TRACK RECORDS...
The 1964 Dayton Speedway program listed the track record holders in great detail. Obviously, between 1964 and the track closing in 1982, most, if not all of these records were broken. As our research into the history of the track continues we will likely find the actual final track records for all the classes that ran at the track, and we will revise the 1964 list as necessary. I expect that there will be a lot of gaps; the speedway operators probably didn't worry too much about tabulating records for various lap distances for the Sportsman stocks, the open stocks, and various other classes that ran at Dayton. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to come up with the final records that still exist for every class that ran at the track.
For now, the 1964 records will be our starting point.
This site's ace researcher Rick Patterson sorted through 40+ years worth of newspapers and periodicals to collect this updated listing of Dayton Speedway track records. If any additional information becomes available we'll update this listing. Mickey -- December 11, 2008
INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED - August 1, 2009
TRACK RECORDS
Opened as a 5/8-mile track. The design of the 5/8-mile track was changed for nearly every event. For that reason, I have included all records that I have found.
25 MILES
June 4 1934 Ken Fowler 21:44.8
ONE LAP
June 4, 1934 Rex Mays NT
For the first event of 1935, Rex Mays is credited with holding the track record for 1934. This “record” must have come in the June 1934 race as Theisen set fast time for the remaining events.
July 4, 1934 Al Theisen 30.2 sec.
August 12, 1934 Al Theisen NT
July 21, 1935 Morris Musick 30.9 sec*
This was the last event for the “D” shaped circuit.
August 18, 1935 Charley Engle 30.2
First event for the revised 5/8 mile dirt oval.
Fast qualifier for last event of 1935: Red Campbell NT
SPRINT CARS
Dayton Lap Records
After 1937, Dayton became 950 yards long or 210 feet longer than ½ mile.
The effect of the added distance becomes apparent when an “official” ½ mile run is recorded.
The average speed is slower on a 950 yard track than that of a 800 yard track.
It is illustrated best by comparing Dickson and Ates in 1968 to Bettenhausen in 1976.
Though Larry and Sonny had slower times, they had a higher Mile Per Hour.
All records are for AAA/USAC Sprints
ONE LAP
October 12, 1947 Ted Horn 21:84 88.974 MPH
August 22, 1948 Ted Horn 19.822 90.79 MPH (world record)*1
May, 1951 Jimmy Daywalt 19.808 98.100 MPH
April 11, 1954 Troy Ruttman 19.79 98.190 MPH
March 23, 1958 Elmer George 19:910 97.598 MPH
Again the “new record” is slower than the previous record”
July 18, 1960 Don Branson 18.53 104.861 MPH
August 14, 1960 Don Branson 18.28 106.3 MPH
July 23, 1961 Parnelli Jones 18.28 106.3 MPH
September 3, 1967 Sonny Ates 17.28 112.453 MPH (*4)
October 15, 1967 Larry Dickson 17.04 114.037 MPH (*5)
July 7, 1968 Chuck Engle 17.02 114.171 MPH
July 7, 1968 Larry Dickson 16.95 114.942 MPH
July 7, 1968 Sonny Ates 16.85 115.597 MPH
April 12, 1970 Gary Bettenhausen 16.93
Note: GB was third driver under 17 seconds. Set fast time this day.
