View source for Nazareth Speedway

{{Short description|Motorsport track in the United States}}
{{Infobox motorsport venue
| Name             = Nazareth Speedway 
| Nicknames        = 
| Time             = [[UTC−05:00|UTC−5]] ([[UTC−04:00|UTC−4]] [[Daylight saving time|DST]])
| Location         = [[Lower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| Coordinates      = {{coord|40.728|-75.319|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| Image            = [[File:Nazareth Speedway Trackmap.png|250px]]
| Image_caption    = Map of the track in 2004
| Capacity         = 45,000
| Owner            =[[Roger Penske]] (1986–1999)<br>[[International Speedway Corporation]] (1999–2004)<br>Raceway Properties, LLC (November 2015–present)
| Operator         = 
| Broke_ground     = 
| Opened           = 1910
| Closed           = 2004
| Construction_cost= 
| Architect        = 
| Former_names     = Nazareth National Speedway (1910–1984)<br>Pennsylvania International Raceway (1985–1993)<br>Nazareth Speedway (1994–2004)
| Events           = [[IndyCar Series|IndyCar]] ''[[Firestone Indy 225]]'' (2002–2004)<br />[[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]] ''[[Firestone Indy 225|Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix]]'' (1987–2001)<br />[[NASCAR Xfinity Series|NASCAR Busch Series]] ''[[Goulds Pumps/ITT Industries 200]]'' (1988–2004)<br />[[NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series]] ''[[2000 Chevy Silverado 200|Chevy Silverado 200]]'' (1996–2001)<br />[[Marlboro Challenge]] (1990, 1992)
| Layout1          = Oval (1987–2004)
| Surface          = Asphalt
| Miles_first      = True 
| Length_km        = 1.522
| Length_mi        = 0.946
| Turns            = 5
| Banking          = Turn 1 and Straightaways: 2.7°<br>Turns 2 & 3: 3°<br>Turns 4 & 5 4°
| Record_time      = 0:19.514
| Record_driver    = [[Greg Moore (racing driver)|Greg Moore]]
| Record_car       = [[Reynard 98I]]
| Record_year      = [[1998 CART season|1998]]
| Record_class     = [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]]
| Layout2          = Original Oval (1966–1984)
| Surface2         = Asphalt
| Miles_first2     = True 
| Length_km2       = 1.810
| Length_mi2       = 1.125
| Turns2           = 4
| Record_time2     = 0:38.310
| Record_driver2   = [[Mario Andretti]]
| Record_car2      = [[Kuzma (constructor)|Kuzma 60 D]]
| Record_year2     = [[1969 USAC Championship Car season|1969]]
| Record_class2    = [[United States Auto Club|U.S.A.C.]] [[Indy car racing|IndyCar]]
| Logo             = Nazareth_Speedway_logo.jpg
}}

'''Nazareth Speedway''' is a defunct [[auto racing]] facility in [[Lower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania|Lower Nazareth Township]] in the [[Lehigh Valley]] region of eastern [[Pennsylvania]], which operated from 1910 to 2004. The racing facility operated in two distinct course configurations. In its early years, it was a [[Dirt track racing|dirt]] twin [[Oval track racing|oval]] layout. In 1987, it was reopened as a paved tri-oval that measured just slightly under 1 mile.

The facility is often linked to local drivers [[Mario Andretti|Mario]] and [[Michael Andretti]]'s early racing careers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mcall.com/news/local/nazareth/mc-mario-andretti-nazareth-041916-20160419-story.html|title=Former Nazareth Speedway will always be 'home' to Mario Andretti|last=Tatu|first=Christina|work=themorningcall.com|access-date=2017-04-07|language=en-US}}</ref> It was also associated with [[Frankie Schneider]] due to his large number of wins on the two dirt tracks.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hart|first1=Jay|title=The "Old Master' did it best|url=https://www.mcall.com/2004/08/28/the-old-master-did-it-best-frankie-schneider-won-the-first-and-most-races-at-nazareth/|access-date=24 May 2018|agency=The Morning Call|date=28 Aug 2004}}</ref>

As of November 2015, the site was purchased by Raceway Properties LLC under David Jaindl. There are no current plans to return racing to the facility. As of 2024 the track is abandoned and in a state of disrepair with much of the track's infrastructure (such as grandstands) having been removed. The track's racing surface still exists though it is in disrepair.<ref name="purchase">{{cite web|last1=Tatu|first1=Christina|title=Developer David Jaindl buys former Nazareth Speedway|url=http://www.mcall.com/news/local/nazareth/mc-nazareth-speedway-sale-20160407-story.html|website=The Morning Call|date=8 April 2016 |access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref>

==Track history==
[[File:NazerethSpeedway.jpg|500px|thumb|Nazareth Speedway in 2004]]
Nazareth Speedway started as a horse racing track farther up in the center of the town in the 1850s known as the Northampton County Agricultural Fairgrounds. As the crowds grew, the location grew too crowded to remain in the center of the town. Around 1900, a new {{frac|1|2}} mile dirt track was constructed at the current location between Route 191 and 248. The site began hosting motor racing events in the 1910s.

