Slinger Super
Speedway Track History - The Sunday Night Tradition
Once you experience
racing action at Slinger Super Speedway, you will understand why the Worlds Fastest
Quarter Mile Oval is currently celebrating its 60th year of motorsports tradition.
Dating back to the opening of the track in 1948, the speedway has been a breeding ground
for racings rising stars. Slinger Super Speedways feature winners and division
champions, such as Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Rich Bickle, Ken Schrader,
Rusty Wallace and the late Alan Kulwicki, have gone on to find success in the elite NASCAR
Winston Cup Series.
Others, such as
seven-time track champion Miles Melius and five-time track champion Bill Johnson Jr., have
remained legends of Slinger Super Speedway for more than 40 years.
With the help of Wayne Erickson, track owner Rollie Heder decided the track was in need of
a serious transformation. Slinger Super Speedway was born in 1974 as a high banked asphalt
oval. Erickson was no stranger to auto racing, as he had been involved with the sport
since 1963. He had two modified cars that he shared with current track record holder, Tony
Strupp.
Erickson and Strupp
raced at the Milwaukee Mile, Beaver Dam, Hales Corners, Columbus, Kaukauna, Wisconsin
Dells, Madison a! nd Norway. Needless to say, the two men got a feel for area tracks,
while setting the stage for what would be for both, two successful racing careers.
In 1976 Erickson purchased the track from Heder and brought a fresh spirit of competition
that attracted media, drivers and fans from coast to coast. Erickson also believed in
creating the maximum fan experience and ran promotions such as the Miss Slinger Super
Speedway pageant, the penny and nickel drop and bike giveaways.
In addition,
Erickson honors the Scouts for all of their accomplishments by having an annual race
dedicated to their tradition and excellence. Erickson goes above and beyond
promoters call of duty by offering fans giveaways, such as hats, t-shirts and seat
cushions throughout the year.
The track has grown tremendously in the past 50 years and has evolved into a premier
motorsports facility. In October of 2002, Erickson, resurfaced all four corners of the
track in order to smooth the surface and create faster lap times. Track resurfacing could
pave the way for a driver to break the current track record set by Tony Strupp on June 12,
1994 when Strupp navigated the high banks of Slinger Super Speedway in 11.095 seconds.
Year after year, some of the best know names in motorsports race each other around the
high banks of Slinger Super Speedway, just as their older colleagues did in 1948. The year
2007 could bring new milestones to speedway competition but one thing is for certain, the
Sunday night tradition that was established many years ago, will continue far into the
future.
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