Canfield Speedway


Canfield Speedway is a half mile dirt oval racetrack that hosted sanctioned auto racing from 1950 to 1964, but other associations ran until the late 1970s. There was also a 1/4 mile dirt racing surface that shared the front stretch with the 1/2 mile track. It was used until the track was closed to auto racing in 1973. Attendance varied from 30,000 people for larger events to 10,000 people for ones of less significance. The track is located at the Canfield Fairgrounds in Canfield, Ohio, and is still in use today, primarily during the Canfield Fair.

History

The original promoter of auto racing in Canfield was Charlie Findlay and then his nephew George C. Findlay in the early 1960s. It was Charlie that had close ties with Johnny Marcum, Midwest Association of Racing Cars and Canfield Speedway was the priority track. In 1964 ARCA took over MARC as the desire for dirt tracks died out.

Races

It was on the NASCAR Grand National Schedule for three years from 1950-1952 hosting one event annually over that time period. The NASCAR Grand National and Short Track series competed there as well as ARCA and USAC. The Grand National events were 200 laps and long. The Short Track Race was 100 laps and the track was 1/4-mile long making the race. The ARCA races were either 100 laps on the 1/4-mile or 200, 250, or 300 laps on the 1/2-mile as the track had two different configurations. Some of the events used the inverted start with the pole qualifier starting last. Both USAC races were 100 laps on the quarter mile configuration.

Records

The quickest laps recorded in sanctioned events were just under the 24 second mark with cars averaging around the speedway on the half mile configuration. On the quarter mile quick time was under 16 seconds and cars averaged. The NASCAR pole record is and the race record is 48.057 mph 2:04:51. The record for cautions is 4 and smallest margin of victory and the largest 3 laps. The largest purse was $4350 and the most lead changes was 2.

Table of NASCAR Sanctioned Events

DateEvent NameSeriesRace WinnerPole
May 30, 1950NASCAR Grand NationalBill RexfordJimmy Florian
May 30, 1951Poor Man's 500NASCAR Grand National SeriesMarshall TeagueBill Rexford
September 27, 1951-----NASCAR Short TrackLloyd MooreIggy Katona
May 30, 1952Poor Man's 500NASCAR Grand NationalHerb ThomasDick Rathmann

Table of ARCA & USAC Events

DateSeriesWinner
May 30, 1953ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
August 8, 1953ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
May 31, 1954ARCA Stock CarBuckie Sager
June 26, 1954ARCA Stock CarBob Pronger
July 17, 1954ARCA Stock CarDon Oldenberg
August 7, 1954ARCA Stock CarRuss Hepler
April 23, 1955ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
May 30, 1955ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
June 25, 1955ARCA Stock CarRuss Hepler
July 30, 1955ARCA Stock CarBill Lutz
August 20, 1955ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
September 17, 1955ARCA Stock CarMike Klapak
October 1, 1955ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
May 30, 1956ARCA Stock CarDarel Dieringer
June 23, 1956ARCA Stock CarRuss Hepler
July 14, 1956ARCA Stock CarJack Farris
August 11, 1956ARCA Stock CarJim Romine
September 22, 1956ARCA Stock CarBob James
April 20, 1957ARCA Stock CarJack Farris
April 27, 1957ARCA Stock CarIggy Katona
May 30, 1957ARCA Stock CarJack Farris
July 4, 1957ARCA Stock CarJack Farris
July 27, 1957ARCA Stock CarBob James
August 17, 1957ARCA Stock CarNelson Stacy
September 21, 1957ARCA Stock CarRoy Gemberling
April 26, 1958ARCA Stock CarBob James
May 30, 1958ARCA Stock CarLes Snow
June 24, 1958ARCA Stock CarBob James
July 4, 1958ARCA Stock CarBob James
April 25, 1959ARCA Stock CarNelson Stacy
May 30, 1959ARCA Stock CarDon White
July 4, 1959ARCA Stock CarBill Forney
August 1, 1959ARCA Stock CarBob James
August 14, 1959USAC MidgetEddie Johnson
September 26, 1959ARCA Stock CarBob James
July 2, 1960ARCA Stock CarPaul Parks
July 30, 1960ARCA Stock CarNelson Stacy
August 3, 1960USAC MidgetBob McLean
September 18, 1960ARCA Stock CarNelson Stacy
May 30, 1961ARCA Stock CarHarold Smith
September 17, 1961ARCA Stock CarKenny Reeder
April 21, 1962ARCA Stock CarDick Freeman
May 30, 1962ARCA Stock CarHarold Smith
May 30, 1963ARCA Stock CarJack Bowsher
May 29, 1964ARCA Stock CarEarl Balmer

1950 Race #5 Top 5 Results for First Race

1. Bill Rexford200 Laps$1,47080 Led
2. Glenn Dunaway198$750-
3. Lloyd Moore198$500-
4. Lee Petty195$400-
5. Bill Blair195$300-

Bill Rexford

won the inaugural event and went on to take the Grand National Championship that year in 1950. He was the youngest diver to win the championship in what is now the NASCAR Cup Series. He was aided to the championship when Lee Petty was stripped of some points for racing in non-NASCAR sanctioned events. His only lead lap finish in his career was at Canfield Speedway. His only career pole came at Canfield Speedway the following year in 1951. He was the 1st of 6 drivers to win a championship without winning a pole in that season. He is 1 of 4 drivers to win a championship with only 1 win that season. In the three grand national races only 4 cars combined finished on the lead lap.