The ARCA Menards series visits the “Springfield Mile” in Illinois for Sunday’s Calypso 100. It’s not just another race; Springfield is one of only two dirt races on the ARCA Menards schedule. The green flag will register the 44th Springfield race for the series dating back to 1983 when Dean Roper took the checkers in the inaugural event. Since then, many of ARCA’s most notable drivers have won at the track including Ken Schrader, Justin Allgaier, Frank Kimmel and most recently, Brent Crews. Springfield, and sister track Du Quoin, are arguably the most unique events on the ARCA schedule, holdouts from an era when American stock cars ran at fairgrounds and dirt tracks around the country

“The newer generation gets to run these racetracks knowing the hallowed ground that they’re on, and the famous racecar drivers that raced here.” – Bob Sargent, Track Enterprises

Beyond the fenders of NASCAR, these tracks are even more special. They’re the only two one-mile dirt tracks in the country who still host motorsports events. Springfield held its first professional motorsports event in 1910, making it one of the oldest motorsports venues in the country, and the oldest to have continually held events. The track has hosted motorcycle and open wheel racing since the 1930’s. Its history books read like a who’s-who of motorsports past and present, scattered with names like AJ Foyt, Al Unser, Mario Andretti and Perelli Jones. I spoke with Track Enterprises CEO Bob Sargent about that history: “AJ Foyt, Perelli Jones and all of the IndyCar drivers come to mind. The Ken Schraders, the Tony Stewarts and all those guys. And then you get into the older cars, no roll cages and leather helmets. There’s just so much history about these dirt miles. The newer generation gets to run these racetracks knowing the hallowed ground that they’re on, and the famous racecar drivers that raced here.”.

Springfield is one of this motorsport’s great venues. It’s a place that transcends time and place in motorsports history. In the words of Sargent, it’s hallowed ground. Tune into FS1 today at 1pm CST and watch someone add their name to lore of Springfield.

Photo Credit: Jeff Curry/ARCA Racing