Saltcity Speedway, formerly just known as the Kansas State Fairgrounds, has been a staple of the Fairgrounds back since the early 1900s and has run NASCAR in the past in the old convertible series, which in 1956 was won by Frank Mundy, as well as local series, like the United Rebel Sprint Series and of course, the main course- the Hutchinson Nationals. It ran for 67 years straight until 2023. It seemed like the racetrack would stay till the end of time, as it was there before the Fairgrounds existed.

The Fairgrounds boards decided in November 2022 to demolish the track and put in an entertainment complex without public output. Local Kansan race fans, including myself, had NOT been happy with this decision. I went to what people thought was the last event, the 2023 Hutchinson Nationals, and the support for the track was overwhelming. People filled the stands. Races were great. But for the racers in Kansas, it was a huge blow. At one point, we had 3 racetracks in the Wichita area, those being 81, Hutchinson Raceway Park, and the Fairgrounds. HRP closed off in late 2010, slowly being abandoned and in disrepair now, and then the Fairgrounds track being killed off was a massive blow for local racers. With 81 Speedway likely about to be the only track near South Central Kansas, people would likely not go out and race with one track.

After the fair board announced this, I went back to the fair for my yearly trip. It was a rainy September day. I was on one of the rides and saw the speedway. It was worth noting that this is the main spot for events and hosts 10,000 people in the grandstands. The Fairgrounds kept pushing it back until after the fair.

Until the fair board finally listened. In November 2023, over Zoom, they went for a vote to rescind the demolition. The issue? They didn’t vote. They moved it to January 2024. One backer had the opportunity to show to the board. Phil Nightingale, the owner of Mel Hamilton Ford in Wichita and Mel Hamilton Racing, wanted to save the track. Finally, they voted in January.

It was a snowy January day in Kansas, and I got on for the meeting to announce whether or not the proposal would be accepted. After those minutes ticked off, they accepted the proposal, but it was only announced for one year. Nightingale said he would work on all the maintenance, keep the track in peak condition for weekly racing at the track, and donate all the repairs and time to the KSF. Nightingale chose the name Saltcity because of Hutchinson’s history with salt mining, and Hutchinson’s nickname is “Saltcity.”

After the proposal was accepted, it was announced the USAC Silver Crown series would be coming to the speedway for the first time in July, a year and 5 days to the day the “final” event had taken place at the speedway.  Now, the speedway is thriving before its grand reopening on April 26th. Saltcity Speedway lives on, although for just one year.  Hopefully, after the year with Nightingale is likely a success (as if it already was not at this point, as the track hasn’t had weekly racing in YEARS), the fair board will continue the partnership.

Image via Saltcity Speedway Facebook