a dirt track in 1952 and was paved in 1953. The 2009 champions are listed below:

Late Model: Willard Lawrence

Legends: Matt Cannon

U-CAR: Bryan Fox

Mini Modified: Dave Daniels

Mid Atlantic Street Stock: James Lucas

Old Dominion is also the birth place of the Late Model Stock Car, as this snippet of history found on the history page at ODS's Web Site tells us, "The Late Model Sportsman and Limited Sportsman divisions, along with some support classes ran until 1979, when track promoter Dick Gore came up with an idea for a class that would become one of the fastest growing divisions in NASCAR. " They said it would never work," says Gore, referring to the Late Model Stock Car division. But work it did as it became one of the most popular divisions, spreading throughout the country."

Late Model Track Champions:

2011- David Polenz

2010- Adam Brenner

2009- Willard Lawrence

2008- Willard Lawrence

2007- Michael Hardin

2006- Frank Deiny Jr.

2005- Franklin Butler III

2004- Brandon Butler

2003- Mark McFarland (National Champion/Regional Champion)

2002- Mike Darne

2001- Dustin Storm

2000- Mark McFarland

1999- Dale Delozier

1998- Dale Delozier

1997- Wes Troup

1996- Wes Troup (Regional Champion)

1995- Charlie Ford

1994- Danny Fair

1993- Brandon Butler

1992- Danny Fair

1991- Eddie Johnson

1990- Danny Fair

1989- Charlie Ford

1988- Charlie Ford

1987- Eddie Johnson

1986- Danny Fair

1985- Curtis Markham

1984- Curtis Markham

1983- Charlie Ford

1982-

1981-

1980-

1979- Billy Earl

All - Time Track Record
^[4]

Jerald Harris - 13.608 (99.199 MPH)

Record set on 16th lap of the Va. Sprint Series Event held on 7/23/11

NASCAR Whelen All-American Series

Late Model Stock Cars

Mark McFarland - 15.222 (88.687 MPH)

4/19/03

Track Record With 8" Tire Rule / Combined

Late Model / Grand Stock Beginning In 2008

Willard Lawrence - 15.731 (85.818 mph)

4/5/08

Grand Stock

Michael Hardin - 16.039 (84.170 MPH)

4/9/05

Mini Modified

Paul Green - 17.220 (78.397 MPH)

5/30/09

Mid-Atlantic Street Stock

Mark Averi - 17.394 (77.613 MPH)

5/29/10

Speedway Sportsman

Kevin Dillon - 17.010 (79.365 MPH)

4/20/96

Austin Legends / INEX Legends

Cliff Daniels - 17.063 (79.119 MPH)

5/15/05

UCAR

Brian Fox - 19.340 (69.804 MPH)

8/1/09

The Sign Shop Bandolero

Trevor Collins - 19.990 (67.534 MPH)

8/28/10

SRL Mini-Cup

Steven Teter - 18.667 (73.320 MPH)

9/5/09

Old Dominion Kart Series

The speedway also hosts a karting series. Divisions include Jr. Sportsman, Kid Kart, Bandelero, Senior Champ, Cadet, Stock Lite, Jr. Stock, and Jr. Champ. The champions, again are listed below:

Jr. Stock: Matt Roberts

Kid Kart: Aaron Gaston

Bandolero: Trevor Collins

Senior Champ: Jeremy Tuttle

Cadet: Tie between Rose Klosky and Ben Klosky

Stock Lite: Ryan Gaston

Jr. Stock: Matt Roberts

Jr. Champ: Trevor Larrick

Special events

The track hosts monster trucks, a U.S. Drift sanctioned drifting event, and car shows. The Speedway also hosts six Virginia Sprint races, and five Shenandoah Mini Cup Races. They also host a Rolling Thunder Modified Race. (As of 2010) The premier event at Old Dominion is "The Big One" held at the end of the season. It sees the highest car counts, biggest purse, and more spectators than most events. It is a non points race for the Late Models, allowing the drivers to go all out to win. 2009's winners were as follows:

Late Model: Dustin Storm/David Polenz

Legends: Ryan Polenz

U-Cars: Craig Oglevee

Street Stock: James Lucas

Virginia Sprints: Jerald Harris

In 2010, the "Big One" was the final race of the season at ODS. It was also the final race in the battle for the Virginia State Championship. CE Falk entered the race, needing to win the race to win the Virginia Championship. Despite leading early, he was not able to secure the victory paving the road for Justin Johnson to win the Championship. Adam Brenner won the track championship with a solid finish and the race win went to Mike Darne.^[5]

In 2011, Dustin Storm led the most laps. He had to charge through the field after changing a tire before he crossed the line. After the fans filed out and the majority of the media left, Dustin Storm was disqualified and Doug Liberman was awarded the win.^[6]

“ODS The Big One” Winners:

2011- Doug Liberman

2010- Mike Darne

2009- David Polenz

2008-

2007- Dustin Storm

2006- Dustin Storm

Joe Gibbs Youth for Tomorrow 150 Winners:

2011- Mike Darne

2010- Mike Darne

NASCAR history

The track was called Longview Speedway before the Gore family purchased it. The track hosted Grand National (now Sprint Cup) races in 1958 and from 1963 to 1966.^[7] Former racing greats such as Richard Petty, Ralph Earnhardt, and Ned Jarrett have raced at ODS. In recent years, Mark McFarland won several track championships and Denny Hamlin raced there. Current driver for the #88 Champion Spark Plugs Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, Richard Boswell also made his start at this track. Many other USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series drivers, such as Jack Bailey, Trevor Bayne, and Charlie Ford have also raced at ODS. In 2006, Albert Anderson became the first African American to win a race at Old Dominion Speedway.

NASCAR winners

• 1958 Frankie Schneider
• 1963 Richard Petty
• 1964 Ned Jarrett
• 1964 Ned Jarrett
• 1965 Junior Johnson
• 1965 Richard Petty
• 1966 Elmo Langley

References

1. ^ "Old Dominion Speedway sold Staff reports Aug 02, 2006"; Matthew Stanmyre; Potomac News; Retrieved January 17, 2007
2. ^ "ODS to keep racing - for now"; Matt Stanmyre; February 13, 2007 Potomac News; Retrieved February 25, 2007
3. ^ "Old Dominion Speedway"; August 21, 2006 Potomac News; Retrieved January 17, 2007
4. ^ http://www.olddominionspeedwayresults.com/ODS_Track_Records.htm
5. ^ "Darne Wins "Big One" at Old Dominion Speedway"; Andy Marquis; September 19, 2010; Race22.com; Retrieved October 22, 2010
6. ^ "Liberman Wins ODS Big One After a Storm in Victory Lane"; Andy Marquis; September 22, 2011; Race22.com; Retrieved October 26, 2011
7. ^ NASCAR Track Grand National History; Retrieved February 25, 2007

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 38°43′27″N 77°27′56″W / 38.72417°N 77.46556°W / 38.72417; -77.46556