Marion, IL - Turnpike Speedway

i will post some pics of Johnney tomorrow that was the fastest ting on wheels in the day then there was Bob Melvins green coupe with the big block dodge and the Gulf sign on the trunk
 
Yes, Ken Keene was the Corvette guy. He'd run the track in with it after they watered it.

I ran into him several years ago at MCS. He was selling food at the Lion's Club concession stand.

I remember the night at I-57 when James Satterefield's grandma showed up to watch him race.
I always called him the "Mad Man from Mayfiled". She took exception to that and climbed the grandstand to the tower to let me know how she felt about it.

TTG/MM
 
IMG_0001.jpgAnyone remember this car
 
The track between Benton and West Frankfort that was east of Rt37 was a go cart track back in early 60s.
 
apoe said:
Loved the "Turnpike" --I grew up there!!! My grandparents were Dick and Sara Poe, my dad is Richard,so i guess that would make sense. Any thing you need to know or pics etc.. just let us know as dad and myself would glad to help you in anyway possible.
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Good day, race fans. I joined your site because I came upon it in a web search looking for the name of the speedway that was located east of Carbondale. I can't remember the name, but this Turnpike or I-57 sounds probable. I know the track was owned or operated by the Poe family because they let me take photos there one year a part of a photography class project. They were very nice and let me have the run of the place. I never met or got to know the track photographer, however. I do remember the best home made BBQ sandwiches made by the Poe family cooks in the snack bar and the really great sprint car racing. I left the area in 1974. I still have a ton of pix, but they are not scanned and I don't have a scanner. I would appreciate any more info on the track or when they stopped racing. The last time I was thru there all you could see were weeds and part of a fence. Thanx, Gary Nichols, Brandon, FL
 
when Centrailia ran they would actually hold the show on Sunday till the "preacher" got there/ He raced i think a orange 61 chevy 4 door with a six cylinder and if he was commin he would call and they waited for him to get there. They had the best polish sausage ther too LOL You might know I would know where the best food was !!! Turnpike all you can say is SARA POE BBQ!!!!! I remember watchin the Drive - In movie by the airport during intermission Dad was the flagman there for some time too and then his brother was ,,,,,Dale and Wes Sadler got into it on the frontstretch one time and 1 of the cars ended up standing straight up nose to the flagstand ....
 
DAD worked as a pit stewart for Larry Gowler at I-57 and when they first got headsets he was walking down the turn 3 back as Ray Emiling JR came blastin down the backstretch and went into the corner and ran Dad over.. under the front and popped out from the drivers side. Little Ray was devastated. All Dad could wonder was where his boot went... They almost had to pry Rays hands from the wheel to get him out of the car. and A friend of Dads Randy Stanley practically torn the rear fenders off that car mad that Dad got hurt.. It wasnt Rays fault just a wierd accident, Dad was fine but wow what a scare that was. Me and Little ray were about 13-14 maybe then ? Ray had a Big Block camero with driveshafts on the headers Great sould too
 
When and why did Turnpike Speedway close?
The old speedway book lists a track in Energy. Where was it?
Someone mentioned Williamson County Speedway. Was that at the Williamson County Fairgrounds in Marion? When and why did it close?
 
If u go to gogglemaps aerial view on race track and shaw rd you can still see the old race track it is west of interstate 57 off of rt 161 by the way the ground were it sets is for sale EAST OF CENTRALIA IL
 
I "heard" turmpike closed due to it being zoned into the Crab Orchard wildlife district. I figures the guy that bought it didnt put enough cash in the right hand. It was great track then it got widened and lengthened . After that Dad said it started its demize. The name Turnpike changed sometime probably before that I think your names are for the same track too. I remember the fairgrounds track mostly cause the racers would line up to qualify around the trees.
 
I stopped at the fairgrounds a couple years ago. No sign of the dirt track left. Just the horse track with trees in the infield. Any idea when they last raced there?
 
I found this thread by doing a google for Cliff Johns. I occasionally do a search on racers whose names randomly pop into my head. Amazing the other names on here. Gary Easton is my dad, Bill Bost my neighbor, Joe Tom "Flying Dutchman" Reams granddaughter is soon to marry my nephew. A few years back I worked for Jim Halls kids, who sponsored my son at Loretta Lynn's National, about the same time Chuck worked for Jim. The Endres girls, Dick and Sara's grandaughters, I went to school with. Tom, I recently ran into you at the DQ MidAmerica Arenacross. I was working on Marc's bike getting it ready for Josh after their crashes. I also work with Larry Johnson from Mckenzie TN who is pals with Jack Elam of J&J Chassis fame. He worked with Jack, Amati and Mike Phillips at the fiberglass plant when Chuck drove the house car there. Larry and I shared a few stories over the last few years about the fairgrounds. Dick was one of the best promoters ever. We were really lucky to have witnessed all of the famous drivers and car owners who attended the races in So.IL, the list is long. A side note on Centralia, that track was fast, really fast. Hooker Hood stated it was his favorite, he new about fast. There is an internet picture of him leading a Nascar race near Memphis in a coupe, I think Junior johnson is in that photo no where near Hooker.
 
Name dropping drivers at Williamson County Speedway and Turnpike: Norman Bubby Jones, Dick Gaines, Bob Kinser, Tom Tepe, Hooker Hood, Cliff Cockrum who was a big influence on Steve Kinser. Car owners/tuners: Karl Kinser, Briscoe, M. A. Brown, Don Hawthorne, and a man I will idolize forever John McDaniel, my Rockstar. I will work up a list of others, these are just in my head right now. Memories: I57, Kenny Schrader, Buckwheat Gates, John Kemp, Sammy Swindell, Chuck Amati and others stood up for Jeff Swindell in his trick red, white and blue Super when the track would not let him race because they found out he was only 15. The drivers all got together and said if he didn't race it would be a no show for them. Fresh pictures in my head from old fairgrounds, Cliff Cockrum on fire and Flyin Dutchman going over turn 1 towards a tree.
 
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