BRUCE GOULD

Driver Bruce Gould from Cincinnati was a regular competitor, and winner, at Dayton Speedway.

                                   ---Photo from the collection of Marvin Goins

DOMINATION

Don Wilbur, shown here in the Paul Storer owned #27, was always a threat to sweep Dayton events, but for a time Buster Blackford, No. 55, was unbeatable on the high banks.         ---Photo from the collection of Jerry Hall

PACE CAR

For a time, the speedway boasted this unusual modified Corvette station-wagon as its pace car.              ---Photo from the collection of Jerry Hall

EARLY SPRINT CARS

Touring sprint car series were always popular at Dayton Speedway, and thousands of fans routinely jammed the grandstands to watch the frighteningly quick open-wheel cars. 

                                              ---Photo from the collection of Bill Holder

MICK MILLER

Stock car driver Mick Miller was quick on the banking and found success there in his purple #22. 

                                      ---Both photos from the collection of Mick Miller

PAPPY RICE

Pappy Rice was among the most popular of the drivers who raced at the Dayton Speedway.  The entire Rice family has been an important part of area auto racing, and it began with Pappy.  In the photo below, Pappy models his distinctive headgear. In the bottom photo, Pappy is shown at speed in his Sportsman class sedan. 

                                    All photos from the Rice Family collection.

TROY RUTTMAN

Troy Ruttman was a racing superstar in the 1950s and well-known for his abilities in both open-wheel and stock cars.  He was also no stranger to Dayton Speedway. 

                                         ---Photo from the collection of Bill Holder

LAST OWNER

Don Thompson, second from left above, was a huge supporter of auto racing in the Midwest and the yellow and red Don Thompson Excavating sponsored race cars, all of which wore the number 27, were well known to race fans.  He was also the last owner and promoter at the speedway.  Despite his best efforts, the track had to close in 1982.                                   ---Photo from the collection of Jerry Hall

MIDWEST MODIFIEDS

The odd-looking Midwest Modifieds competed regularly at Dayton Speedway in the late '70s. 

                                                  ---Photo from the collection of Mark Phlipot

JEFF BLOOM USAC ROADSTER SPRINT CAR

The roadsters seemed to have an advantage when the USAC Sprint Car division took to the high-banked asphalt tracks in the Midwest, and Jeff Bloom was among the bravest and most talented of all the roadster drivers.  He's shown above preparing to go out onto the track.  In the photo below, Bloom in the #47 on the high side battles with Marvin Carmin in the red #71 roadster.  In the bottom photo, a roadster alone, at speed, on the banking.             

                                                ---All photos from the collection of Marvin Goins

EARLY RACERS

The photo above and the four photos below are all from the collection of Gene Ingram.  We'll be posting the captions soon.  Please check back.