Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Speedway Circle

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2021

1. Speedway Circle Marker

Inscription. Speedway Circle traces the route of Cal Johnson’s Racetrack, a half-mile oval famous for horse racing, from ca. 1897 to 1915. Born enslaved, Calvin F. Johnson (1844-1925) became one of Knoxville’s most creative businessmen, owning real estate and a chain of saloons. A horseman and ultimately one of the state’s wealthiest African American businessmen, he developed this track. In 1910, Johnson’s Racetrack accommodated Knoxville’s first airplane landing. Later, it saw early automobile races. The track was redeveloped in 1926 for houses.

Erected 2020 by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1E 135.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 36° 0.009′ N, 83° 52.446′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. It is at the intersection of Holston Drive and Speedway Circle, on the right when traveling east on Holston Drive. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 4041 Holston Dr, Knoxville TN 37914, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Buffat Mill (approx. 1.7 miles away); Alfred Buffat Homeplace (approx. 2 miles away); First African American Church (approx. 2 miles away); Odd Fellows Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away); Knoxville (approx. 2.2 miles away); Magnolia Avenue History (approx. 2.3 miles away); Ruth Cobb Brice (approx. 2.3 miles away); Confederate Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Also see . . .
1. Off to the Races: Cal Johnson's track from slavery to speedways.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2021

2. Speedway Circle Marker

(Submitted on July 25, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. Cal Johnson (businessman). (Submitted on July 25, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Cal Johnson Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 24, 2021

3. Cal Johnson Mural

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 3,387 times since then and 257 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 25, 2021, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.