Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway


The Michigan State Fairgrounds Speedway was a dirt oval racing track located in Detroit, Michigan. The track was built in 1899 for horse racing, and was part of the grounds purchased to provide a permanent venue for the Michigan State Fair. Joseph Lowthian Hudson donated the land, at Woodward Avenue and what is now 8 Mile Road, to the Michigan State Agricultural Society.
By 1908, the racetrack, at the east end of the fairgrounds, had a 5,000-seat capacity grandstand. The track originally hosted thoroughbred flat racing as well as standardbred harness racing. Later, it was used for auto racing, after the growth of that industry. In 1971 the grandstand was declared unsafe and was demolished in 2001.

Race winners

AAA/USAC Champ Car race winners

SeasonDateDriverChassisEngineSanctioning body
1928June 10|1912

NASCAR Grand National race winners

SeasonDateWinning DriverChassis
1951August 12Tommy Thompson1951 Chrysler
1952August 12Tim Flock1951 Hudson