In 1966, an additional 1{{frac|1|8}} mile dirt track was added. In 1986, [[Roger Penske]] bought the property, and subsequently paved the big track. The small track was demolished and the site was replaced by the expanding of a nearby grocery store in 1988.<ref name="Berger">{{cite book|last1=Berger-Carmen|first1=Tracy|title=Nazareth Speedway|date=2013|publisher=Arcadia|location=Charleston, South Carolina|isbn=978-1-4671-2048-7|pages=7–8}}</ref>

===Dirt track (small)===
The {{frac|1|2}} mile dirt track was constructed in the 1900s as a horse racing track. The first automotive events held at the location were not racing, instead it was a sport called [[auto polo]]. Following the [[Great Depression]] the first large race that happened at the small track would be held in 1947 by the [[American Automobile Association]]. The race included 35 cars, and attracted a crowd of 11,000 spectators.

In 1952, Jerry Fried purchased the fairgrounds. He continued the racing, and added in additional events, such as [[demolition derbies]]. The track was also the location of one of the first [[enduro race]]s on the east coast. The {{frac|1|2}} mile small dirt track continued to operate weekly during the closing of the large track from 1971 to 1982.

In the time period the small track was open, [[Buzzie Reutimann]] won 33 races, leading to the 1972 and 1973 track titles.<ref name="Reutimann">{{cite web |title=Emil "Buzzie" Reutimann |url=http://buzziereutimann.com/buzzie-s-bio/ |website=Buzzie Reutimann - Reutimann Racing |access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref>

During [[Roger Penske|Roger Penske's]] ownership in 1988, the small track was sold to nearby [[Laneco]] supermarket and demolished.<ref name="Berger" />

===Dirt track (large)===
The big track opened in April 1966, as a five-turn {{convert|1.125|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[dirt track racing|dirt track]] named Nazareth National Speedway. The track featured [[Whelen Modified Tour|modified]] races. Frankie Schneider had a clean sweep at the event - he had the fastest qualifying time, won his heat race, and won the feature event. The event turned out to be the only event at the track in that season.

The track held nine events in 1967, which was the most events the track hosted in one season. Schneider won five of the races.

In 1968, the track hosted five modified events. Schneider won three of them. [[Al Tasnady]] started near last in the August 24, 1968 modified event, and won the race by lapping all drivers except Schneider. [[United States Auto Club|USAC]] Dirt Champ cars raced at the track on July 13, 1968. The race was won by [[Al Unser]], who beat local driver [[Mario Andretti]].

Mario Andretti won the USAC dirt champ car race in 1969. In addition, [[Rags Carter]] won four consecutive events.<ref>http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053905/http://media.indycar.com/pdf/2011/IICS_2011_Historical_Record_Book_INT6.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }} (p. 238-243)</ref> Buzzie Reutimann won a 150 lap race in 1971.<ref name="Reutimann" /> Frankie Schneider won eleven races total at the track, the most of any driver.

In 1971, the large track was closed, and would remain closed until facility was purchased by [[Lindy V. Vicari|Lindy Vicari]] in 1982. Vicari cleared eleven years of plant overgrowth, refurbished the facilities, and shortened the large track to a one-mile (1.6&nbsp;km) dirt oval. His idea was to host a series of high-paying special events for USAC's Championship Dirt Cars and Modifieds. The races that he staged there drew big crowds, large competition, and much acclaim.

Maintaining the two dirt tracks turned out to be a larger financial burden than expected, and Vicari closed the two tracks. [[Kenny Brightbill|Brightbill's]] $50,000 victory in a 125-mile Modified contest on October 9, 1983, was the last race that was run there under Vicari's direction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.empaonline.org/lindy-vicari.html|title=EMPA Hall of Fame-Lindy Vicari|website=Eastern Motorsport Press Association|access-date=2017-03-11}}</ref> The facility remained closed for three years.<ref name="Berger" />

===Paved track===
The facility and a large amount of property behind it was purchased by [[Roger Penske]] in 1986. Penske built a new paved oval track on the footprint of the old 1{{frac|1|8}} mile dirt oval. At the same time, he sold the section of the property that held the old {{frac|1|2}} mile small dirt track to the owners of Laneco, a former grocery store chain. Laneco built a new store on the site of the original track, which is now home to a [[Giant-Carlisle|Giant]] grocery store.

