Track Profile

Construction of Russ and Pat Densmore’s, Michigan Ideal Speedway begins. Densmore was the owner of a local propane company in Springport, Michigan and was on the fire and safety crew at Michigan International Speedway. Construction of the 3/8th mile track was delayed after thunderstorms did over $70,000 of damage. This did not stop Densmore as he would say “I’m building this for the guy in the 9th row” setting the foundation and reestablishing Russ’s commitment to build a facility for the fans.

In October Jim “Barney” Barnhardt would take the first lap in a race car around the million dollar plus facility. He also credited as the first man to wreck, but not the first to hit the wall as that honor would go to Densmore himself, who hit the wall with a bull dozer during construction.

Bill Tyler won the first Winged Sprint car race opening night with Joe Dorer and Charlie Evens winning Late Model features, Andy Michner winning the Mini-Champs feature, Dan Bailey winning the IMCA MOdifieds feature, Tim West would win Factory Stocks and John Smalley, Ed Santora and Dick Margo winning Pro Stock races.