NASCAR America continues its My Home Track: 50 states in 50 shows series with a great recollection of a long-gone track, Narragansett Park Speedway in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Built in 1867 and designed originally as a horse racing track, Narragansett Park Speedway was host and home to some of the first auto races to ever be held in the United States, dating back to the late 19th century.
It’s first race in 1896 featured only seven cars, but drew a sell-out crowd of more than 60,000.
It was the king of New England racing for more than 20 years for those who became fans of the growing world of car racing until a discarded match set the place aflame in 1924, never to return.
Even after 93 years, fans still like to talk about the fabled dirt track, which was not rebuilt after it went up in smoke and eventually became -- much like many old racetracks eventually become -- a subdivision.