Welcome ... we're glad you're here
at "The Legendary Tri-State Speedway ...
... Where Future Stars Are Born!"

This is a picture taken on Sunday April 28th, 2008
by Mary Gray of Flag To Flag Photo &Video.
(Unfortunately, the camera does not show the high banking of the track,
which is almost 35 degrees in the turns!)

In this space, we'll try to give you a little background information that you might find helpful and/or useful to your racing/viewing experience.

First of all, you, as a patron, will have several seating options available to you, upon arriving at the track. You may choose to sit in the grandstands, with or without, your own folding chairs. Seat-back chairs, that hook onto the grandstands, are also available for rent for a nominal fee. You may also choose a little higher view, by choosing to sit on top of the sports bar in the turn 1 area. Or, if you prefer, and are of legal age, you may choose to sit inside the newly-remodeled, air conditioned/heated sports bar, itself. All adult beverage choices are available. Windows on 3 sides increase your view of the racing.

Hungry? There is a large selection of items available at the main concession stand, including the "World Famous Tri-State Speedway Chili-Cheese Nachos!" (Remember, they're not world famous until you add the onions AND jalapenos!) You can even get your own 7" personal Home Run pizza! Chicken finger baskets, 'track burgers', and French fries are there, too! Or, if you're in the mood for a quick snack, then stop by the popcorn booth, located under the stands, for popcorn, candy bars, and chips.

Don't forget the ice cold 20 oz. Coca-Cola products available in both areas!
Coca-Cola  is the official soft drink at Tri-State Speedway!

Need a souvenir or program? Stop by the vending areas for a program to show you were here! Also, don't forget to stop by the other vendors for your racing collectibles, photos, and souvenirs. Programs are available at several places around the facility.

For your safety and convenience, there are designated seating areas for alcohol and for non-alcohol drinking patrons. The main grandstand area and commons areas are well lit, and track personnel are on hand at all times. If, at any time, you need help, or see something that needs attention, please contact any track personnel for immediate attention.

Now that you are ready to watch the races ... here is how it all works.

Tri-State Speedway is known as the "Legendary Tri-State Speedway ... Where Future Stars Are Born!". We are a high banked, 3/8 mile, clay dirt track. We host racing in six regular classes each Saturday night from mid March to early November every year. This is one of the longest racing 'seasons' in this part of the country. In fact, Tri-State Speedway has been racing continuously for the past 36 years! Make sure you are a part of our '37th Consecutive Season of Racing Excitement in 2008!" Current and former, NASCAR drivers, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, have both won track championships at Tri-State Speedway! Other racing legends, such as Larry Phillips and Billy Moyer have also challenged the high banks of Tri-State Speedway, on a regular basis.

In addition to the weekly schedule, several special races, like Late Models and Sprint Cars, are held through out the year. Also special "event" races are held each year, like the 4th of July and Halloween race, which is called the Spooker.

The six classes of cars, that run on a weekly basis include Road Runner, Super Stock, Economy Modifieds, Modifieds, Mini-Stocks and Front Wheel Drives.

Here is some basic information about each class:

The Road Runners are pretty much as the name implies. Cars that are stock appearing, almost like they would have looked off of the assembly line, with minimal modifications and strict regulations on engines, etc.

The Super Stocks are the big brothers of the Road Runners, with a little more modifications being allowed.

The Economy Modifieds are the little brothers of the Modifieds, and are exactly as the name applies, a modified race car that is built on a cheaper budget, with strict regulations on engines, etc.

The Modifieds are an open wheel class, with bodies somewhat resembling a production vehicle. However, the front end of the vehicle is open (no fenders and such). These are the big brothers to the Economy Modifieds, but with a larger budget to work from.

The Mini-Stocks are a class that is limited to 4 cylinder production vehicles. These cars put on a good show due to the strict rules, which makes most cars equal.

