Jukasa Motor Speedway
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| Location | 901 Haldimand Road 20 Cayuga, Ontario, Canada N0A 1H0 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°56′06″N 79°58′00″W / 42.935061°N 79.966565°W |
| Capacity | more than 7,000 |
| Broke ground | 1966 |
| Opened | 1966 |
| Major events | NASCAR Pinty's Series Pinty’s Fall Brawl 200 (2007–2008, 2017–present) Rankin 200 APC United Late Model Series International Supermodified Association RoC Modified Series OSCAAR (2017-Present) |
| Length | .625 miles (1.00 km) |
| Banking | 8.5 degrees in corners 3.5 degrees on straightaways |
The Jukasa Motor Speedway (formerly known as Cayuga Speedway and the Cayuga 2000 Speedway) is an auto racing track located near Cayuga in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada.
Famous stock car drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Allison, Benny Parsons, Don Biederman and Dick Trickle have participated in racing events at Jukasa Motor Speedway on a professional level.[1]
History
Origins
Cayuga International Speedway opened in 1966 as a 1/2 mile "D"-shaped dirt oval, by an owners group consisting of Frank Mashell, Wayne Conroy, Milton Chesterman, and Jack Greenaigh, but was given up to the tracks largest creditor Bob Slack of Slack Lumber after the end of the 1966 season. After the 1967 season Slack made the decision to pave the track because according to his grandson Roger Slack, the high maintenance of preparing the dirt for weekly racing. Cayuga International Speedway was also increased slightly in size to 5/8 of a mile when it was paved but it was still a "D"-shape, the back stretch maintaining a slight but noticeable curve.
A smaller flat oval was built inside the track that was used to race some race divisions like mini stocks and Can-Am TQ (three quarter) midgets. The smaller oval used part of the big tracks front straight away and the same start finish line. It also doubled as the pit road for long events that required teams to make pit stops. The small track was removed in the early 1980s so that a straight pit lane could be built, and the infield pit area benefited by gaining some space.
Set on 300 acres (120 hectares) of land, Cayuga offers campgrounds with electricity, concession booths, and free parking.
In 2002 track owners Bob and Leone Slack were inducted to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for their dedication to the Speedway.
Major events
The track has held a variety of different racing groups including the American Speed Association, CASCAR, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the American Canadian Tour, NASCAR Busch North, Hooters Pro-Cup, USAC, International Supermodified Association (ISMA), DIRT Modifieds and the ARCA RE/MAX Series (which is considered to be one of the developmental milestones to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series).
On June 8, 2006, a group of developers from Toronto purchased the ⅝ mile track from Bob and Leone Slack and made improvements for the 2007 season, hoping to attract NASCAR Nationwide Series (formerly called the Busch Series) to have a race at Cayuga Speedway. Instead, the race went to Montreal (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve) due to its larger population and recognition in the international community.[2] Cooper Construction of Oakville was announced as the vendor to re-build the track. Cayuga International Speedway Park hosted the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race in series history on May 26, 2007.
Closure
The final NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race to be held here was the 2008 Coke Zero 200.
The last race held at the speedway was in July 2009 featuring the ISMA Supermodifieds; which was won by Mark Sammut of London, Ontario. This event would earn Sammut his first ISMA win. Along with the ISMA Supermodified racing action were the Canadian Vintage Modifieds; which was won by Phil Shaw of Orangeville, Ontario.
Reopening
In March 2014, photos surfaced on the Lost Speedway's Facebook page showing the speedway in a state of severe disrepair.[3] In May 2014, the track was sold to local businessmen Ken Hill and Jerry Montour of the Six Nations of the Grand River. By September 2014, sand blasting had started on the walls to take off old paint, and in November 2014 the old asphalt was being removed.[4] New paving started in November 2016, after new walls had been poured. Plans for the track were for the same size, but with progressive banking in the corners.
It was announced in December 2016 that the track would reopen on August 26 and 27, 2017. Renamed Jukasa Motor Speedway, the APC United Late Model Series headlined its reopening weekend.[5][6]
Music
Concerts have been occasionally at Cayuga Speedway; usually conforming with either the country or the heavy metal genre.
References
- ^ Cayuga Speedway information at StockCarRacing.net
- ^ The Simcoe Reformer - June 8, 2006
- ^ Cayuga International Speedway (Ontario, CA) - Roger Slack Photos at Facebook
- ^ Asphalt removal
- ^ Dyson, Ryan (December 21, 2016). "APC Late Model Series releases 2017 schedule". Inside Track Motorsports News. Toronto: Inside Track Communications. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
- ^ Southers, Tim (December 19, 2016). "Jukasa Motor Speedway is taking shape in Canada". Motorsport.com. Retrieved January 9, 2017.