With the racing world paused amid the COVID-19 outbreak, SPEED SPORT is highlighting race tracks around the United States. This is part of that ongoing series.
Track of the Day: Angell Park Speedway
Address: 100 Park St., Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Website:Â www.angellparkspeedway.net
History: On June 20, 1903, Col. William H. Angell donated a plot of land to the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department. That plot of land, which took the name Angell Park, eventually became the home of one of the most historic midget racing tracks in the United States.
Like many tracks of the time, Angell Park Speedway started as a horse racing track. The first horse race there was held on Aug. 15, 1913. However, it was more than 20 years before auto racing occurred at the Sun Prairie, Wis., venue.
The first known auto race at the track was run on May 30, 1939, with four races taking place on what was then a half-mile dirt track. Unfortunately, the event was marred by the death of competitor Ralph Collins.
Despite the tragedy, racing continued at the track. In May of 1940 the track hosted the Badger Midget Racing Ass’n for the first time. Racing continued until 1942, when auto racing was suspended across the country because of World War II.
Once the war ended, racing returned to Angell Park Speedway, which had received a face lift. Gone was the old half-mile dirt track and in its place was a third-mile dirt oval that remains to this day.
Midget racing has always been the highlight of Angell Park Speedway, with the Badger Midget Racing Ass’n continuing to make Angell Park Speedway its home base all these years later. Drivers such as Kevin Olson, Stan Fox, Dan Boorse, Randy Koch, Scott Hatton, Brad Kuhn, Mike Hess, Christopher Bell and, most recently, Chase McDermand have won Badger Midget Racing Ass’n titles.
The biggest event of the season is the Pepsi Nationals, which debuted in 1982. The event takes place July 4-5 and is co-sanctioned by the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and Badger Midget Racing Ass’n.
The venue continues to be owned and operated by the Sun Prairie Volunteer Fire Department.
