Indiana State Fairgrounds

The Story of the Indiana State Fairgrounds Racetrack

The Indiana State Fairgrounds is home to one of the oldest and most storied auto racing sites in the country — the “Hoosier Mile,” a one-mile oval that has been hosting races since the very dawn of American motorsport.

Where American Racing Speed Began

Auto racing first came to the fairgrounds in 1903. That June, legendary driver Barney Oldfield made history at this very track, becoming the first driver to run a stunning 60 mph on a closed course. One of the men racing alongside him that day was Carl Graham Fisher, who would go on to found the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

From that moment, the Hoosier Mile became a proving ground for the sport’s biggest names. A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Al Unser Sr., Roger Ward, Bob Sweikert, and Pat O’Connor all raced on this dirt.

Birth of the Hoosier Hundred

The track’s signature race, the Hoosier Hundred, was born in 1953. Indiana businessman Roger Wolcott teamed with Indianapolis Motor Speedway Safety Director Joe Quinn to bring championship racing back to the fairgrounds, and the race quickly became the second-highest-paying event on the national championship trail — and the richest dirt track race in the country.

Seven Indianapolis 500 winners also won the Hoosier Hundred over the years, led by A.J. Foyt with six victories. The race ran as part of the national championship through 1970, then continued under USAC Silver Crown sanctioning from 1971 onward.

More Than Just the Hoosier Hundred

The mile also hosted the State Fair Century Stock Car Race and the Gold and Glory Sweepstakes, a premier event for African American drivers who were excluded from other competition in the 1920s. Starting in 1981, a sister race called the Hulman Hundred, named for Tony Hulman, was added each May.

The End of an Era

After more than a century of racing, the fairgrounds hosted its final Hoosier Hundred in 2019 before the property was converted to a full-time harness racing facility. Fittingly, the race lives on — revived in recent years at other Indiana venues, carrying the Hoosier Mile’s legacy forward.

More information on the Indiana State Fairgrounds; Click here https://www.indianastatefair.com/

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