Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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My Daughter is attending Kent State for the next couple years and I was wondering if Ohio has a Sprint week(s) like Indiana.  I was hoping to check out a few tracks on my next visit, which would obviously be planned around this.  Any information is greatly appreciated

I live in Canton. Wayne County is about an hour from Kent. Attica and Lernerville are around an 1 1/2 hours. Eldora is about 2 1/2. Atomic is about 3. Fremont is about 2. 

And I think, someone will correct me, but Ohio has the original speedweek around the end of June. 

There will be plenty of action for you here in Ohio. Also, Williams Grove is only 4 1/2 hours. 

DA

I would only be able to 'visit' for about a week so a speedweeks would be ideal.  Otherwise, I'd only be able to take in one or two shows.  Thanks

Ohio does have a sprint week sanctioned by the All Stars. This year it starts on Friday 6/16 this year at Attica which is about 1hr 45mins from Kent State then they go to Eldora and Waynesfield which are on the western part of the state. Kent being on the eastern part of the state you would be looking at about 3.5hr drive from there. Monday and Tuesday they are at Wayne County and Sharon which are not that far away, maybe an hour each from Kent. Muskingum you are looking at 2hr drive south, lima is about 2hr 45min and atomic is about 3.5hrs from Kent. 

Car counts are typically at least in the mid 40's the past few years with some outsiders coming over to run. All the tracks are great and racy. Eldora is probably my favorite just because of the speed but as far as racing goes Waynesfield is probably the best race of the week followed closely by Attica and Limaland. Wayne County is a fun little track that keeps getting better every year. Sharon is a fan friendly facility with nice amenities. Never been to Muskingum so no opinion on it and I normally see more races at Atomic as I live only an hour away from there. 

Your daughter picked a good school. A few friends that I went to high school with went there and they enjoyed their time there.

You may also want to check out the week of the Kings Royal. Typically you can go to a weekly show at Attica on Friday 7/7, then the Lou Blaney memorial is at Sharon on Saturday 7/8 rain date is 7/9 and has big block modifieds with the All Stars. The Brad Doty Classic is on that Tuesday then you have Jokers Wild, Knight Before, and the Kings Royal. Typically this is the week of Indiana speedweek to so in theory depending on how much you like to travel you can try picking up some USAC racing as well. A couple years ago we went to the Lou Blaney memorial on Saturday then Lawrencburg on sunday for the USAC race as it is on the border next to Cincinnati.

Thanks a bunch.  I only used Kent because she goes there.  It would not be a home base.  I will visit her if I go out that way, but it's not a base camp so to speak but thanks so much for the info.  I will be keeping this post and working something up in case I decide to go.

Is she taking summer class/living there? Otherwise Kent wont be in session when OH Sprint Speedweek is going on in June.

Sharon is the closest track, a quick trip East on 76/80 to Hubbard then up Route 7. Great facilities, kinda crappy track surface. 

Wayne Co Speedway is pretty close as well. For speedweek they go WCS Mon, Sharon Tue.

Lernerville is a really nice track that's probably 1.5-2 hours away. If you are only hitting one track that would be my pick. The first weekend of May the Allstars at Lernerville Friday and Mercer (probably 1.5 hours) Saturday, which is another possibility. 

Attica is great too but not sure how far.

She is staying there year round.  The Wife and I visited there 2 years ago (Daughter is a Grad Student studying to be a Professor so she is there another couple years) and touring the campus and the site of the National Guard shootings was a humbling experience. 

I live in Cuyahoga Falls, which is just north of Akron, and about 20 minutes west of Kent. It all depends on how much you want to drive. Wayne County is approximately an hour or so away. From Kent, Sharon would be about the same, but in my opinion the racing there is not as good. Sharon is a fantastic facility but the last couple times I have been there it was very dusty. Attica is around 1hr and 45min from Kent, and in my opinion the best and most consistant racing you will see. Fremont would be around the same travel time and is right off the Ohio Turnpike. They don't have any allstar shows or WoO shows but the racing can be good. If you are up for the drive, take the time and go to Eldora and Waynesfield. Both would be around a 3.5 hour drive from the Kent area but the wing 410 shows at Waynesfield are always fantastic, the only draw back to Waynesfiueld is that the grandstands are small and it gets packed early, and Waynesfield is in the middle of no where but Ive yet to see a bad race there. Eldora is something every sprint car fan should experiance, especially during the Kings Royal. Ive been going to races in this area my whole life so if you need any help or anything shoot me an email [email protected] and I would be happy to answer any questions for you. 

