Jukasa Motor Speedway


The Jukasa Motor Speedway is an auto racing track located near Cayuga in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada.
Famous stock car drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Matt Kenseth, Bobby Allison, Benny Parsons, Don Biederman and Dick Trickle have participated in racing events at Jukasa Motor Speedway on a professional level.

History

Origins

Cayuga International Speedway opened in 1966 as a 1/2 mile "D"-shaped dirt oval, by an owners group consisting of Frank Mashell, Wayne Conroy, Milton Chesterman, and Jack Greenaigh, but was given up to the tracks largest creditor Bob Slack of Slack Lumber after the end of the 1966 season. After the 1967 season Slack made the decision to pave the track because according to his grandson Roger Slack, the high maintenance of preparing the dirt for weekly racing. Cayuga International Speedway was also increased slightly in size to 5/8 of a mile when it was paved but it was still a "D"-shape, the back stretch maintaining a slight but noticeable curve.
A smaller flat oval was built inside the track that was used to race some race divisions like mini stocks and Can-Am TQ midgets. The smaller oval used part of the big tracks front straight away and the same start finish line. It also doubled as the pit road for long events that required teams to make pit stops. The small track was removed in the early 1980s so that a straight pit lane could be built, and the infield pit area benefited by gaining some space.
Set on 300 acres of land, Cayuga offers campgrounds with electricity, concession booths, and free parking.
In 2002 track owners Bob and Leone Slack were inducted to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for their dedication to the Speedway.

Major events

The track has held a variety of different racing groups including the American Speed Association, CASCAR, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the American Canadian Tour, NASCAR Busch North, Hooters Pro-Cup, USAC, International Supermodified Association, DIRT Modifieds and the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
On June 8, 2006, a group of developers from Toronto purchased the ⅝ mile track from Bob and Leone Slack and made improvements for the 2007 season, hoping to attract NASCAR Nationwide Series to have a race at Cayuga Speedway. Instead, the race went to Montreal due to its larger population and recognition in the international community. Cooper Construction of Oakville was announced as the vendor to re-build the track. Cayuga International Speedway Park hosted the first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race in series history on May 26, 2007.

Closure

The final NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race to be held here was the 2008 Coke Zero 200.
The last race held at the speedway was in July 2009 featuring the ISMA Supermodifieds; which was won by Mark Sammut of London, Ontario. This event would earn Sammut his first ISMA win. Along with the ISMA Supermodified racing action were the Canadian Vintage Modifieds; which was won by Phil Shaw of Orangeville, Ontario.

Reopening

In March 2014, photos surfaced on the Lost Speedway's Facebook page showing the speedway in a state of severe disrepair. In May 2014, the track was sold to local businessmen Ken Hill and Jerry Montour of the Six Nations of the Grand River. By September 2014, sand blasting had started on the walls to take off old paint, and in November 2014 the old asphalt was being removed. New paving started in November 2016, after new walls had been poured. Plans for the track were for the same size, but with progressive banking in the corners.
It was announced in December 2016 that the track would reopen on August 26 and 27, 2017. Renamed Jukasa Motor Speedway, the APC United Late Model Series headlined its reopening weekend.

Music

Concerts have been occasionally at Cayuga Speedway; usually conforming with either the country or the heavy metal genre.