Westboro Speedway Explained
| Westboro Speedway |
| Time: | Eastern: UTC−5 / −4 (DST) |
| Location: | Route 9, Westborough, Massachusetts |
| Capacity: | 7,500 (approx.) |
| Opened: | 1947 (years ago) |
| Closed: | 1985 (years ago) |
| Construction Cost: | $100,000 |
| Layout1: | Oval |
| Surface: | Asphalt |
| Length Km: | 0.4 |
| Length Mi: | 1/4 |
| Miles First: | true |
Westboro Speedway, also known as Westboro Sports Stadium, was a NaNmiles banked and paved oval race track located in Westborough, Massachusetts, that operated from 1947 through 1985. It featured various types of racing including super-modified and midget cars.[1]
History
The track was built by Allied Sports Association, a group of five former World War II soldiers, on land that had been part of a farm owned by the DeBoer family.[2] Construction cost was reported as $100,000 .[3] The first race at the speedway was held on August 5, 1947.[4]
Notable drivers to race at the speedway included Joe Sostilio in the track's inaugural season,[5] and Geoff Bodine and Ron Bouchard in the mid-1970s.[6] In 1982, the track hosted two races on the NASCAR North Tour, one in June and one in September.[7] The final race held at the speedway was contested on September 14, 1985.[8]
In addition to its use as a race track, the facility was also a venue for musical performances. Boston-based Aerosmith played at the speedway on August 18, 1974,[9] [10] and the Gregg Allman Band played at the speedway in 1983.[2]
After the track closed and was razed, a strip mall branded as Speedway Plaza was constructed on the site.[8] [11]
Incidents
- On May 25, 1962, a spectator from Gardner, Massachusetts, was killed at the speedway when a race car went into the crowd.[12]
- On June 19, 1965, a driver from Schenectady, New York, was killed during a race at the track.[13]
- On August 28, 1965, a driver from South Grafton, Massachusetts, was killed during a race at the track.[14]
Sources
- Book: Brown, Allan . The History of America's Speedways: Past and Present . 2017 . Slideways Publications . 978-0692835562.
External links
Notes and References
- News: Westboro Racer . . . 11 . August 2, 1962 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: Westboro Sports Stadium ~ Westboro Speedway 1947-1985 . Glenn R. . Parker . . June 10, 2012 . March 4, 2022.
- News: Midget Autos Open $100,000 Stadium at Westboro July 22 . . 4 . July 11, 1947 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: 'Filled to capacity:' Westboro Speedway race track thrilled MetroWest from 1947 to 1985 . Cesareo . Contreras . . September 24, 2021 . March 4, 2022.
- News: Joe Sostilio Again Victor at Westboro . . 19 . October 8, 1947 . March 5, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: Pit Stop (column) . Mike . Adaskaveg . . . 20 . July 6, 1976 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- Web site: Westboro Speedway . racing-reference.info . March 4, 2022.
- News: Mauling of the midgets . Barry . Cadigan . . 104 . January 26, 1986 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: 'Wings' over Westboro . Craig S. . Semon . . . August 17, 2019 . March 4, 2022.
- News: aerosmith (advertisement) . The Daily Sentinel and Leominster Enterprise . . 21 . July 29, 1974 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: Renovation work continues at Westborough's Speedway Plaza . Dakota . Antelman . communityadvocate.com . January 22, 2022 . March 4, 2022.
- News: 2 Killed In Road Accidents . . 48 . May 27, 1962 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: Race Driver Killed . . . . 2 . June 21, 1965 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
- News: Sixteen Killed in N.E.; Eleven the Highways . . . . 5 . August 30, 1965 . March 4, 2022 . newspapers.com.
