Crawford County Speedway

Doug McCammon

When I was a boy growing up in Honey Creek Township in the 70s, Friday Night Lights meant a trip to the Stoy Blacktop and Crawford County Speedway. Looking back I can still remember The smell of the hot dogs and popcorn mixed with smell of racing gas and the roar of the engines. This was racing in it's purest form. Friends and neighbors in the stands, in the pits and on the track. Everybody knew each other. I wasn't concerned about NASCAR. I wanted to See Harold "Curly" Sparks wheel the number 92 through the turns like a wild man. I wanted to see Dick Love man-handle a car in a way that he only could. Names like McCammon, Shaw, Munson, Lingafeter,Claycomb and Messenger were just as important and Foyt, Andretti, and Petty. Before Danica Patrick, there was Amy Shook.

Even though the track has been long gone.The memories of a better time remain. The purpose of this website is to preseve the history of Crawford County Speedway. It won't be long before the memories will go the way of the track. I am setting out to write a history of the track and the people that spent their Friday nights on those rickety bleaches or dusty pits. I'm looking for photo's and news clippings, but mostly, I'm looking for stories. Racers tell the best stories and sometimes they are even true.

Please e-mail anything of interest to rick@rickkelsheimer or send it to me at 1302 East Main Street Robinson, Illinois 612554

We are planning the First Annual Crawford County Speedway Reunion at the Robinson Bowling Center on Saturday March 6, 2010. Check back for details.

Stand on the Gas

Rick Kelsheimer