Spartan Speedway (Corrigan Oil Speedway) Mason MI

Info Updates:

4/5/2016 - KEVIN ANTHONY

WHEN I WAS YOUNG I WORKED ON MORGAN BROTHERS CARS. DON AND BOB FORDS AND CHEVY'S. BOB WAS MOSTLY KNOWN FOR NUMBER 80. WE RAN TRACKS ALL OVER MICHIGAN. ONE YEAR WE WON THREE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS SPARTAN,JACKSON AND OWOSSO IN ONE YEAR IN EARLY 70s MY BROTHER WAS ON BUTCH FEDEWA'S CREW. I REMEMBER ALL THE STARS. SADLY A LOT ARE GONE NOW.

8/30/2015 - Steven McGee

I went on Fridays to Spartan back in 1967-68 before I went in the Army. After that stint I started going back in 1972. I remember they had a spectators race and announced that If you wanted to race what you drove to the track you had to get a helmet and sign a waiver. I ran to the parking lot and got my Plymouth satellite with my girlfriend yelling No don't you wreck our car. We had a local from my hometown driver that went there and raced for Ramus Automotive in Adrian Mi. Dick Crup. so I borrowed his helmet. I signed the waiver and as the drivers, which were quite a few who volunteered up their daily driver to race and as we were talking and they were all saying well I am not really going to race they are just looking for a good show. Others were saying, well I am not gonna tear up my car. They turned to me and said what you gonna do and I said race and race hard because I know when you all get out there and a few laps in it's gonna be a race. What they didn't know was I raced dirt track when I was in Germany. It was a great race and we sent one over the south end and I got a dented rear quarter but came in second only because the hit slowed me down. I almost got a ride on Spartan from Bill Ingram when he was looking for a driver.

8/13/2013 - RICHARD PARKER

I GREW UP IN THE MASON AREA & REMEMBER GOING TO THE TRACK WITH MY DAD AND BROTHER AND AUNT AND UNCLE BACK IN 50'S & 60'S. WATCHING LIL RICHARD AND THE FEDEWAS AND ALDRICH AND JACK THE GIANT KILLER IN HIS HENRY J. I CAN SEE LEAPING LARRY THE FLAG MAN AS I AM WRITING THIS. BEING AT SPARTAN SPEEDWAY BRINGS BACK A LOT OF HAPPY MEMORIES. BUT I CAN NOT REMEBER THE CLOWNS NAME FROM THE EARLY 60'S.

5/29/2013 - Bill Simmons

I received a call last night that Mike Conboy passed away Sunday, May 26, 2013. Big Mike raced the Captain America Red White and Blue #44 in the late 60's and early 70's at Spartan. Superstition Funeral home 398 East old west Highway Apache Junction, AZ. 85119 480-982-2727.

4/23/2013 - Larry Kinney

I grew up in Holt, up the road a bit, but we could hear the cars every weekend roaring in the night. Remember at the Speedway the rich smell of burnt rubber while standing in the stands & cheering of the crowds. Walking into the pit area to see car & drivers close up. The demolition derby night was always a pleasure.

2/6/2013 - Norman Derl Ellis

My Dad, Roy Ellis, worked for Poor Paul Zimmerman and often drove Paul's tow-truck at the races. It was a way for me to get in free. I still tell stories all around the world about the Figure 8 races and antics of Lil Richard Simmons charging the intersection. I didn't realize for years how unique it was to grow it with Figure-8 track in my back yard. People still can't believe drivers would voluntarily engage in that madness.

12/28/2012 - Sam Kestenholtz

I spent my entire childhood at Spartan Speedway with my family running the track. It is a time I fondly remember, and when I am close by-I always stop by and see it. My family spent so many days painting, cleaning and just generally working on the track to make it the best experience for the fans and drivers that we could. I probably painted hundreds of trash bins, and learned to drive on the old tractor that swept the track. I am always pleased to see the track improving and continuing to provide entertainment for everyone. Lil Richard Simmons was my childhood hero-and would occasionally take me for rides in the 771-without my mom knowing. I was so pleased to be able to speak at my father's induction to the Michigan Motor Sports Hall Of Fame-an honor made possible by the fans, the drivers, and the work of the staff of Spartan Speedway during our years.