I live in Columbus and it normally takes about 2hrs to get to most of the tracks so if you are looking for a base that would be a good place to start. Kent State is about 2 hours and Sharon and Wayne County are right around that area if you are looking for the ohio sprint speedweek. The Kings Royal week is a great week as well because generally if you don't mind the driving you can hit some of the Indiana speedweek races as well. 

I stated in another post that my buddy who is retired, went to the Lou Blaney memoral on Saturday, drove to Lawrenceburg for sunday, did the Brad Doty classic on Tuesday, considered going to Terre Haute but I think it was rained out and then went to Eldora for the three nights there. Then he and I went to Lernerville for the Silver Cup which is about 4hrs from Columbus and I ended up coming home and he went to the Grove for the Outlaws Summer Races. A lot more miles than Ohio Sprint Speedweek but a wide variety of racing and tracks. I think Ohio Sprint Speedweek is kind of a hidden gem in racing though because usually you have enough outsiders coming in and a few locals to make up a great field of cars each night. Plus all of the tracks do a great job with the prep work. Only track I am unsure of is Muskingum because that is the new one on the schedule and I believe they typically race late models.

I've always wanted to do the Doty > King's Royal Weekend > Lernerville Silver Cup > WG Summer Nats.  Be a hell of a 10-day trip seeing some fantastic races. 

I've done the Blaney Memorial> Doty> Kings Royal Weekend> and Silver Cup for the past 2years and planning on doing it again this year. I can usually arrange my work schedule to where I do not have to take but 1 or 2 days off the whole time since Attica and Eldora are only 2hrs away. I do miss the Doty being at Lima as it was a little closer and it was nice to see Lima twice a year (speedweek and the Doty if weather permitted) but Attica is a great track. The racing is always top notch and the tracks do a great job with keeping the fans entertained during the day. Haven't been able able to get to the Grove yet during that time span but maybe one of these days. 

Like I said, if you do not mind the traveling and have the time, I highly recommend doing that week/weeks if you get the opportunity. I think Eldora may still have buses to take campers to the Doty Classic so in theory you can limit your traveling by doing that.

Nice! Post a thread this year (well 2017) around that time to see if anyone else is making a similar trip.  I'll be at the Silver Cup as I am every year.  One of these years I'll do that week + trip and hit those shows, work be damned.  I have vaca

Muskingum is a lower banked 3/8. Maybe a little bit higher than Fremont. It's generally underwhelming. However, I haven't been there since the early 2000's, so they may have improved the facility since then. I hate to talk bad about any track that's hosting a show, but I've been to every track on the speedweek list and it would be on the bottom of my list for a visit next year.

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My thoughts about Muskingum as well, but I've never seen sprints there so hopefully it surprises!

I was at the last speedweek show at Muskingum about 10 years ago. Didn't come out real impressed.  The locals I talked to called it Dust Kingdom.  That being said I'm pretty pumped up for Ohio Speedweek already.  The last couple years have really gone in the upward direction. I put in for vacation so I can do the whole thing.  With Columbus as my home I can swing back every couple days for a shower. LOL

Now I wish Fremont and the All Stars would make peace.  Speedweek without Fremont Speedway just doesn't seem right.

The last time I was there, Kenny Jacobs was in the yellow Holbrook ride(I can't remember the number, maybe 18?). I think that it might have just been a "one-off" deal for him in the car, and he won the show. It was very dusty, and the track looked rough. And yes, Fremont and the Allstars need to bury the hatchet. Even if it was just for the sake of speedweek, and we only got them there once a year.

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The yellow holbrook cars were usually "8H", but they also ran 18 and 88. One of my favorite teams growing up with Rocky Hodges

The more that I think about it, I'm pretty sure it was 8h.

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Not that I care but the curiosity is killing me, where are you from that you didn't realize Ohio had a speedweek? I think this year is the 35th annual.

do it in the dirt

Wisconsin.  Never paid attention to anything away from my home tracks or series.  Went to Indiana Sprint Weeks with some buddies last year and just started paying attention. Plus, travel is difficult so Ohio and or PA is just a tad farther than I'd like to go.  Answer your question?