Nazareth Speedway

Nazareth Speedway was an auto racing facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania which operated from 1910 to 2004 in two distinct course configurations. In its early years, it was a dirt twin oval layout. In 1987 it was reopened as a paved tri-oval that measured just slightly under 1 mile.The facility is often linked to local drivers Kenny Brightbill, Mario and Michael Andretti. The course was associated with Frankie Schneider in its earlier dirt track history.Track historyThe site began hosting motor racing events in the 1910s. Two separate racetracks that existed and operated on the site: an original mile dirt track, and later a 1 mile dirt track was added. In 1987, the Penske owned paved speedway replaced the big track and the small track was demolished and the site was replaced by the expanding of a nearby grocery store in 1988.Dirt track (large)The big track was opened in April 1966, as a five-turn 1.125mi dirt track named Nazareth National Speedway. The track featured modified races. Frankie Schneider had a clean sweep at the event - he had the fastest qualifying time, won his heat race, and won the feature event. That turned out to be the only event at the track in the season.The track held nine events in 1967, which turned out to be the most the track hosted. Schneider won five of the events.