4/28/2012 - Randy

Went to Spartan's opener this past Friday and it was really nice. First time for me going there. Easy parking, pleasant and personable staff, stands easy access and secure, clean bathrooms, perfect viewing of the whole track and fast paced program. Even though being the first night, there was still a good turn out of cars. And plenty of action. The Mod feature was won at the line with the #55 nosing across the line by about 6 to take the win after coming from the very back of the pack. And they had TWO features for the Pony class as there were so many of them. Overall, certainly a good place to go on a Friday evening. Tickets were a Friday discount of only $10. food was kinda pricey, BUT you can bring in a cooler and outside food to make it more affordable. I will be back. and I'd recommend getting out there to check it out!.

3/28/2012 - Mark Mitchell

Bill Simmons: I think you misunderstood my post regarding your Mom. Your mom was great at promoting racing and the track. The issue I was talking about was when my Dad got nailed in the intersection (June 1966), it was discovered that there were a few drivers that were unhappy that my Dad, your Dad, and a few select others won most of the races, and they formed a conspiracy to stop it. Your Mom alerted the track officials to that (based on what she heard in the pits), and got those drivers banned. I have no idea who they were, but the crash put an end to Dad's racing days. It was apparent that the accident was really intentional, and not an accidnet at all.

5/5/2011 - Bill Simmons

To Mark Mitchell, I remember your dad raced lucky # 13, he was a Livonia police officer along with Mel Murphy. Mel passed away last year. My mom never pressured or had any doings with forcing fans or drivers away from a track. She promoted Flat Rock in the early 60's and knew that you needed the racers and fans at the track to put on a show. Not sure what your remembering. Mom past away in 2005 and Dad is living in Florida. Stay well.

3/30/2011 - Mark Mitchell

Billy Simmons: Your dad and mine raced against each other in the mid-60's. My dad was involved in a bad wreck in the figure 8 in June 1966, and that was the end of his racing days. Your Mom was instrumental in getting a couple of guys thrown out of racing (at least in Spartan Speedway) for the conspiracy they had against our dads. My dad was Bob Mitchell. Drove an orange Ford, #13 (or sometimes 131), and he also raced against Little RIchard at Flatrock. I was only 12 years old then, but remember those Friday and Saturday nights like they were yesterday. I hope you are well. My dad passed away in 2006. But we talked about his racing days until the very end. Great memories.

12/23/2010 - Chris Fobbe

Long time promoter Poor Paul Zimmerman passed away last Monday at the age of 86. Zimmerman was the promoter at Spartan for many, many years and helped make it into one of the premier racing facilities in Mid-Michigan. God Speed Paul.

8/2/2010 - scott valley

im looking for old pictures of my dad, ken valley and lee aldrich. even jim aldrich. igrew up at the track with my dad and only have a few pictures. thanks

12/28/2009 - Dan Grinde

Do they still have a figure 8 class at spartan speedway? If not, why not invite the ARCA figure 8 class every once in a while?

6/7/2009 - Billy Simmons

Jon lundberg, he could get the crowd on their feet if there were only 2 cars on the figure 8 track. What a great announcer. I remember the "WATCH OUT" as the cars were getting close to each other at the intersection. Glad your still around Jon.
Billy Simmons

5/20/2009 - Jon Lundberg

WOW!! How neat is this?? I used to announce at the place when it was called "Lansing Motor Speedway" and was owned by RJ Atwood. Later for the Kestenholtz family too as Spartan Sppedway.

That photo of "Little Richard" Simmons brings back memories. Used to call the Figure 8 races there too and Simmons was a many times winner. In 1987, I was at the Performance Trade Show in Daytona Beach (just before the 500) and this young man walked up to me and asked, "Are you Jon Lundberg"? Yes. "Did you use to announce at a track in Mason, MI"? Yes. Well, my grandfather is/was "Little Richard" Simmons and he used to record you announcing those events and play them back for me!" May I have your autograph please?

