"Fairgrounds Raceway" redirects here. For the track formerly known as Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway, see Richmond International Raceway.
Birmingham International Raceway, (BIR) (formerly Fairgrounds Raceway, Birmingham Super Speedway, Birmingham Super Raceway and Birmingham International Speedway) was a 5/8-mile oval paved racetrack located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in the Five Points West neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. It was used primarily for late-model automobile racing.
The original one-mile dirt oval was built as a horse track. On October 7, 1906, the track hosted its first motorcycle race, followed by an automobile race three days later. These events continued regularly through 1917. A 10,000-seat grandstand was built in 1925.
In 1932 the oval was reduced to a half-mile circuit. The smaller configuration was used until July 4, 1942, when it closed for World War II. It was reopened on October 1, 1946, and began hosting weekly auto-racing events organized by promoter J. P. Rotton.[1]
A quarter-mile dirt oval was added in 1958 and was the first track to be paved, with the first events held on the new surface on July 15, 1960. After one season of racing on the quarter-mile track the present five-eighths-mile course was constructed with its first race held on June 28, 1962. With new lighting the Sunday afternoon races were moved to Friday nights.
Her final day of racing glory was October 26, 2008. On the final day, there were two divisions that raced, Modifieds and Late Model. Dustin Knowles started from the pole, led every lap, and won the modified race. Justin South won the late model race in a photo finish. [4]
Proposed move
On June 19, 2008, Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford proposed a plan to move BIR from the Fairgrounds to city-owned property in northwest Birmingham. Langford said the track, which has been in continuous operation for over 80 years in Five Points West, needs to be upgraded, and does not fit into current plans for the renovation of Fair Park. Langford committed $1 million to the project, but stated that track officials would have to come up with the majority of the funds needed for the project.[5]
After the 2008 race season, the track was shut down. On January 30, 2009, demolition of the grandstand began, and was completed two months later.
References
^"Birmingham International Raceway". NA Motorsports.com. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
^"NASCAR races at Fairgrounds Raceway". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
^Reynolds, Ed. . Black & White. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
^"World Classic results from BIR". 27 October 2008.
^Bryant, Joseph D (2008-06-20). . Birmingham News. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
Birmingham International Raceway archive at Racing-Reference
January 26, 2023
birmingham, international, raceway, fairgrounds, raceway, redirects, here, track, formerly, known, richmond, fairgrounds, raceway, richmond, international, raceway, formerly, fairgrounds, raceway, birmingham, super, speedway, birmingham, super, raceway, birmin. Fairgrounds Raceway redirects here For the track formerly known as Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway see Richmond International Raceway Birmingham International Raceway BIR formerly Fairgrounds Raceway Birmingham Super Speedway Birmingham Super Raceway and Birmingham International Speedway was a 5 8 mile oval paved racetrack located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in the Five Points West neighborhood of Birmingham Alabama It was used primarily for late model automobile racing Birmingham International RacewayLength1 km 5 8 miles BankingTurns 24 Straights 5 Contents 1 History 2 Proposed move 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe original one mile dirt oval was built as a horse track On October 7 1906 the track hosted its first motorcycle race followed by an automobile race three days later These events continued regularly through 1917 A 10 000 seat grandstand was built in 1925 In 1932 the oval was reduced to a half mile circuit The smaller configuration was used until July 4 1942 when it closed for World War II It was reopened on October 1 1946 and began hosting weekly auto racing events organized by promoter J P Rotton 1 A quarter mile dirt oval was added in 1958 and was the first track to be paved with the first events held on the new surface on July 15 1960 After one season of racing on the quarter mile track the present five eighths mile course was constructed with its first race held on June 28 1962 With new lighting the Sunday afternoon races were moved to Friday nights Between 1958 and 1968 a total of eight NASCAR Cup Series races were run at the Fairgrounds Raceway During the same period Bobby Allison had moved to Hueytown from Miami Florida and convinced his brother Donnie and fellow racer Red Farmer to join him in founding a new race shop The so called Alabama Gang dominated the races at the Fairgrounds track but other legends of the sport also recorded wins including Fireball Roberts Richard Petty and Ned Jarrett 2 3 In 1969 the sanctioning body moved the date from Birmingham to a new fast 2 66 mile track the Alabama International Motor Speedway The track also hosted one NASCAR Convertible Series event in 1959 and 4 NASCAR Southeast Series races between 1991 and 2002 The facility hosted one CARS Hooters Pro Cup Series event in 1997 Her final day of racing glory was October 26 2008 On the final day there were two divisions that raced Modifieds and Late Model Dustin Knowles started from the pole led every lap and won the modified race Justin South won the late model race in a photo finish 4 Proposed move EditOn June 19 2008 Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford proposed a plan to move BIR from the Fairgrounds to city owned property in northwest Birmingham Langford said the track which has been in continuous operation for over 80 years in Five Points West needs to be upgraded and does not fit into current plans for the renovation of Fair Park Langford committed 1 million to the project but stated that track officials would have to come up with the majority of the funds needed for the project 5 After the 2008 race season the track was shut down On January 30 2009 demolition of the grandstand began and was completed two months later References Edit Birmingham International Raceway NA Motorsports com Retrieved 2008 10 16 NASCAR races at Fairgrounds Raceway Racing Reference info Retrieved 2008 10 16 Reynolds Ed A Day at the Races Black amp White Archived from the original on 2012 07 24 Retrieved 2008 10 16 World Classic results from BIR 27 October 2008 Bryant Joseph D 2008 06 20 Mayor proposes moving Birmingham International Raceway from Fair Park providing 1 million to help build new track Birmingham News Archived from the original on 2011 06 09 Retrieved 2008 10 16 Coordinates 33 29 52 N 86 52 17 W 33 49778 N 86 87139 W 33 49778 86 87139External links EditBirmingham International Raceway archive at Racing Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birmingham International Raceway amp oldid 1085328310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