May 9, 1976 Gary Bettenhausen 16.000 112.500 MPH
Sonny’s Record Time is broken eight times fastest is GB
September 16, 1979 Steve Chassey 15.907 122.159 MPH
8 LAPS
October 12,1947 Ted Horn 3:03.81
March 23, 1958 Elmer George 2:36.40
July 17, 1960 Don Branson 102.81 MPH
August 14, 1960 Don Branson 2:30.20 103.636 MPH
July 23, 1961 Parnelli Jones 2:30.87 103.032 MPH
20 LAPS
October 12, 1947 Ted Horn 7:36.63
May 14, 1950 Duane Carter 7:05.22
25 LAPS
May 2, 1937 Red Campbell 14:13.8
July 10,1950 Troy Ruttman 7:05.71 12.5miles
30 LAPS
April 11,1954 Mike Nazaruk 10:41.86
April 4, 1955 Bob Sweikert 10:18.45
July 23, 1961 Parnelli Jones 9:31.01 (broke his own record)
33 LAPS
October 15, 1967 Sonny Ates 10:02.82
40 LAPS
April 12, 1970 Larry Dickson 11:59.78
Sept 16,1979 Steve Chassey 11:07.83
50 LAPS
June 4, 1951 Troy Ruttman NT “about 25 miles”
March 24, 1957 Andy Linden 17:30.00 92.532 MPH
100 LAPS
September 30, 1956 Pat O’Connor 34:34.25 93.693 MPH
CHAMP CARS 1 LAP
August 12, 1956 Jack Turner 19.51 99.54 MPH
10 LAPS
August 12, 1956 Pat O’Connor 3:23.6 95.441 MPH
50 LAPS
August 12, 1956 Ed Elisian 18:07.61 89.342 MPH
STOCK CARS
ONE LAP
June 25, 1950 Dick Linder Won 1st Stock Car Pole*(6a)
August 20, 1950 Curtis Turner Won 2nd Stock Car Pole*(6b)
June 24, 1951 Tim Flock 25.41
September 23,1951 Fonty Flock 25.01
(Flock was over 1 full second faster than #2 Qualifier!!!!)
September 21,1952 Fonty Flock 24.93
April 24, 1954 Fonty Flock 24.73
September 26 1954 Iggy Katona 23.71
June 1956 Iggy Katona 22.86 85.004 MPH
July 1956 Iggy Katona 22.76 85.377 MPH
July 9, 1961 Harold Smith 21.536 90.23 MPH
July 8, 1962 Dick Freeman 21.28 (no record-rained out)
August 12, 1962 Dick Freeman 20.96 92.71 MPH
September 15, 1963 Andy Hampton 20.68 93.964 MPH
May 9, 1964 Nelson Stacy 20.5 94.789 MPH
September 1967 Jack Shanklin 19.66 98.839 MPH
April 22, 1968 Les Snow 19.39 100.216 MPH
June 14, 1970 Don Gregory NT
1979 Wayne Lansing 18.521
Sept 20, 1980 Buddy Schrock 18.105 107.373 MPH
May 17, 1981 Larry Moyer 17.66 110.033 MPH
100 LAPS (*8)
1963 Jack Bowsher 35:59.9
April 22, 1968 Les Snow 33:31.4
300 LAPS
July 9, 1961 Harold Smith 1 hour 58 minutes 14.06 sec *(U1)
August 1963 Jack Bowsher 2 hours 01 minute 4 Seconds
August 500 LAPS
September 14, 1953 Iggy Katona 4 hours 5 minutes
September 11,1967 John Sommerville / Jim Robinson
3 hours 26 minutes 58 seconds
September 8, 1968 Benny Parsons 3 hours 11 minute 32 seconds
600 LAPS
September 16, 1962 Iggy Katona NT
SPORTSMAN STOCK CARS
1 Lap
1951 Bucky Sager 24.59
October 11, 1953 Jerry Ott 23.34
HIGHEST CAR COUNT
On October 11, 1953, 103 cars qualified for a Stock Car Race.
SUPERMODIFIED (With Wings)
1 Lap
May 1, 1961 Ernie Brandt 19.79 98.190
pre-Oct 10, 1968 Todd Gibson 17.33 [Note 9]
May 31, 1976 John McClaren 15.05.08 128 MPH [Note 10]
(Actually129.115 Mph)
NOTES:
#1 = Between 1947 and 1948, Duke Nalon sets WR at Winchester, Horn breaks it again at Dayton in 1948. This lap was during a heat race as opposed to a qualifying run. 31 Degree Banking
#2 June 11, 1948 “Dayton already has the distinction as being the Worlds Fastest.”
#4 National Speed Sport News (Mosley 17.43 = 2nd but DNS).
#5 Mentioned in June 30, 1968 USAC article prior to next USAC race at Dayton
#6a Dick Linder won first pole for NASCAR race therefore he was fastest car
#6b Curtis Turner won second pole. I assume it was faster than Linder’s earlier time.
#8 Articles say 50-mile race
#9 Gibson holding the fast time is mentioned in Oct 10, 1968 article.
#10 If you use the Dayton Speedway 950 yard formula McClaren’s average speed was actually 129.115 mph