Heartland Motorsports Park
House of Speed

LocationTopeka, Kansas, USA
Time zoneGMT-6
Coordinates38°55′35.82″N 95°40′34.31″W / 38.9266167°N 95.6761972°W / 38.9266167; -95.6761972
OwnerShelby Development, LLC
Address7530 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66619
Opened1989
Closed2023
Major eventsNational Hot Rod Association
NHRA Heartland Nationals Country Stampede
Country Stampede
Grand Prix Road Course (2008–present)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.5 miles (4.02 km)
Turns14
Grand Prix Road Course (2004–2007)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.5 miles (4.02 km)
Turns14
Race lap record1:39.558 (United States Tomy Drissi, Jaguar XKR, 2006, Trans-Am)
Original Road Course (1989–2003)
SurfaceAsphalt
Length2.5 miles (4.02 km)
Turns14
Race lap record1:27.880 (South Africa Wayne Taylor, Intrepid RM-1, 1991, IMSA GTP)
1/4 Mile Dragstrip
SurfaceConcrete
Length.25 miles (.402 km)
Autocross/Solo/Drift Pad
SurfaceAsphalt, 22 Acres
Concert Venue

Heartland Motorsports Park, formerly known as Heartland Park Topeka, is a multi-purpose motorsports facility 8 miles (13 km) south of downtown Topeka, Kansas near the Topeka Regional Airport. It operated from 1989 until its closure in 2023.

History

When it opened in 1989,[1] Heartland Motorsports Park was the first new auto racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible configurations (ranging from 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in length), a ⅜ mile clay oval, off-road course and a ¼ mile drag strip. After several years of neglect from continual financial difficulties, the track surface and other facilities had deteriorated badly. The track's survival was in doubt until 2003, when Raymond Irwin, former owner (1986-2007) of Blackhawk Farms Raceway bought it and began major renovations.[1]

In December 2015, Chris Payne and Todd Crossley of Shelby Development, LLC.[2] purchased the track. Payne, the CEO of Shelby Development, became the track's sole owner in January 2017.[2] It was announced in 2018 that Kansas City International Raceway and I-70 Speedway were bought by Payne, and would become sister tracks of Heartland.[3]

The drag-strip was used by local clubs and the National Hot Rod Association. The road-course was mainly used by the SCCA, the National Auto Sport Association and marque-clubs. The track was the home of both the SCCA National Championship Runoffs and the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships from 2006 to 2008. In the past, it has hosted ARCA, ASA, IMSA, AMA, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series' race: O'Reilly Auto Parts 275,[1] NASCAR Busch North Series, NASCAR Midwest Series and the NASCAR Southeast Series.

The full 2.5 mile road course (and pit road) was completely repaved with a high-tech, polymer-enhanced asphalt in the fall of 2016.

On July 28, 2023 it was announced that due to tax disputes between the track owners and Shawnee County, the final running of the NHRA Nationals would be held August 11-13,2023. On September 19, 2023 the track announced that it would be shutting down completely[4].

Lap Records

The fastest official race lap records at Heartland Motorsports Park Topeka are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleDate
Grand Prix Road Course: 4.023 km (2004–2007)[5]
Trans-Am1:39.558[6]Tomy DrissiJaguar XKR2006 Heartland Topeka Trans-Am exhibition race
Original Road Course: 4.023 km (1989–2003)[5]
IMSA GTP1:27.880[7]Wayne TaylorIntrepid RM-11991 Camel Grand Prix
IMSA GTP Lights1:36.630[7]Parker JohnstoneSpice SE90P1991 Camel Grand Prix
IMSA GTO1:41.130[8]Robby GordonMercury Cougar XR-71990 Camel Grand Prix
IMSA GTU1:47.720[8]Bob LeitzingerNissan 240SX1990 Camel Grand Prix
AAC1:53.650[8]Kenny Irwin, Jr.Buick Somerset1990 Camel Grand Prix
Former logo used until 2018

References

  1. 1 2 3 Peterson, Rick (May 25, 2003). "'Special times': Heartland Park has attracted racing legends". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Topeka, KS. Archived from the original on August 19, 2003. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  2. 1 2 The Topeka Capital-Journal, Payne becomes sole owner of Heartland Park Topeka by Kevin Haskin, January 26, 2017, Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Heartland Motorsports Park on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-04-27.
  4. ↑ Roadracing World, Heartland Motorsports Park Ceasing Operations And Closing by David Swarts, September 19, 2023, Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Heartland Park". Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "TA: RACE: Rocketsports Racing Topeka race notes". Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Topeka 300 Kilometres 1991". Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "Topeka 2 Hours IMSA GTO 1990". Retrieved 28 January 2023.


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