West Sacramento in Yolo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
West Capital Raceway
West Sacramento's Last Race Track
— 1947-1980 —
Known originally as Capitol Stadium, later Capital Speedway, and finally West Capital Raceway, the track continued a Sacramento racing tradition that began at Lazy "J" Raceway and Hughes Stadium. With its national reputation, it attracted some of the country's best short track racers as one of the most well known dirt tracks this side of Indiana.
Fans would watch their friends and neighbors, "weekend warriors", pit their high speed driving skills against one another on a track that required precision and left little room for error. Crewmen in starched white pants tended to fender-less "jalopy" coupes and mighty midgets cars in the beginning. Super-modified sprint cars, stock cars and motorcycles followed. Sometimes in special, multi-day events when the track was temporarily expanded to a half mile.
Thrills and spills, horsepower-flung clay against the fence, fans saving their traditional seats by spreading blankets on bleachers. It was Saturday night at West Sacramento's last great place to race.
Erected 2003 by West Capital Raceway Alumni Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports.
Location. 38° 34.693′ N, 121° 34.048′ W. Marker is in West Sacramento, California, in Yolo County. Marker is on West Capitol Avenue west of Northport Drive, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4200 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento CA 95691, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bryte (approx. 1.9 miles away); Yolo County Courthouse (approx. 3 miles away); Tower Bridge (approx. 3.1 miles away); a different marker also named Tower Bridge (approx. 3.1 miles away); Transportation by Water and Land (approx. 3.1 miles away); R Street Bridge (approx. 3.2 miles away); Pony Express Bridge (approx. 3.2 miles away); Salmon Cannery (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Sacramento.
Also see . . . Race Day At West Capital Raceway - 1972. Richie Moore's b/w video of racing highlights at the track. (Submitted on October 29, 2015.)
Additional keywords. motorsports
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2015, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,063 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2015, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.