Penske's new track opened as Pennsylvania International Raceway in the fall of 1987. It was paved in asphalt, and had very modest banking. The elevation change during the lap was significant, as the backstretch ran steeply downhill for a drop of approximately 30 feet. The remainder of the track trekked mostly uphill. It was the first racing oval to feature a warm-up lane to enter and exit the pits, designed in part by driver [[Rick Mears]]. In 1993, the track was renamed Nazareth Speedway. In 1997, the facility underwent improvements, including a new retaining wall, [[catch fence]], and new grandstands.

In 1999, Penske Motorsports (which at the time owned Nazareth, [[Michigan International Speedway|Michigan]], [[Auto Club Speedway|Fontana]], and [[Rockingham Speedway|Rockingham]]) merged with [[International Speedway Corporation]]. ISC subsequently took majority control of all four of those tracks.

=== Track length of paved oval ===
The paved track opened in 1987 and closely resembled the 1.125-mile dirt track layout. However, the length was shortened, and the turns were reconfigured to widen the radii. Though advertised as a 1-mile tri-oval, it actually measured less than one mile in length. The banking varied between 2.7° and 6.0°. The back straight was 1200 feet and main straight was 800 feet. Participants were known to exploit the inaccurate measurement for fuel strategy, knowing that they were running a shorter distance than officially advertised.

In 1997, for fairness and accuracy, the track was remeasured by the CART sanctioning body, and was advertised as 0.946 miles (1.52&nbsp;km) in length. The race, which had been 200 laps, was increased to 225 laps for time value purposes. This length was used between 1997 and the last CART race in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/200103.htm|title=2001 Lehigh Valley Grand Prix|website=www.champcarstats.com|access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref> The IRL used in 2002, 2003 and 2004 a length of 0.935 miles (1.504&nbsp;km) for timing and scoring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.champcarstats.com/races/2004i13.htm|title=2004 Firestone Indy 225|website=www.champcarstats.com|access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref> However, NASCAR stayed to a length of exactly 1 mile until its closing in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race/2004_Goulds_Pumps_ITT_Industries_200/B|title=05/23/2004 race: Goulds Pumps / ITT Industries 200 (NXS) - Racing-Reference.info|website=www.racing-reference.info|access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref>

===Closing===
[[File:Nazareth Speedway signage.jpg|thumb|Nazareth Speedway signage at Gate 2 along [[Pennsylvania Route 191|PA&nbsp;191]]]]
Although the Nazareth Speedway hosted rather successful [[Busch Series]] and CART events, new owner ISC closed the facility in late 2004. The races were replaced with events at [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]], another ISC-owned track. Access to the speedway was severely limited, and reopening as a professional motorsports facility was highly unlikely. As of May 2007, the grandstands, signage and all visible structures at the racetrack have been removed. The disassembled grandstands were transported and erected at Watkins Glen and Michigan International Speedway. The track remains fenced off and access to any part of the track or land surrounding it is restricted. Historical [[Google Earth]] imagery shows that by May 2008, large piles of earth were erected at various points around the track to prevent use of the racing surface.  Images as of September 2020 show those piles remain in place, though show signs of weathering.

Although the track closed in 2004, it is still featured in the [[EA Sports]] video games ''[[NASCAR SimRacing]]'', ''[[NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup]]'', ''[[NASCAR 06: Total Team Control]]'', ''[[NASCAR 07]]'', ''[[NASCAR 08|NASCAR 08 (PS2)]]'', and ''[[NASCAR 09|NASCAR 09 (PS2)]]'', which are based on the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 NASCAR seasons, respectively. For the 2006-2009 games, the track was considered a fantasy track.

===Redevelopment===
In November 2015, Raceway Properties LLC purchased the property.<ref name="purchase" /> As part of the offer, there is a clause that states that racing remains banned from returning to the property.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Falsone|first1=Nick|title=What Nazareth Speedway's new owner can and can't build on site|url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2016/04/what_nazareth_speedways_new_ow.html|website=lehighvalleylive|date=13 April 2016 |publisher=The Express Times|access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref> The property is currently zoned as general commercial property, with the most recent plans being to convert sections to residential zoning and build a warehouse for local business, [[C. F. Martin & Company]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Duffy|first1=Kevin|title=Plans for Nazareth Speedway include multifamily housing, warehouse for Martin Guitar|url=http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-lower-nazareth-20170823-story.html|website=The Morning Call|date=24 August 2017 |access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref>

