Athens Speedway
The Athens Speedway was built during the winter months of 1958, and soon became one of the most popular tracks in Northeast Georgia.
Built near the Clark and Oconee County line in Athens, Georgia, the track hosted Super Modifieds, Amateurs and, in their heyday, the famed Skeeters that raced all over the southeast.
Legendary drivers such as Tootle Estes, Bud Lundsford, T.C. Hunt, Sam McQuagg and Herman Wise were winners at Athens.
Portions of the film “Greased Lighting” were filmed on the track in the mid 1970s.
The track closed in 1992. Much of the track’s equiptment, including the scoreboard, fence, light towers and even the clay are now at the Hartwell Speedway near Hartwell, Georgia.
Here’s a look at the track during some of it’s best times:
Athens Speedway in 1966, from a 1966 speedway program.
A field of Skeeters getting ready to race.
Looking into turn one from the stands. That’s Jimmie Daniels Road off of turn one.
And here’s what the track looks like today:
I recently had the opportunity to visit the old speedway with members of GARHOFA recently, including Mike Bell, Chris Rutledge and Hugh Blackstock. Here’s what the track looks like from ground level:
The track’s grandstands.
The backstretch wall.
Turn Four
Front Stretch
Turn One
Front stretch wall going into turn one
Turn two
The back gate
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