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The open-wheel modified division debuted in Southeast Missouri during the 1992 season at Caruthersville Speedway. It's grown into one of the most popular classes of cars at area tracks, including at Malden Speedway (pictured). Click here for more photos from local tracks.

SCOTT MATTHEWS PHOTO • scottmatthews1957@yahoo.com

Doe Run Raceway

Doe Run Raceway near Farmington is one of the region's smallest dirt oval tracks at 1/6-mile in length. The track featured a variety of kart classes when it opened and recently added full-bodied stock classes to its schedule. The track operated from 1994 to 1996 before it closed, then reopened in 2000.

Results • 2009 | 2010

Fredericktown Raceway

The 1/5-mile dirt track nicknamed "The Rock" opened in 1953 and operated until 1970, reopened for the 1972 season, then remained closed until new ownership took over in 1997. It competed on Fridays before shutting down after the 2004 season; it reopened again under new management in early 2007 following extensive renovations. The track sits at the western edge of the Fredericktown city limits in Madison County.

Results • 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010

Malden Speedway

The 3/10-mile dirt oval track opened north of Malden in Dunklin County as Heartland Motorsports Park in 1995. It later was renamed Malden Speedway after an ownership change. Parts of the facility — including grandstands and portions of the concrete wall — were purchased from the defunct Caruthersville Speedway. The track has hosted special events for MARS late models, Fastrak late models and USCS sprints.

Results • 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010

St. Francois County Raceway

SFCR opened as Empire Speedway in 1970 as part of the county fairgrounds north of Farmington and was renamed in the 1980s. It is the oldest operating oval track in Southeast Missouri. Its trademark event is the annual Queen's Royale for sprints in the fall.

Results • 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010

SEMO Raceway

The 1/8-mile oval track was built in 1997 near Blodgett in central Scott County. It competes on Saturdays and features karts, multis and mini sprints. The track also has hosted special events for RAMS-sanctioned mini stocks, MARA midgets and a national lawn-mower racing tour.

Thunder City Speedway

The approximately eighth-mile D-shaped dirt track 6 miles southwest of Doniphan opened August 7, 2009, with weekly stock car divisions. The track was reconfigured before the 2010 season into a quarter-mile oval.

Results • 2009 | 2010

142 Speedway • The quarter-mile dirt oval track was built on State Route 142 near Thayer and operated from 1977 to 1979. The former race track property is now the site of a housing subdivision.

Arena Park Speedway • The track operated regularly from 1942 to 1953 at Arena Park in mid-town Cape Girardeau. It also was known at times as American Legion Speedway. The track's original grandstands now accomodate fans for musical events during the annual SEMO District Fair. The large track and lights are visible from the grandstands. Demolition derby events and concerts are still held there.

Benton Racepark • Several acres east of Benton were turned into a oval dirt track and drag strip racing complex that opened in May 1991 and operated as Missouri International Racepark under Keith and Earl Simpson. The dirt oval track closed after the 1997 season, reopened under new ownership as Auto Tire & Parts Racepark in 2001, then closed again in May 2004 amid a lease dispute and a lawsuit when a national late model tour claimed its drivers weren't paid the guaranteed purse by the track. It reopened in April 2007 under its sixth different management group, then was renamed Benton Racepark for the 2008 season. It has remained closed since August 2008. 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2007 | 2008

Birdsong Speedway • The quarter-mile dirt oval track was built by the Birdsong family in 1962 and operated until 1977 near Poplar Bluff.

Butler County Fair Speedway • The half-mile dirt oval track near Poplar Bluff opened on Sept. 29, 1918, and operated through 1937, then reopened for racing in 1950 and '51 before closing for the final time.

Caruthersville Speedway • Kenneth and Becki Pritchard built the 1/4-mile oval dirt track in rural Pemiscot County and opened it in July 1988. Its final events were in late 1994. It hosted events for UMP late models, MLRA late models, sprints, modifieds and other divisions. Its signature event was the Bootheel Fall 40 late model race in 1992 (won by Skeet Amason) and 1994 (won by Randy Sellars, pictured). The grounds were razed and became farm land shortly after the track closed. 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994

Charleston Jaycees Speedway • The track operated from 1964 to 1970 east of Charleston on property near the intersection of Interstate 57 and East Marshall Street. The track featured sprint cars and other weekly divisions and was operated by the Charleston Jaycees. After the track closed, a truck stop was built on the property.