Finally, the Front Wheel Drives are just what the name says. They are front wheel drive production vehicles with almost no modifications. All of these cars can be built within a small budget and can be easily identified as to what kind of vehicle it is.

Here is what happens ... "behind the scenes":

The drivers are placed into heat races according to their pill draw at driver sign-in. The outcome of the heat races will determine, in part, where that car will start in the feature race.

The target number of cars for a feature is 20. We try to "lock in" 12 cars for the feature from the heat races. Example: If there are 3 heat races, we will transfer the top 4 from each race, for a total of 12 cars. 4 heats will transfer 3 each, etc. These cars are then lined up according to their inverted point average.

No points are awarded during the heat races, and are awarding according to their final finishing position in the feature.

A drivers point average is determined by taking the total points earned, by that driver - not the car, and dividing it by the total number of point feature races started this year, by that driver. The cars are then lined up by their inverted point averages.

Any new drivers that do not have a point average, and finishes in one of the qualifying positions, will be placed behind the last "locked-in" car, according to that car's finishing position. Example: If there are two A Feature qualifying cars, that do not have an average, the last point average car will start in the 10th position, instead of the 12th position. 3 cars and the last average will start in the 9th position, etc.

The remaining positions (up to 24) in the feature are lined up "heads up" according to their finishing position in the heat race. Example: The first non-qualifying car, from the first heat, will start in the 13th position. First non-transfer car, from the second heat, will start in the 14th position, etc. until the 20 (up to 24) car field is set. If there are more than the difference of total feature cars (20-24), minus 8 qualifiers (usually 12-16) did not finish in a qualifying heat race position, a qualifying feature, or "B" Feature will be run to determine the top 8 cars to transfer to the main, or "A" Feature. If more than 12 cars will be qualified for the "B" Feature, one of two things will happen: Either a "C and D" Feature or 2nd "B" Feature will be run. (This will continue until all qualifying cars are included for a feature race.) If a "C" Feature is run, the top 8 will transfer to the "B" feature, "heads up." If a second "B" Feature is run, the number of transfer cars, from each "B" Feature, will be cut in half, meaning that 4 will come from the first "B" Feature and that 4 will come from the second "B" feature and will be lined up "heads up" behind the previously qualified cars.

An "A" Feature race will usually consist of 20 laps, except for special races. There is also a time limit on any feature race, excluding red flag situations.

That brings us to the 9 racing flags themselves:

These flags include the GREEN flag. Green means go "as fast as you can". (After all, it is called racing, right?)

The YELLOW flag means caution, slow down, there is an accident or something that would hinder racing. At Tri-State Speedway, we DO NOT race to the caution flag! All cars will be aligned according to the last previous completed lap..

The RED flag means stop, there is imminent danger on the track, or an accident that requires the race to be stopped. The scoring will be reset to the previously completed lap.

The WHITE flag doesn't mean surrender ... but it does mean that there is only one lap left in the race.

The CHECKERED flag means the race is over.

The BLACK flag means that the driver has been disqualified and will no longer be scored in the race.

The BLACK&ORANGE flag is a black flag with an orange circle that lets a driver know there is something mechanically wrong with their car.

The BLUE&YELLOW flag is a blue flag with a diagonal yellow stripe that means the lead car(s) is(are) approaching you and for you, as the driver, to try not to interfere with their progress, by allowing the car(s) to pass you easily. It is called the Courtesy flag, for that reason.

The RED&YELLOW flag means that the race will be re-started with the original line-up. (No laps have been scored by the officials.)

ALL 'A' feature winners receive a trophy from that night's sponsor, after all racing for the night has been completed. This is done on the front straightaway and is open to all patrons. (Children REALLY like to be included in the photo of their favorite driver!)

Don't forget the pit area is opened to ALL patrons FREE OF CHARGE after the race program is completed. The kids LOVE to see race cars up close, and they might even get that autograph from their favorite driver!

Need more detailed information?
Check out the links on the site.
Any other questions?
Contact us at the address, or e-mail listed.