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Qlispé Raceway Park

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Coordinates: 47°39′36″N 117°34′23″W / 47.660°N 117.573°W / 47.660; -117.573
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Qlispé Raceway Park
LocationAirway Heights, Washington
Time zonePacific, UMT −8
Coordinates47°39′36″N 117°34′23″W / 47.660°N 117.573°W / 47.660; -117.573
OwnerKalispel Tribe
Address750 N Hayford Rd
Opened1974; 50 years ago (1974)
Former namesSpokane County Raceway
Websitewww.qrpracing.com
Drag Strip
SurfaceConcrete / asphalt
Length0.40 km (0.25 miles)
Road Course
SurfaceAsphalt
Length3.7 km (2.3 miles)
Oval Track
SurfaceAsphalt
Length0.80 km (0.50 miles)

Qlispé Raceway Park (formerly the Spokane County Raceway) is a multi-venue motorsport facility in the western United States, in Spokane County, Washington.[1]

Located northeast of Airway Heights and west of the city of Spokane, it includes a one-quarter mile (0.40 km) drag strip, a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) road course, and a one-half mile (0.80 km) oval track. The raceway is currently a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) member; it previously hosted International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and American Hot Rod Association (AHRA) events. It is used as well for driving schools for marque-specific clubs, and has also hosted ICSCC (International Conference of Sports Car Clubs) championship events.

The average elevation of the facility is approximately 2,350 feet (720 m) above sea level.

Spokane County Raceway hosted 3 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races, in 2011, 2013 and 2017.

History

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The raceway opened 50 years ago in 1974,[2][3] when investors produced more than two million dollars to build the facility.[4][5][6]

Questionable management resulted in a lawsuit against president and operator Orville Moe,[7][8][9] and bankruptcy hearings.[10][11] Moe was eventually fired in June 2006.[12][13][14] The track was sold as of April 10, 2008, purchased by the county,[15][16] and renamed "Spokane County Raceway."

The operator in 2009 was Bucky Austin of Austin Motorsports Management,[17] which had a 25-year contract,[18] but was terminated after less than one year due to mismanagement.[19][20]

The track then was operated by Charlie Allen and Ron Hodgson; Allen had run the Firebird International Raceway in Arizona since 1983, and Hodgson was part owner of the Castrol Raceway in Edmonton, Alberta.[20] In February 2012, Allen was replaced by Spokane local Craig Smith, originally of Odessa, a one-time successful world champion dragster.[21] In May 2021, it was announced that Spokane County had accepted an offer to sell the raceway for $6.1 million dollars to the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Shoot, Jason (May 14, 2022). "New road ahead: Fueled by its history and plenty of optimism, Qlispé Raceway Park embarks on its first day of racing". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Larrigan, Bob (May 31, 1974). "Track's ready, so let 'em roar". Spokesman-Review. p. 26.
  3. ^ Larrigan, Bob (June 3, 1974). "It's 'Maple Leaf power!'". Spokesman-Review. p. 16.
  4. ^ Morlin, Bill (August 18, 2004). "Revised suit filed in track dispute". Spokesman-Review. p. B3.
  5. ^ Morlin, Bill (November 11, 2004). "Angry investors gain legal win". Spokesman-Review. p. B1.
  6. ^ Morlin, Bill (2004-07-04). "Losing Track". Spokesman Review. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  7. ^ Blocker, Kevin (October 29, 2003). "Raceway Park owners sue". Spokesman-Review. p. B2.
  8. ^ Morlin, Bill (December 13, 2005). "Closure recommended for raceway". Spokesman-Review. p. B1.
  9. ^ Morlin, Bill (September 6, 2007). "Raceway trustee files lawsuits". Spokesman Review. p. B6.
  10. ^ Morlin, Bill (August 26, 2006). "Moe files for bankruptcy, avoids hearing". Spokesman Review. p. B2.
  11. ^ Spokane Raceway Park Inc. vs. Orville L. Moe (United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Washington), Text.
  12. ^ Morlin, Bill (March 18, 2006). "Court asked to fire Moe, sell racetrack". Spokesman Review. p. B6.
  13. ^ Morlin, Bill (June 2, 2006). "Moe fired as raceway manager". Spokesman Review. p. A1.
  14. ^ Mark Klaas. "Banned from home?". CompetitionPlus.com. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
  15. ^ Delaney, Paul (April 17, 2008). "Looking at the bigger picture of Spokane County's Raceway buy". Cheney Free Press. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  16. ^ "Spokane County buys Raceway Park". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. Associated Press. June 27, 2008. p. 5A.
  17. ^ Camden, Jim (July 6, 2009). "Spokane raceway operator vows to pay bills". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  18. ^ Prager, Mike (May 8, 2009). "Driver strikes, kills pedestrian at Spokane County Raceway". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  19. ^ Camden, Jim (October 29, 2009). "Spokane County fires racetrack operator". Spokesman-Review. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  20. ^ a b Walters, Daniel (August 25, 2010). "Money pit". Pacific Northwest Inlander. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  21. ^ Walters, Daniel (February 15, 2012). "Another lap". Pacific Northwest Inlander. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  22. ^ "Spokane County to sell raceway to Kalispel Tribe for $6.1 million | the Spokesman-Review".
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