Lakeside Speedway is not such a secret outside of Kansas City anymore. Having been featured on the Discovery Channel’s Heartland Thunder TV series last year, it has gained new popularity even outside of dirt racing circles. It is, without a doubt, a Great American Track.

Lakeside Speedway is a 3/8 mile, slightly banked dirt oval in Kansas City, Kansas that originally opened in 1955. Classes include Factory Stock, Grand National, and Modified. 2011 brings the debut of a fourth class…Convertible Sport B Modifieds. The track officially opens for the new season on Friday April 15th.

Their website: http://www.lakesidespeedway.net/ is loaded with good information plus they have a really good message board/forum where you can read and comment.

As I mentioned earlier, the old track opened in ’55 but 3 people died at the track in ’56 and it closed. New management reopened Lakeside in 1961 and they remained on Leavenworth Road through 1988 when theat property was purchased. Lakeside then moved a few miles north to 5615 Wolcott Drive just off I-435, also in Kansas City, Kansas where it remains. (See Map). The new track was actually asphalt from ’89 to ’99 but went back to dirt, again with new management, in 2000.

One of the track’s famous favorite sons is NASCAR’s Clint Bowyer who holds quite a number of track records at Lakeside. Others who have raced there include Tony Stewart, Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace. Oh and someone I can’t forget…Jennifer Jo Cobb.

There are some good video clips of the Heartland Thunder series here. Definitely worth a look if you missed the shows.

I hope you have a chance to visit Lakeside this season. Make it a weekend with plenty to do in Kansas City. Can you say Barbeque, Steaks, Prime Rib??? And of course Lakeside Speedway, a Great American Track.

5th in our weekly series – Check in Every Tuesday for another track and feel free to send me your suggestions.