[Bob Tanner]

Here's one that will give you fits, I bet:

Which oval track did NASCAR's major circuit run on that had dirt turns and paved straightaways?

No, it was NOT Daytona. I said O-V-A-L.

[Racer Duck]

I'm scratchin' my head over this one .. I don't even know where to begin researching the answer .. dirt corners, huh? was probably considered a "dirt track". that narrows it down to a couple hundred....

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I'm scratchin' my head over this one .. I don't even know where to begin researching the answer .. dirt corners, huh? was probably considered a "dirt track". that narrows it down to a couple hundred....

Hint: Started as a 1-mile high-banked dirt track in 1931. A 1/2-milew flat oval was built inside the big track. The inside track was reconfigured to a .625-mile high-banked (45 degrees) dirt. NASCAR ran three races there, the last two after the track was again reconfigured to the high-banked dirt turns and paved straights.

The winner of the first NASCAR race on the two-surfaced track was a former Indy 500 driver who never won the 500 but sat on the pole.

[Racer Duck]

thanks for the hints. it got me closer, but still haven't found anything I can definitely nail down.

the closest I've come is Langhorne or N. Wilkesboro, but I can't find anything about Langhorne being a 6.25 mile track or N. Wilkesboro being a mile track. and both have had way more than 3 NASCAR races...

the only Indy 500 pole sitter that I've found who's never won the 500 but has NASCAR wins is Dick Rathmann and he won at both of these tracks.

I'll keep looking, but for now I'm still stumped.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

thanks for the hints. it got me closer, but still haven't found anything I can definitely nail down.

the closest I've come is Langhorne or N. Wilkesboro, but I can't find anything about Langhorne being a 6.25 mile track or N. Wilkesboro being a mile track. and both have had way more than 3 NASCAR races...

the only Indy 500 pole sitter that I've found who's never won the 500 but has NASCAR wins is Dick Rathmann and he won at both of these tracks.

I'll keep looking, but for now I'm still stumped.

He won at another one, too. You're getting close, just not geographically.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

He won at another one, too. You're getting close, just not geographically.

Dick Rathmann won the 2nd of 3 NASCAR races held at this track on March 28, 1954 (the first of the 3 races being held some 3 years earlier.) starting from last (26th) position in the field, Dick's '52 Hudson finished with a 1 lap margin of victory over 2nd place Marvin Panch's '54 Dodge. for this race and the last NASCAR race at this track, August 1, 1954, the track was in a 1/2 mile oval configuration.

Oakland Speedway, located on Hesperian Boulevard and 14th Street in San Leandro, was built in 1931 as a 1 mile dirt oval. It lasted until World War II, during which in 1941/42 the grandstands burnt down and the track was abandoned.

However, in 1946, a new track called Oakland Stadium was constructed on the same site. It was a paved 5/8 mile oval with one turn banked at 45 degrees and one at 60 degrees. These angles were at the top of the banking, the angles being less further down. A 1/4 mile oval was also constructed inside the main oval.

The track was removed in 1955 to make way for the Bay-Fair shopping center.

A History of Oakland Stadium 1946-1955 By Tom Mottor is available for purchase.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

Dick Rathmann won the 2nd of 3 NASCAR races held at this track on March 28, 1954 (the first of the 3 races being held some 3 years earlier.) starting from last (26th) position in the field, Dick's '52 Hudson finished with a 1 lap margin of victory over 2nd place Marvin Panch's '54 Dodge. for this race and the last NASCAR race at this track, August 1, 1954, the track was in a 1/2 mile oval configuration.

Oakland Speedway, located on Hesperian Boulevard and 14th Street in San Leandro, was built in 1931 as a 1 mile dirt oval. It lasted until World War II, during which in 1941/42 the grandstands burnt down and the track was abandoned.

However, in 1946, a new track called Oakland Stadium was constructed on the same site. It was a paved 5/8 mile oval with one turn banked at 45 degrees and one at 60 degrees. These angles were at the top of the banking, the angles being less further down. A 1/4 mile oval was also constructed inside the main oval.

The track was removed in 1955 to make way for the Bay-Fair shopping center.

A History of Oakland Stadium 1946-1955 By Tom Mottor is available for purchase.

Now, wasn't that fun? Congratulations.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Now, wasn't that fun? Congratulations.

I'll sleep well tonight! all that research is hard work!