See? One minor felony and nobody forgets!

Jon Lundberg

10/10/2008 - BBill simmonsly Simmons

The picture of #a11 Mid Season championship July 25th 1970 is from Jackson Motor speedway. You can see the judges stand in the background

5/12/2008 - Ron Gross

We made our first visit this year, had a great time as expected. The Super Late Model race was won by a very fast 16 year old, Chad Finley. The Modified race had a driver getting a little fired up, after getting spun out, he jumped out and whipped his helmet at the offender. The fans loved it! The pony stocks were as wild as ever, beatin' and bangin' and going five-wide on the back stretch. Other than the pony stocks, the fields were pretty small. Must be Michigans economy and gas prices.

8/7/2007 - Garrett Pierce

When I was a young boy, my father used to love to go watch races. We went everywhere they were around the area; Berlin,Jackson,Owosso,Butler, Clark(now I-96)ect. But the one I remember going out to the most is Spartan. I must have been about five years old the first time I was there, but I can still remember the names like Dave Mulder, Butch Fedawa, Rich & Bob Senaker, Joy Fair, and on and on. I even remember one night in 1988 when me and a friend went there to watch the friday night action and there under the grandstand in the promo both was Dale Earnhardt. He was there because Bobby Allison was supposed to be but that was right after his big wreck and so Dale agreed to take his place. The thing I remember most was how no one was around him, no mobs of people or anything! You could just walk right up to him and say hello. It was unbelievable, but he was allready a 2 or 3 time champ then, but no one seemed to notice! I haven't been out there lately because I work nights and they race on fridays. But I plan to go back sometime. Where did all the stars go?

5/7/2007 - Randy

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Stan Perry family. God Speed...

7/8/2006 - Ron Gross/Michigandriveins.com

We enjoyed another exciting night at the "Track The Stars Call Home" last night. Perfect weather, a good crowd and a full slate of racing, including Super Late Models, Michigan Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pony Stocks and Dwarfs. The dwarfs are very cool, scaled down versions of 32 Fords, powered by motorcycle engines. The first stop of course was the snack bar, which has good chow and is reasonably priced. The burgers are huge and very tasty. One item missing on the menu is corn dogs, back in the 80s they always had the best corn dogs!! The highlight of the night had to be the spectator drags. Spectators lined up their street cars in pairs for a one lap "drag race" around the track, the final winner taking $100 cash. A pair of late-80s 5.0 Mustang GTs were among the contestants, along with a ratty sounding S-10, a Grand Prix, a Grand Am, an Impala, AND a brand new HEMI Charger, which was brought in from Beacon Sales in Charlotte. The big bad Hemi and one of the Mustangs lined up, and the crowd went nuts as the Hemi was throughly trounced upon by the Mustang!! I thought Hemis were supposed to be fast?! Maybe Beacon should have brought a Viper instead of a wimpy Hemi?! As expected the two Mustangs easily beat all comers and were the final pairing. That thing gotta 5.0?? LOL Poor Paul still puts on a great show at Spartan, as he has for many years.

12/25/2005 - Marty Blume

Spartan Speedway is a 1/4 mile with a figure eight in it. The track was built in 1956 by RG Atwood and featured the supermodifieds. Art Bennett won the first race which was held on July 20, 1956. Over the years, many of the star drivers of the times have called the track home as their slogan says "The track the syars call home". The Johncocks, Bennett, Logan, Katlin, Conley, Jones , Ward, Landon, Roberts, Harringtons and so forth in the supermodifieds were all regulars. In the late models, some of the names were Fair, Senneker, Harden, Howe, Mulder, Anderson, Roumell, Crup, Barnard, Hage, Taylor, Terry, Terrell, Roberts, and so forth. The Fedewa family grew up at this track. For the past 25 plus years, it has been run by Michigan MotorsportsHall of Famer, Paul Zimmerman.

12/25/2005 - Chris Fobbe

Spartan Speedway is a 1/4 slightly banked oval with an adjoining figure 8.

12/22/2005 - Sean Fitzgerald

Cant tell much from the photos. Is spartan a 1/2 or 1/4 mile?