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Nazareth Speedway |
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Location: Nazareth, PA
Shape: Oval
Distance: 1-mile
Banking, Turn 1: 3 degrees
Banking, Turn 2: 4 degrees
Front Straight: 800 Feet
Banking, Straightaways: 2.7 degrees
Back Straight: 1,200 feet
Banking, Turns 3&4: 6 degrees
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| Nazareth was a semi-banked, dirt, D-shaped, 1 1/8-mile oval when it was built in 1966. |
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Located in the beautiful Lehigh Valley area near Allentown, Pa., Nazareth Speedway is a proud host of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series as well as the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division.
The uniquely-shaped track is a sister track to Michigan Speedway and is operated by International Speedway Corporation (ISC).
The modern day Nazareth Speedway was originally Nazareth National Speedway, a semi-banked, dirt, D-shaped 1-1/8 mile oval built in 1966 by the late Jerry Fried. Fried also operated the track, running weekly shows, night races, and championship events until 1971 for dirt, midget, sprint and stock cars. Mario Andretti, who grew up near the speedway and began his driving career at the track, won the last championship race held on the old track in 1969.
The track lay dormant for 10 years, until Lindy Vicari reopened the raceway in 1981 to run special events only, namely the USAC championship dirt cars. Kenny Brightbill won the last race at Nazareth Speedway under Vicari's ownership, a $50,000-to-win modified event in 1983. In 1985, the track went into bankruptcy.
Penske Speedway, Inc. purchased the 90-acre facility in September of 1986 from the Bank of Pennsylvania and immediately began an extensive renovation project which included paving the track.
Groundbreaking for "Pennsylvania International Raceway" began on October 16, 1986. Used in the construction and renovation were 41,000 tons of gravel, 22,000 tons of asphalt, six miles of fencing, and two miles of guard rail. Construction was completed by the next year in time to run the inaugural race on September 20, 1987.
Location: Just south of State Route 248 on State Route 191.
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RACE RECORDS |
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NASCAR Series |
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Driver |
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Speed |
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Date |
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Busch Grand
National Division
Series |
C. Bown |
104.772 |
5/11/91 |
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Craftsman
Truck Series |
J. Sprague |
99.252 |
6/30/96 |
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QUALIFYING RECORDS |
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NASCAR Series |
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Driver |
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Speed |
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Time |
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Date |
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Busch Grand
National Division
Series |
J. Green |
132.402 |
27.190 |
7/15/00 |
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Craftsman
Truck Series |
J. Ruttman |
130.572 |
27.571 |
7/14/00 |
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