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Ace Speedway

Coordinates: 36°11′34″N 79°29′58″W / 36.1927545°N 79.4994736°W / 36.1927545; -79.4994736
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ace Speedway
Pit Party, Ace Speedway, September 2010
Location3401 Altamahaw Race Track Road, Altamahaw, North Carolina, United States
27244
Time zoneGMT-5
Capacity5,000
Opened1956
Former namesSouthern Speedway
Major eventsMischa Sell Memorial 174
Oval
SurfaceAsphalt
Length.400 miles (.644 km)
Turns4
BankingTurns 12°
Straights 10°
Race lap record14.98 (Trevor Ward, , 2021, Late Model)

Ace Speedway is a 4/10 (.400) mile oval stock car racing track in Altamahaw, North Carolina. The track was constructed by Roy Maddren and opened in 1956 as a 1/3 mile dirt oval. In 1984, the track was expanded to a 3/8 mile dirt oval. In 1990, under the ownership of Fred and Jim Turner, the track was paved and was under the NASCAR Winston Racing Series banner. In 1999, the track was re-expanded to a 4/10 mile paved oval, the pits was expanded and other stuff was added to the track such as new bleachers.

Currently, the track runs Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Modifieds, Mini-Stocks and X-Treme cars on a weekly schedule and has ISCARS, Mini-Cups, Flat Head Fords, Southern Ground Pounders, Mini-Trucks, Legend Cars and Bandoleros on a part-time schedule. Touring series such as CARS Late Model Stock Tour, PASS (Pro All Stars Series SLM), UARA, Rolling Thunder Modifieds as well.

In the past, the speedway hosted NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and CARS X-1R Pro Cup Series.

COVID Restrictions Lawsuit

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In 2020, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper ordered restrictions to address the spread of COVID-19, including restricting outdoor gatherings. In protest, the owners of Ace Speedway held races that attracted large crowds of people.[1] Calling the race gatherings "dangerous," Cooper and then-Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) secretary Mindy Cohen ordered the race track to close and took the owners to court.[2] The local superior court judge issued a temporary restraining order, requiring the racetrack to be closed.[3]

In 2021, NC DHHS made a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Speedway had no constitutional claims and that DHHS was immune due to sovereign immunity. Ace argued that the governor and DHHS had exceeded their constitutional authority and had denied protected rights based on the North Carolina constitution's clause that allows citizens to enjoy the fruits of their own labor. The motion was denied by the superior court judge, and was appealed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, who ruled that Ace had made sufficient constitutional arguments to continue the case, denying the motion to dismiss, stating, "Ace pled colorable claims for infringement of its right to earn a living and for selective enforcement of the Governor's orders sufficient to survive the Secretary's motion to dismiss."[4]

NC DHHS appealed that decision to the North Carolina Supreme Court, and arguments were heard in November 2023.[5]

Late Model Track Champions

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Year Driver
1990 Barry Beggarly
1991 Glenn Massey
1992 Michael Ritch
1993 Barry Beggarly
1994 Glenn Massey
1995 Dean Ward
1996 Barry Beggarly
1997 Dean Ward
1998 Robert Turner
1999 Ray Young
2000 Glenn Massey
2001 Glenn Massey
2002 James York
2003 Phillip Faucette
2004 Frank Deiny Jr.
2005 Robert Turner
2006 Rodney Cook
2007 Rodney Cook
2008 Dean Fogleman
2009 Speedy Faucette
2010 Dustin Rumley
2011 Barry Beggarly
2012 Dustin Rumley
2013 Dustin Rumley
2014 R.D. Smith
2015 R.D. Smith

Mischa Sell Memorial 174

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The Mischa Sell Memorial race is a 74-Lap main race for Limited Late Model stock cars. The Memorial race was started in 2012 by David Sell to honor his wife's legacy and raise money to help fight cancer. The race is one of the biggest in the area for limited late models.

Mischa Sell Memorial 174 Winners
Year Driver Hometown Winners Purse
2012 Scott Hall Walkertown, North Carolina $2,700
2013 Joey Throckmorton South Boston, Virginia $4,885
2014 Austin Thaxton Cluster Springs, Virginia $5,625
2015 Dylan Ward Winston-Salem, North Carolina $10,750

References

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  1. ^ "Ace Speedway holds 'protest' race with more than 800 tickets sold despite governor's rebuke". FOX8 WGHP. 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  2. ^ "NC health department battles Ace Speedway operators in court hearing after race track defies closure order". FOX8 WGHP. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  3. ^ "Ace Speedway must close until further notice after judge grants temporary restraining order". FOX8 WGHP. 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  4. ^ "Kinsley v. Ace Speedway Racing, Ltd. | North Carolina Judicial Branch". www.nccourts.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  5. ^ "NC Supreme Court hears arguments in Ace Speedway case". Carolina Journal -. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
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36°11′34″N 79°29′58″W / 36.1927545°N 79.4994736°W / 36.1927545; -79.4994736