Nazareth Speedway

Nazareth Speedway

Map of the track in 2004
LocationLower Nazareth Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Time zoneUTC−5 (UTC−4 DST)
Coordinates40°43′41″N 75°19′08″W / 40.728°N 75.319°W / 40.728; -75.319
Capacity45,000
OwnerRaceway Properties, LLC (November 2015–present)
International Speedway Corporation (1999–2004)
Opened1910
Closed2004
Former namesNazareth National Speedway (1910–1984)
Pennsylvania International Raceway (1985–1993)
Nazareth Speedway (1994–2004)
Major eventsIndyCar Firestone Indy 225 (2002–2004)
CART Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix (1987–2001)
NASCAR Busch Series Goulds Pumps/ITT Industries 200 (1988–2004)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chevy Silverado 200 (1996–2001)
Marlboro Challenge (1990, 1992)
Oval (1987–2004)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.946 miles (1.522 km)
Turns5
BankingTurn 1 and Straightaways: 2.7°
Turns 2 & 3: 3°
Turns 4 & 5 4°
Race lap record0:19.514 (Greg Moore, Reynard 98I, 1998, CART)
Original Oval (1966–1984)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.125 miles (1.810 km)
Turns4
Race lap record0:38.310 (Mario Andretti, Kuzma 60 D, 1969, U.S.A.C. IndyCar)

Nazareth Speedway is a defunct auto racing facility in Lower Nazareth Township in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, which operated from 1910 to 2004. The racing facility operated in two distinct course configurations. In its early years, it was a dirt twin oval layout. In 1987, it was reopened as a paved tri-oval that measured just slightly under 1 mile.

The facility is often linked to local drivers Mario and Michael Andretti's early racing careers.[1] It was also associated with Frankie Schneider due to his large number of wins on the two dirt tracks.[2]

As of November 2015, the site was purchased by Raceway Properties LLC under David Jaindl. There are no current plans to return racing to the facility. As of 2024 the track is abandoned and in a state of disrepair with much of the track's infrastructure (such as grandstands) having been removed. The track's racing surface still exists though it is in disrepair.[3]

  1. ^ Tatu, Christina. "Former Nazareth Speedway will always be 'home' to Mario Andretti". themorningcall.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  2. ^ Hart, Jay (28 Aug 2004). "The "Old Master' did it best". The Morning Call. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  3. ^ Tatu, Christina (8 April 2016). "Developer David Jaindl buys former Nazareth Speedway". The Morning Call. Retrieved 21 May 2018.