50th Anniversary Celebration

Newspaper Scan of the first printed Sacramento Raceway logo in 1970

1970
And that ends Our First year as Sacramento Raceway
New Owner, New Name and the first of 53 Governor’s Cups and how it got it’s name

1971
(Michael Smith, David Smith and Dave Smith building the new dragster)

1972
(Sacramento creates the Wednesday Nite Drags, the year “Pro Gassers” name was changed to just “Pro Gas”)

1973
(Sacramento Raceway’s 1st NHRA National Open)

1974
(Don Prudhomme was the big name at the Governor’s Cup)

1975
(Dave Smith, Michael Smith, Jennifer Smith with event winners – Don Prudhomme w/ Sacramento Raceway’s Lori Dunn)

1976
(The 1st Fox Hunt Drags and 1st jet at Sacramento)

1977
(When Radio Shack doesn’t sell what you need you make it yourself….Just the basics in 1977)

1978
(The year of the very first Bugorama and also when dragster wheelies scared photographers)

1979
(Don Garlits raced our New Years Day Drags, Proffitt family’s first visit to Sacramento Raceway in the now outlawed rocket powered jet and our 1st souvenir t-shirt)

1980
(Shirley Muldowney beats Don Garlits at the Governor’s Cup)

1981
(Shirley Muldowney returns to match race Don Garlits and Don Prudhomme is in the final with Mike Dunn), Track Manager, Warren Smith presents Ken Breneisen with the 1981 Motocross Champion’s trophy

1982
(When Funny Car Fever was called “Spring Drag Festival” for it’s 1st 7 years and John Force kissed our guardrail and had to tape up his funny car body)

1983
(1st Funny Car Fever and HighSchool Drags are in full force)

1984
(New sign installed, stands are full at the Nite of Fire race and check out that hanging tree)

1985
(National Dragster, Newspaper story about Dave Smith, Stands are packed for Funny Car Fever)

1986
Introduction of new event “Nitro Fever” and John Shoemaker VS Hawaiian Punch

1987
1st Nostalgia Drags at Sacramento Raceway, Jim Maher’s 1st “Good Vibrations” Funny Car and John Force races Gary Densham

1988
Brad Anderson’s Funny car and when Sacramento hosted the final “Highschool Drags” in honor of the Dave and Nancy Smith’s son who was killed by a drunk driver in October of 1987.

1989
Greg Maher was our track manager, Georgia Seipel before she ran Sears Point International Raceway and the crowd at the Fox Hunt’s T-shirt contest was always a huge gathering.

1990
16th Annual Funny Car Fever, Firestone was the sponsor of the ET racing series and when Winston sponsored NHRA’s Division 7 Points races at the 1st annual Western States Championships.

1991
One of many articles about the pressure from Sacramento County to close Sacramento Raceway. This is when the Smith Family went full force with the fight about with the County

1992
23rd Annual Governor’s Cup Championship brings a memorial race after Smith Family loses Mike Smith

1993
Jr Drag Racing begins at Sacramento Raceway

1994
25 YEARS OF RACING at Sacramento Raceway-Silver Anniversary

1995
ET Champions, removing the old scoreboards and installing new, Steve Phelps burnout, David Smith and Artie Paiva in the winner’s circle

1996
John Force returns to Sacramento Raceway and the 1st ever JR Dragster Championships was held at Sacramento

1997
News story from the Fremont Reunion Drags and CMI’s First Imports only Drags

1998
Season Opener Funny Car Fever

1999
Starting Line action

2000
35th New Years Day Drags and the Nightfire Nationals was changed to Nitro Nite of Fire

2001
Darin Bay’s “Warkhawk” Jet Funny Car at the Nitro Nite of Fire Drags

2002
Chaysse and Tony Trimp’s Interview about Drag Racing

2003
Member Track News cover, Still after 20 years the same players at the track

2004
Dave Smith tuning his AA/FD “Nitro Fever”, Yes, Sacramento Raceway hosted a rodeo, Huge crowds in 2004 for our Stadium ,5/8 mile, semi banked Oval Track.

2005
Schedule of Events brought us the busiest racing season so far…

2006
CIFCA has been a main staple at Sacramento since their creation more than 35 years ago.

2007
After the closing of “Fremont Raceway” Sacramento continued Fremont’s Nostalgia Race

2008
Funny Car Fever When Big names raced Little Venues

2009
Governor’s Cup Sacramento Bee Newspaper story

2010
Sacramento Raceway’s 1st Hot Rod Heritage Event

2011
Shirley Muldowny’s Newspaper Interview about Sacramento Raceway. Read the story…..

2012
Long Time Sacramento Racer-Artie Paiva with an impressive wheelie plus the first signs of “No Time” (which means only the driver knows what the ET was for each run) racing (8.5/10.5)