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  1.   Cooper posted:
  03.15.2010 - 12:24 pm
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Heidelberg Raceway was an American auto racing track which was built
approximately 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It
held weekly races and numerous special events between 1948 and 1973. It
held four NASCAR Strictly Stock/Grand National (now Sprint Cup Series)
and one NASCAR Convertible Division race between the 1940s and 1960s.In
1960, Heidelberg became the first track to fall off NASCAR's tour. The
land is now occupied by a shopping center called Raceway Plaza.

The track was the brainchild of the original Wrights Sea Food Inn owner,
Ike Wright. It was originally constructed between 1947 and 1948 to be
used as a horse racing establishment, with help and financial backing by
Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney. When horse racing was not
legalized in Pennsylvania., the track was converted into a place for
autos to compete.The original track was a 1/2 mile dirt track that
eventually had a 1/4 mile track cut into its infield. The tracks shared
part of a straightaway that existed in front of the main grandstands.
Over the final years of the tracks existence, there was also a figure-8
course being used within the quarter-mile section of the track.

Chris Economaki, was the track announcer for special events in the 1950s.


  2.   Doc posted:
  09.23.2010 - 2:52 am
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I never knew that Nascar ran races here... I know where Heidelberg is
though.


  3.   Harold Sears posted:
  06.18.2011 - 5:17 am
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I know Lucky Sawyer raced here at Heildelberg June '52, I was there with
him and we parked next to #00 Ralph Ligouri. He rolled his black #00
ford in practice. A young fellow offered his 50 ford (dark Blue) to
start the race and park it after a few laps. Well, Ralph rolled that car
also. Lucky towed the Dark Blue ford back to Cumberland Md. Ford
dealership for repairs because that car didnot belong to that young
fellow. It belonged to his mother. People seeing us come down the road
with the #96 Lucky's car towing Dark blue #00, followed by Ralph driving
his Black #00 that still showed where he rolled it over. Ralph stayed at
the dealership to take care of the damaged blue car. Don't know what the
mother said to her son on that deal. So I don't know why the results
doesn;t show where Lucky finished. He only raced about 25 laps because
he said it started to shimmy in the front.


  4.   Anthony posted:
  05.25.2017 - 2:03 am
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They should try and bring back a track in the Pittsburgh area - short
track of course


  5.   Andy U posted:
  12.09.2018 - 8:13 am
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Hate to say it but by matching up the Google Maps view with the USGS
Pittsburgh West map from 1956...this has been 100% pave over.

The way I see it, the Lowe's loading dock was within spinttin distance
of the Start Finish line.


  6.   Andy U posted:
  12.09.2018 - 3:52 pm
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First MOPAR win, Lee Petty in a Plymouth, 1949


  7.   TTaylor944 posted:
  08.28.2020 - 1:43 pm
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The original racing home of Norm Benning. He got his start here racing
on the figure-eight track at a very young age.


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