Milwaukee Mile

Milwaukee Mile
America's Legendary Oval
The Mile

Oval (1954–present)
LocationWisconsin State Fair Park
640 S. 84th St, West Allis, WI,
Time zoneUTC-6 (UTC-5 DST)
Coordinates43°01′12″N 88°00′36″W / 43.02000°N 88.01000°W / 43.02000; -88.01000
CapacityApprox. 37,000
OwnerState of Wisconsin
OperatorWisconsin State Fair Park
Broke ground29 September 1899; 125 years ago (1899-09-29)
Opened11 September 1903; 121 years ago (1903-09-11)
Construction cost$150 million (USD)
Former namesWisconsin State Fair Speedway (1903–1948)
Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway (1949-1989)
Major eventsCurrent:
IndyCar
Milwaukee Mile 250
(2004–2009, 2011–2015, 2024)
NASCAR Truck Series
LiUNA! 175
(1995–2009, 2023–2024)
Indy NXT
Milwaukee 100
(1986–2001, 2004–2009, 2011–2015, 2024)
ARCA Menards Series
Sprecher 150
(1982–1983, 2005–2007, 2021–2024)
Former:
NASCAR Xfinity Series
NorthernTool.com 250
(1984–1985, 1993–2009)
Can-Am (1987)
USAC Stock Car
Milwaukee 200[1] (1960–1980)
NASCAR Midwest Series (2001, 2005)
ASA National Tour (1998–2000, 2004)
X-1R Pro Cup Series (1997, 2008)
NASCAR Southeast Series (1993–1994)
Websitemilwaukeemileracing.com
Oval (1954–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.015 miles (1.633 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns – 9.25°
Straights – 2.5°
Race lap record0:21.519 (United States Scott Pruett, Reynard 97I, 1998, CART)
Infield road course (1954–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.800 miles (2.900 km)
Turns10
Milwaukee Mile in 2024

The Milwaukee Mile is a 1.015 mi (1.633 km) oval race track in the central United States, located on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb west of Milwaukee. Its grandstand and bleachers seats approximately 37,000 spectators. Opened in 1903 as a dirt track, it was paved in 1954. In addition to the oval, there is a 1.8 mi (2.9 km) road circuit located in the infield.[2]

As the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, the Milwaukee Mile has hosted at least one auto race every year from 1903 to 2023 (except during U.S. involvement in World War II).[3] The track has held events sanctioned by major bodies, such as the AAA, USAC, NASCAR, CART/CCWS, and the IndyCar Series. There have also been many races in regional series such as ARTGO.

Famous racers who have won at the track include: Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Rex Mays, Ted Horn, Johnny Mantz, Norm Nelson, Rodger Ward, Marshall Teague, Frank Mundy, Don White, Parnelli Jones, Paul Goldsmith, A. J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Jim Clark, Alan Kulwicki, Rick Mears, Tom Sneva, Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Kurt Busch, and Tony Kanaan.

On December 16, 2009, Wisconsin State Fair Park officials confirmed that the Milwaukee Mile would not host any NASCAR or IndyCar races in 2010.[4] NASCAR confirmed that their June Nationwide Series date would remain in Wisconsin for 2010, as they announced they would hold a race at Road America for the first time since the Grand National Series raced there in 1956.[5] NASCAR also announced on January 20, 2010, that the Milwaukee date for the truck series would be moved to August.[6] The track hosted two ASA Late Model Series races in 2010.[7]

IndyCar returned to the track in 2011, but the Mile was left off of the preliminary 2012 schedule after a poorly attended 2011 event that resulted in part from an inexperienced promoter. In February 2012, it was announced that IndyCar would return to the Mile on the weekend of June 15–16.[8] The event was promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing, owned by former Indy driver Michael Andretti, and was billed as the Milwaukee IndyFest.[9] The event included open-wheel racing featuring the IndyCar Series and the Firestone Indy Lights, as well as a driver question period and autograph sessions, music and other attractions. The series again left after the 2015 season when Andretti Sports Marketing went out of business.[10] The track hosted no major professional races until ARCA returned in 2021.

  1. ^ Ealy, Kyle (January 15, 2013). "WWW.AMERICANMUSCLE.COM Tuesday, January 15, 2013 The Milwaukee 200". Midwest Racing. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  2. ^ "Milwaukee Mile Speedway". Wisconsin State Fair Park. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  3. ^ Corrinne Hess. "Milwaukee Mile to host first NASCAR race in 14 years". TMJ4, August 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Don Walker & Dave Kallman. "No major races at the Mile" Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, December 16, 2009 http://www.jsonline.com/sports/autoracing/79468997.html
  5. ^ Sporting News Wire Service. "Road America added to 2010 Nationwide schedule - Dec 21, 2009". NASCAR. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  6. ^ Official Release (2010-01-20). "Darlington added to the 2010 Truck Series schedule - Jan 20, 2010". NASCAR. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  7. ^ "2010 Schedule". Milwaukee Mile. Archived from the original on 16 April 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  8. ^ "IndyCar returning to Milwaukee Mile for event - ESPN". ESPN. 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  9. ^ "Welcome to Milwaukee IndyFest". Milwaukeeindyfest.com. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  10. ^ "Andretti Selling Stake in Company as Part of Suit Settlement". Sports Illustrated. August 19, 2015.