| MAS | |
|---|---|
 Racing image with driving directions | |
| Location | Bob Ward Township,Crittenden County, nearWest Memphis,Arkansas (LeHi,Arkansas) |
| Time zone | Central Standard Time (GMTUTC−06) |
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Owner | Clarence Camp, Harold Woolridge and Nat Epstein |
| Operator | Clarence Camp, Harold Woolridge and Nat Epstein |
| Broke ground | 1953 |
| Opened | 1954 |
| Closed | 1957 |
| Major events | NASCAR Grand National Series |
| Oval | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 2.414 km (1.500 miles) |
| Turns | 4 |
TheMemphis-Arkansas Speedway was adirtoval track located just west ofWest Memphis,Arkansas,United States, in the community ofLehi.[1]
This speedway had a total distance spanning 1.500 miles (2.414 km), and at the time was the longest oval track visited by NASCAR (and the longest dirt oval track to this day).[2] Its elevation is 200 feet abovesea level and all races used theCentral Time Zone.[2] While the track opened on October 7, 1954, it soon ran out of money.[2]Paving the track cost $100,000 ($1,119,549.76 when adjusted for inflation) because the dirt surface was unmanageable after a certain number of years.[2] As a result, the track was closed permanently in 1957 when it was sold to local farmer Clayton Eubanks Sr., who used the abandoned race track forcatfish,rice, andsoybeans for a number of years.[2] The proposedInterstate highway that was being built near the abandoned rack track was not finished in time to save it.[3]
Richard Petty and his fatherLee both remember the high banking that this race track had. The dirt was used for the banking and two ponds were on opposite ends of the speedway. Lee Petty finished third at the 1954 Mid-South 250[4] and nineteenth at the 1955 Mid-South 250.[5]
TheNASCARGrand National (now the NASCAR Cup) Series would visit this track numerous times during the1955 and1956 Grand National seasons.[2]Clint McHugh fromIowa (who tumbled over a guard rail and into a lake 50 feet below the embankment at the age of 28)[6] andCotton Priddy fromLouisville,Kentucky,[7] are the two race car drivers who died on this allegedly dangerous race track.[8] Since the 1960s, the track was never used for its intended purpose ofstock car racing.[8] At a race held in November 1954, twelve thousand fans would attend a race spanning 250 miles (400 km) whereBuck Baker would end up winning the 1954 running of the Mid-South 250.[9]
Only two named races would be held in this racing venue:1954 Mid-South 250 and the1955 Mid-South 250.[10] TheFord Motor Company would earn two wins on this track followed by single race wins earned byPontiac,Chrysler, andOldsmobile.[10]Fonty Flock was the only winner on this track to start from thepole position.[10] The highest purse ever offered at this track was $14,250 ($159,535.84 when adjusted for inflation).[11] The largest field to compete on the track was 52 cars, while the smallest was 28.[10]
Other notable drivers who have gained experience racing here included:Chuck Stevenson,Tiny Lund,Bob Flock, andRalph Moody.
35°8.31486′N90°18.9617′W / 35.13858100°N 90.3160283°W /35.13858100; -90.3160283