Ascot Park (speedway)

Ascot Park

Location	Los Angeles, California
Coordinates
Capacity	7,500
Owner	J. C. Agajanian
Operator	J. C. Agajanian
Opened	1957
Closed	November 22, 1990
Major events	CRA NASCAR Grand National AMA Grand National Championship USAC events
outer oval track
Surface	dirt
Length	0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Turns	4
inner oval
Surface	dirt
Length	0.2 mi (0.4 km)

Ascot Park, originally Los Angeles Speedway, was a former dirt racetrack located near Gardena in Los Angeles, California.

History

The Ascot Park track opened in 1957, as Los Angeles Speedway, on the site of a former city dump.

With seating for only 7,500, Ascot Park was smaller than the other tracks of the area including the Ontario Motor Speedway (closed in 1980), and the Riverside International Raceway (closed in 1989). However, the park was equally well-known, due to: its location was surrounded by freeways for easy access; its regularly scheduled races; and its heavy radio advertising. The half-mile course featured tight semi-banked turns, long straight-ways, and a tacky surface that was conducive to dramatic sprint car racing. Other motorsport events, such as Figure 8 racing and motorcycle flat track and TT racing, were also held at Ascot.

The dirt racetrack hosted the United States Auto Club (USAC) championship series, the AMA Grand National Championship motorcycle series and was used in movies like the original Gone in 60 Seconds, A Very Brady Christmas, and CHiPs. Ascot was also the site of the annual USAC Turkey Night Grand Prix midget race on Thanksgiving.

Ascot Park was closed in 1990. It remained unused after a failed development project occupied the former site for a number of years. The track site was later replaced by an auto auction building and storageyard.

NASCAR race results

Three NASCAR Grand National (now Sprint Cup) events were held at the track. The 1957 event was held on the 0.5-mile (0.80 km) track. It was won by Eddie Pagan. The second NASCAR event was a 500 lap event on the 0.4-mile (0.64 km) track, and it was won by Parnelli Jones. The final event was held in 1961 on the 0.5-mile (0.80 km) track. Eddie Gray lapped the field for the win.

See also

• Eddie Gray — notable Ascot Park weekly series alumni.
• Christopher J.C. Agajanian
• Figure 8 racing

External links

• Ascot Park race results at Racing-Reference
• Ascot Stadium race results at Racing-Reference
• MSRmaps.com: Aerial image of Ascot Park
• MSRmaps.com: Topographic map of Ascot Park
• Garbell.com: Ascot Park track photos & video
• Facebook — Ascot Park Fan Page
• "Impact '66" — vintage Chevrolet sales film; one segment depicts figure 8 racing at Ascot Park.