==Lap records==

The unofficial fastest all-time track record on the reconfigured 0.946-mile Oval is 0:18.419 seconds, set by [[Patrick Carpentier]] in a [[Reynard 98I]], during qualifying for the [[1998 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix]].<ref name="Nazareth">{{cite web |title=Nazareth - Motorsport Magazine |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/circuits/nazareth/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref> The fastest official race lap records at Nazareth Speedway are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"
!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event
|-
! colspan=5 | Reconfigured Oval: 1.522&nbsp;km (1987–2004)<ref name="Nazareth" />
|-
| [[Championship Auto Racing Teams|CART]] || '''0:19.514'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1998 Nazareth Champ Cars |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1998-nazareth-champ-cars/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=27 April 1998 |access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref> || [[Greg Moore (racing driver)|Greg Moore]] || [[Reynard 98I]] || [[1998 Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix]]
|-
| [[Indy NXT|Indy Lights]] || '''0:22.635'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1995 Nazareth Indy Lights |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1995-nazareth-indy-lights/ |website=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport Magazine]] |date=23 April 1995 |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> || [[Greg Moore (racing driver)|Greg Moore]] || [[Lola T93/20]] || [[1995 Indy Lights season#Nazareth race|1995 Nazareth Indy Lights round]]
|-
| [[Formula Atlantic]] || '''0:23.058'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2001 Formula Atlantic Nazareth |url=https://www.racingyears.com/race/2001_Formula_Atlantic_Nazareth |date=6 May 2001 |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref> || [[Rodolfo Lavín]] || [[Swift 008.a]] || [[2001 Atlantic Championship|2001 Nazareth Formula Atlantic round]]
|-
|}

==Race winners==

===USAC Championship Car Series===

====Nazareth 100 (Dirt)====
*1968 [[Al Unser]]
*1969 [[Mario Andretti]]
*1982 [[Keith Kauffman]]<ref name="champcarstats">{{cite web |url=http://www.champcarstats.com/tracks/nazareth.htm|title=Nazareth Speedway|website=champcarstats.com |access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref>

===CART/IRL Series===
====Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix====
{{Main|Firestone Indy 225}}

===NASCAR Busch Series===
{{Main|Goulds Pumps/ITT Industries 200}}

===NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series===
====DeVilbiss Superfinish 200====
*1996 [[Jack Sprague]] (Race shortened to 152 laps/152 miles due to rain)

====NAPA AutoCare 200====
*1997 Jack Sprague
*1998 [[Ron Hornaday Jr.|Ron Hornaday]]
*1999 [[Greg Biffle]]

====Chevy Silverado 200====
{{Main|2000 Chevy Silverado 200}}
*2000 [[Dennis Setzer]]
*2001 Greg Biffle

===NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour===
*1991 [[Jan Leaty]]
*1992 [[Jeff Fuller (racing driver)|Jeff Fuller]]
*1993 [[Tim Connolly (racing driver)|Tim Connolly]]
*1994 [[Jeff Fuller (racing driver)|Jeff Fuller]]
*1995 [[Tony Hirschman]]
*1996 Jan Leaty
*1997 [[Mike Stefanik]]
*1998 Mike Stefanik
*1999 [[Eddie Flemke Jr.]]
*2000 [[Mike Stefanik]]
*2001 [[Mike Ewanitsko]]
*2002 [[Nevin George]]
*2003 [[Ted Christopher]]
*2004 [[Todd Szegedy]]

===IROC===
*1989 [[Danny Sullivan]]

==In popular culture==
[[Mark Knopfler]] wrote a song about a season of racing concluding at Nazareth Speedway titled "Speedway at Nazareth".  The song appears on Knopfler's second solo album, ''[[Sailing to Philadelphia]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forgotten Racing Song Friday: 'Speedway at Nazareth'|url=http://autoweek.com/article/car-life/forgotten-racing-song-friday-speedway-nazareth|website=Autoweek|date=27 April 2018 |access-date=21 May 2018}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Lake Erie Speedway]], [[Erie County, Pennsylvania|Erie County]], south of [[North East, Pennsylvania]]
* [[Pocono Raceway]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.nascar.com/races/tracks/naz/index.html Nazareth Speedway Page] on [https://web.archive.org/web/20130103015138/http://www.nascar.com/ NASCAR.com] 
*[http://www.diecastdigest.com/2002/Jan_02/JonClifton.htm Dirt track history]
*[http://www.champcarstats.com/tracks/nazareth.htm List of Champ Car races at Nazareth Speedway]

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Nazareth Speedway| ]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1910]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:2004 disestablishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Northampton County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Champ Car circuits]]
[[Category:Defunct motorsport venues in the United States]]
[[Category:IndyCar Series tracks]]
[[Category:International Race of Champions tracks]]
[[Category:Motorsport venues in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:NASCAR tracks]]