Hippodrome Stadium

Midget auto racing began at the Utah State Fairpark in 1940. Then, war restrictions put a hold on racing from 1943 to 1945. After the war, the fair board decided against allowing the midget races. A former motorcycle jumper by the name of Vince Walton decided to build a new 1/5 mile dirt oval track at 800 West and 2100 South. The Hippodrome Stadium opened May 25, 1947, and hosted the midgets until August 1959.

Bonneville Raceway

Like many hot-rodders of the 1950s and 60s, Dick Godfrey was drawn to deserted air strips to race. He opened a make-do drag strip in 1965 called the Salt Lake Raceway. A few years later he built what became known as the Bonneville Raceway at 6555 W. 2100 South. A riot nearly shut down drag racing at the track in 1988. Spencer Young of the Young Automotive Group bought the raceway in 1997, renaming it Rocky Mountain Raceway.