The Paved Years at the Nazareth Speedway
Author: Jesse Rucinski
The paved speedway at Nazareth wasn’t around as the dirt layouts but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an amazing history that needs to be told and preserved. This is my way of trying to do that and keep this important history alive and in the light. As I already have with prior posts and episodes of the Ghost Speedways podcast. So, thank you for the time and let’s get at it.
The Paved Nazareth Speedway
After the facility went into bankruptcy once again in 1985, the track was purchased by Roger Penske of Penske Motorsports from the Bank of Pennsylvania and the track was renamed the Pennsylvania International Raceway. They held a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovations were held on October 16th. The worked entailed many things but most importantly was the paving of the tracks 1 1/8-mile D shaped track layout. A layout that had the first ever warm-up lane to enter and exit the pits on a racing oval.
The new tracks inaugural event was held on September 20, 1987, and was won by Michael Andretti. NASCAR started bringing the Busch Series to the track in 1988, a race that was one by Rick Mast. We also saw the circa 1900 Nazareth Speedway sold and redeveloped into a grocery store.
After several years of racing, where we saw names like Bobby Hillin Jr., Todd Bodine, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Bobby Rahal win, we saw the track renamed the Nazareth Speedway 1993. Where we continued to see great racing at which helped them get the upgrades that they did in 1997. The renovations and upgrades included the replacing of the bleachers with high-rise grandstands with an extra 10,000 seating capacity and the front stretch retaining wall being replaced. Followed by the remaining wall along the backstretch was replaced. We also saw the enlargement of the media center and the infield care center in 1998-1999. There was also work done on the catch fence at the facility as well.
In 1999, the International Speedway Corps (ISC), the parent company of NASCAR, acquired Penske Motorsports for $660 million in cash, stock, and debt. With all of that happening and flagging attendance, the track closed its doors in 2004. The Busch Grand National Series holding its last event on May 15-16 and was won by Martin Truex Jr. A race in which he also became the first driver in the 55-year history of the facility that we got to see a NASCAR Champion crowned. The Indy Racing League held its last even on August 27-29 and was won by Dan Wheldon.
The races at the track were moved to Watkins Glen by the ISC, by 2007 the signage was removed from the track, and the grandstands were removed and put up at both Watkins Glen and the Michigan International Speedway (MIS).
Since the closure it has sat dormant and being taken back by nature. It was purchased by Racing Properties LLC. in November 2015. In that agreement there was a non-compete clause to keep racing from returning to the facility. I don’t see how racing returning to the track could ever hurt a track like Pocono. They both happily coexisted for years. Having racing return to Nazareth can only help the area in regard to the racing and financially for so many businesses that thrive on race weekends. Just my take on it from being from the area. I know what the Pocono races meant to my area, and I know what happened when we lost one of those weekends. The upside is much larger than the downside but greed and so many other factors come into effect. It is a shame to see it happen, but it is the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
So, I hope with doing these on Substack, and the episodes of the podcast, that I can bring to light what made this track and its history so important. I hope that I kept it in the light even though we know it is more than likely gone forever. Even if only in the slightest bit.
Check out the rest of the articles on Substack, follow the socials, and check out the podcast for me. The YouTube link to the first two episode are below. The links to follow, comment, and share are below those.
