Mount Lawn Speedway

Mount Lawn Speedway, also known as The Lawn, is a asphalt, egg-shaped oval track located in New Castle, Indiana.

History

Mt. Lawn Speedway was founded in 1935 by Dr. George W. Sweigart, a dentist and a former mayor of the town of Hartford City, Indiana. At the time of the track's opening, it was a one-fifth-mile pear-shaped dirt oval. Also constructed during the track's early years were a dance hall, a swimming pool, and summer cabins for vacationers. The dance hall played host to two of the most influential big band musicians of the era, The Dorsey Brothers and Sammy Kaye. However, in 1939, a fire caused by an overheated exhaust fan in the orchestra pit led to the dance hall's first demise. When the hall was rebuilt, a second fire caused by a coal-powered fireplace led to the dancehall's second, and ultimately final, demise.

In 1940, Sweigart closed the track down, and it appeared that racing in Henry County was over. However, later that year, a local promoter named Dutch Hurst visited the area looking for a lighting system for a track that he was constructing, known as the Muncie Velodrome, located in Muncie, Indiana. When he noticed the layout of the land, he mentioned to Sweigart, "Why don't you start a track here?" When Sweigart replied that the land had indeed been a race track before, Hurst convinced Sweigart to reopen the track. In 1941, he hired a local farmer to till the land as Sweigart and residents rebuilt the track. However, later that summer, the dirt surface of the track had worn down, and it was decided that a new surface would be needed. So Sweigart hired a crew from the area, and the first concrete surface was laid on the track. This paving would be followed by three repavings in asphalt in 1947, 1967, and finally in 1971.

Over the next 73 years, the track would see many famous names grace its presence, including Tony Stewart, Ed Carpenter, Pat O'Connor, Tom Cherry, Art Cross, and many others. It was a hotbed for open-wheel modifieds in the 1980s and 1990s, as the IMCA Modified Series would see drivers from across the Midwest come to the Speedway to try their hands at the tricky course against the local stars. Following the dwindling of the IMCA series in the late 1990s, late model stock cars would return to prominence in the area and would become the standard-bearer for the next decade and a half. In 2014, the track would close temporarily due to declining interest and car counts and would remain closed til 2016, as interest returned. The late model stocks, however, would not, as street stocks would become the Premier division at the track, and all late model races would be promoted by the Champion Racing Association Late Model Sportsman Series.

Late in 2019, it was announced that driver Dave Duncan and former Winchester Speedway co-promoter Jimmy Wyman would begin promoting all races at Mt. Lawn, with Rick Sweigart still retaining ownership. Modified racing would make its full-time return, with a slate of races in 2020. The first race under the new agreement would take place on June 14, with Jeff Lane, a longtime competitor in the previous incarnations of the modified, late model, and street stock classes, winning the first race. The promotions duo of Wyman and Duncan would see the beginning of a fruitful period for the small Indiana track, with good car counts becoming a common occurrence. Following the passing of Duncan in 2023, however, Wyman would step down and hand over promoting duties for 2024 to former racer, car owner, and fabricator Steve Ellis.

The Big Three

There are three big events that are currently run at The Mt. Lawn Speedway. The May 5–0, which is held the evening before the Indianapolis 500, The Raintree 100, which is a 100-lap Economy Modified event, and The Crown Vic Challenge 100, a 100-lap race for Mt. Lawn's Crown Vic Division.

