|| *Comments on I-70 Speedway:* View the most recent comment <#14> | Post a comment <#post> 1. Cooper posted: 03.08.2011 - 3:55 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) I-70 Speedway is a racetrack near Interstate 70 east of Odessa, Missouri, USA. The track opened in 1969 and was open every year until it closed in 2008. It was built and owned by Bill Roberts who, along with partners, had previously built and owned KCIR Dragstrip on Noland Road in Kansas City, Missouri. The track hosted NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races from 1995 to 1999. In 2006, a new 3/8 dirt track was built on the site. The asphalt track is a long 1/2 mile (0.54 mi) with high 30-degree banking in the turns. The back stretch has a small dog-leg. It is regarded as one of the fastest and highest banked short tracks in the nation. When the track was being built, in the late sixties, a crane was used to pave the turns from outside the retaining wall because nothing was capable of paving embankments that high at the time. It was also one of the first tracks to feature a very early version of the soft-wall. During a World Cup race in the early 1990s huge styrofoam blocks were placed high along the retaining wall in all the turns. All-Pro Series driver, and former NASCAR Rookie of the Year, Jody Ridley hit one of the blocks which sent him airborne over the wall in turn four upside down. Ridley walked away from the wreck, but that style of soft wall was only used in a few more races at I-70. I-70 is also one of the few race tracks that offers individual bucket seating for fans instead of bleachers. This unique style of race track seating was designed by Bill Roberts and his good friend Louis Noland. 2. RaceFanX posted: 10.02.2015 - 10:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sadly I-70 Speedway closed after its 2008. The track remains in existence but its in rough shape with a lot of plants growing over the pit area and the grandstands. 3. chevyfan98 posted: 03.02.2017 - 11:31 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) Not going to lie, when I first heard about this track I thought it was a race on an interstate highway. 4. Seibaru posted: 07.05.2018 - 10:47 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Will reopen in 2019 as a 1/2 mile clay oval. ...Well this was unexpected. 5. Maverick19 posted: 07.06.2018 - 12:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^Unexpected but fantastic 6. Dion posted: 07.06.2018 - 2:24 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) From NHRA website: About NHRA Statistics Locate an NHRA Track Hot Rod Reunions Catalog Showcase Performance Directory NHRA 101 NEWS FILTER Kansas City International Raceway, I-70 Speedway reopening in 2019 05 Jul 2018 Posted by NHRA.com staff Share Share on social, email or copy link. https://www.nhra.com/news/2018/kansas-city-international-raceway-i-70-speedway-reopening-2019 News Division 5 Kansas City International Raceway and I-70 Speedway, originally built in the late 1960s to serve the Kansas City market but both closed within the past 10 years, will get a fresh start with the help of multiple companies with a scheduled reopening in 2019. Both tracks will be rebuilt on the property in Odessa, Mo., that originally housed I-70 Speedway. The facility will be named I-70 Motorsports Park and home to both race tracks. A quarter-mile dragstrip will be built, along with a half-mile clay dirt oval. NHRA will sanction events on the dragstrip and while the dirt track will feature sprint car action from several different sanctioning bodies. Events at the dragstrip will include a weekly test and tune series and a weekly bracket racing series as well as feature events, including an import races and car shows. The dirt oval track will host monthly racing events throughout the season, and will be built in a way that fans will be able to enjoy separate events there such a music concerts, festivals, and other facility rental functions. Among those helping in the reboot is the same corporation that revamped Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kan., and National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. Leading the project is Kansas City businessman and entertainment property owner, Chris Payne. "I'm super excited to be involved with rebuilding two historical race tracks which have been a part of the local communities for decades. Like, most successful projects it takes a group of devoted people and companies, including the support of the local governments, to completed the project. Our hopes are I-70 Motorsports Park becomes a staple in the community for all to enjoy for generations to come" After the appropriate approvals and permits are received, construction will immediately take place at the property with earth moving equipment clearing an area for the dragstrip to be laid, and the oval track will have fresh clay delivered to complete its racing surface. Both facilities will have general admission seating as well as corporate hospitality areas and VIP tower suites for lease throughout each season. Race fans can follow all of the progress at i70motorsportspark.com. 7. John posted: 08.08.2018 - 10:05 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @3 Now I really want to see a NASCAR race at a track shaped like a highway. 8. JSPorts posted: 08.08.2018 - 10:17 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Wouldn't that just be a drag race? 9. Leo posted: 08.09.2018 - 1:24 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @3, 7, 8 - Check out the AVUS circuit in German, which was exactly that - a long stretch of highway joined by a hairpin and a massive highbanked turn. 10. John posted: 08.09.2018 - 4:32 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @9 Sweet thanks. 11. Canadianfan posted: 08.09.2018 - 10:18 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) @11 You also might want to check Palanga in Lithuania. Basically a bunch of freeway on ramps and off ramps with a gas station chicane. 12. Scott B posted: 08.09.2018 - 10:28 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) #9, I've always wondered how that configuration (one end high banked, one end hairpin to require extreme braking) would race. 13. Mr.Checkered posted: 11.05.2019 - 5:58 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) No better feeling than seeing a shutdown grassroots facility being revived!!! 14. TxRacer posted: 11.29.2020 - 11:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) It was announced today November 29th that the World Of Outlaws sprint car series will race at I-70 in 2021; the track has been reconfigured to a 3/8 mile dirt track ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: