Mesa Marin Raceway
From The Third Turn, a Wikia wiki
Mesa Marin Speedway was a high banked half mile racetrack in Bakersfield, California.
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[edit] History
The track was built in 1977. The track held events that were televised on ABC's Wide World of Sports, TNN, Fox Sports, Speed Channel, HDNet and ESPN.[1] The track closed in 2005 and the location is now being used for suburban residential development.
[edit] Role in Craftsman Truck Series formation
Mesa Marin was critical to the formation of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Mesa Marin was the site for design, construction and testing of the prototype NASCAR Craftsman Trucks. Gary Collins, a former racer and son of track owner Marion Collins, led the team of designers and fabricators who built the first truck.
The track hosted nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events between 1995 and 2003. [2] The track added 4,500 seats in 1999, and had a capacity of nearly 12,000. [1] The track was demolished after the 2005 season. A new track is being constructed.[1]
[edit] Trivia
- Of the 900 short tracks in that nation, Mesa Marin Raceway's October Classic was voted the Premiere Event of the Year by National Speed Sport News. [1]
- Nearly 4 million spectators attended Mesa Marin Raceway over its 29 year lifetime. [1]