Raintree 100 winners Year Driver Hometown 1971 Gene Prosser New Castle, Indiana 1972 Dennis Miles Muncie, Indiana 1973 L.J. Lines Greensboro, Indiana 1974 Harold Scott New Castle, Indiana 1975 Harold Scott New Castle, Indiana 1976 L.J. Lines Indianapolis, Indiana 1977 Rocky Tharp Cowan, Indiana 1978 Bob Fields Willow Branch, Indiana 1979 Harold Scott New Castle, Indiana 1980 Jim Spears Noblesville, Indiana 1981 Harold Scott New Castle, Indiana 1982 L.J. Lines Indianapolis, Indiana 1983 Harold Scott New Castle, Indiana 1984 Bob Fields Willow Branch, Indiana 1985 Bob Fields Willow Branch, Indiana 1986 Herb Rose Anderson, Indiana 1987 Rick Rhonemus Desoto, Indiana 1988 Dave Duncan Cicero, Indiana 1989 Dave Duncan Cicero, Indiana 1990 Rick Rhonemus Desoto, Indiana 1991 Don Skaggs Modoc, Indiana 1992 Rick Rhonemus Desoto, Indiana 1993 Rick Rhonemus Desoto, Indiana 1994 L.J. Lines Indianapolis, Indiana 1995 Rodney Scott New Castle, Indiana 1996 Joe Beaver Noblesville, Indiana 1997 Jeff Lane Knightstown, Indiana 1998 Gerald Hinshaw Mooreland, Indiana 1999 Rodney Scott New Castle, Indiana 2000 William Mefford Knightstown, Indiana 2001 Andy Cowan Cambridge City, Indiana 2002 Gerald Hinshaw Mooreland, Indiana 2003 Scott Neal Mt Summit, Indiana 2004 William Mefford Knightstown, Indiana 2005 Scott Hinshaw Indianapolis, Indiana 2006 Scott Hinshaw Indianapolis, Indiana 2007 William Mefford Knightstown, Indiana 2008 Terry Cater New Castle, Indiana 2009 Kevin Claborn Cambridge City, Indiana2010Jeff MarcumMorristown, Indiana2011Jeff Marcum Morristown, Indiana 2012 Jason Thompson Shirley, Indiana 2013 Jack Dossey III Indianapolis, Indiana2016Ryan AmonettNew Castle, Indiana 2018 Jeff Marcum Morristown, Indiana 2019 Zachary Tinkle Speedway, Indiana2020Austin CoeFt. Wayne, Indiana 2021 Austin Coe Ft. Wayne, Indiana 2022 Ryan Amonett New Castle, Indiana 2023 Ryan Amonett New Castle, Indiana 2024 Ryan Amonett New Castle, Indiana (first driver to win 3-consecutive Raintree 100s) 2025 Adam Lee New Castle, Indiana

Divisions

Currently there are 3 Weekly Divisions at Mt. Lawn Speedway.

The Late Model Division is the Premier weekly division. The frame for this division is a General Motors 1978 to 1987; "G" body, 108.1", metric frame. However, cars may be powered by any engine brand. The cars must run complete late model bodies, including roof, that resemble a stock make and model. The "current" Late Model Division made its debut on May 13, 2000. Six cars were at the track on opening night. Today the division typically has twenty or more cars on hand each week.

The Thundercar Division is the Intermediate weekly division at Mt. Lawn Speedway. Thundercars are mostly stock, with a few after-market racing components allowed. Any rear-wheel-drive full-sized car with a wheelbase of not less than 108 inches is eligible to compete in the Thundercar Division.

The Hornet Division is the Beginner weekly division. Hornets are a strictly stock class. Four or six-cylinder cars are eligible to compete. Four-cylinder cars may be front- or rear-wheel drive. Six-cylinder cars can be front-wheel drive only. The wheelbase, no matter the drive train, must be between 92" and 108".

Past champions + Late models Year Driver Hometown 2002 Scott Neal Middletown 2003 Dean Baker 2004 2005 2006 L.J. Lines Greensboro 2007 William Mefford Knightstown 2008 Eric Evans Greenfield 2009 Eric Evans Greenfield

+Thundercars Year Driver Hometown 2002 David Graham Rushville 2003 Chuck Cook 2004 Jeff Marcum Morristown 2005 2006 2007 Eric Evans Greenfield 2008 Kevin Claborn Cambridge City 2009 Ryan Amonett New Castle

References