DeSoto Speedway • The quarter-mile dirt oval track also was known as D&F Speedway. It operated weekly from the mid 1960s to 1978 and featured an A-class and B-class. Among the track's noteworthy features was a dangerously steep drop behind the back straightaway that drivers referred to as "Thrill Hill".

Malden Jaycee Speedway • The quarter-mile dirt oval track was operated by the Malden Jaycees and opened in 1953. Its final event was on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1975.

Poplar Bluff Speedway • The track was built by former late model competitor Keith Adamson northeast of Poplar Bluff and opened in April 2004. It operated on Saturday nights and hosted a variety of special events. Shon Stuart took over operations of the track in 2007. The track was heavily damaged by flooding before the start of the 2008 season and has not reopened. 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

Potosi Speedway • The quarter-mile dirt oval track competed with weekly racing through the 1960s.

Sikeston Arena Speedway • The small quarter-mile dirt oval track operated west of Sikeston for just two seasons in 1952 and 1953.

Sikeston International Raceway • A.C. James built Sikeston International Raceway in 1978 alongside Interstate 55 near the northern city limit of Miner. It operated primarily on Saturdays, then underwent two management changes in 1986 and 1987 and operated briefly as Double Nickel Speedway. It closed abruptly in July 1987 and never reopened. Portions of the track's grandstands and lights remained visible from I-55 for several years. In 1986, the track hosted the first UMP-sanctioned late model event west of the Mississippi River. The track featured winged late models (pictured) through 1984. 1978 | 1979 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

Sikeston Speedway • The track operated from 1970 to 1978 on the east side of Interstate 55 about 1 mile south of Miner. The track also was known at one time as Plantation Speedway.

Do you see an error? • Share your information on local racing history and help keep our list accurate. E-mail us here, or use the feedback form on the right side of this page.

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ozens of short tracks and paved drag strips racing everything from stock cars to lawn mowers to motorcycles have come and gone over a span of almost 100 years across the 33-county region, and several now hold events each week in front of thousands of fans and competitors.

Dirt tracks across Southeast Missouri feature weekly stock car racing near Doe Run, Doniphan, Farmington, Fredericktown and Malden; drag-strip racing is held weekly near Bonne Terre on a sand track and near Sikeston on a paved strip; and smaller tracks feature truck pulls, lawn mower racing, mud racing, motocross-style racing and other events.

Oval tracks

Doe Run Raceway • Events held each Friday , including B-modifieds, minisprints and kart classes.

Fredericktown Raceway • Events each Friday, including modifieds and other stock car classes.

Malden Speedway • Events each week Friday for late models, modifieds and other stock car classes.

St. Francois County Raceway • Events each week Saturday for sprints, modifieds and street stock classes. Track is near Farmington.

SEMO Raceway • Events each Saturday for kart and ATV classes with special or motocross events. Track is near Blodgett.

Sikeston Race Park • Events each Saturday for ATV and motorcycle classes with special events for trucks.

Thunder City Speedway • Events each Saturday for modifieds and street stock classes. Track is near Doniphan.

Drag strips

Big River Sand Drags • Special events for several classes on the sand strip. Track near Bonne Terre.

Sikeston Drag Strip • Events each Saturday at the asphalt strip north of Sikeston.

Other events

Brick's Off-Road Park • Facility open each weekend for mud-racing events.

River Valley Racers • Lawn mower racing group schedules events at various sites.

Staff photos • See photos taken by our staff at racing events across the region since 2007.

Your photos • It's quick and simple to add your favorite photos of local racers or local tracks. More than 200 fan photos already are posted.

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Racing links • See the home pages for several Southeast Missouri racing teams, along with other racing-related sites.

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