Ace Speedway is a oval stock car racing track in Altamahaw, North Carolina. The track was constructed by Roy Maddren and opened in 1956 as a dirt oval. In 1984, the track was expanded to a dirt oval. In 1990, under the ownership of Fred and Jim Turner, the track was paved and was under the NASCAR Winston Racing Series banner. In 1999, the track was re-expanded to a mile paved oval, the pits was expanded and other stuff was added to the track such as new bleachers.
Currently, the track runs CARS Tour. In the past, the speedway hosted NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour and ISCARS.
COVID Restrictions Lawsuit In 2020, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper ordered restrictions to address the spread of COVID-19, including restricting outdoor gatherings. In protest, the owners of Ace Speedway held races that attracted large crowds of people. Calling the race gatherings "dangerous," Cooper and then-Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) secretary Mindy Cohen ordered the race track to close and took the owners to court. The local superior court judge issued a temporary restraining order, requiring the racetrack to be closed.
In 2021, NC DHHS made a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Speedway had no constitutional claims and that DHHS was immune due to sovereign immunity. Ace argued that the governor and DHHS had exceeded their constitutional authority and had denied protected rights based on the North Carolina constitution's clause that allows citizens to enjoy the fruits of their own labor. The motion was denied by the superior court judge, and was appealed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, who ruled that Ace had made sufficient constitutional arguments to continue the case, denying the motion to dismiss, stating, "Ace pled colorable claims for infringement of its right to earn a living and for selective enforcement of the Governor's orders sufficient to survive the Secretary's motion to dismiss."
NC DHHS appealed that decision to the North Carolina Supreme Court, and arguments were heard in November 2023.
Late Model Track Champions Year Driver 1990 Barry Beggarly 1991 Glenn Massey 1992 Michael Ritch 1993 Barry Beggarly 1994 Glenn Massey 1995 Dean Ward 1996 Barry Beggarly 1997 Dean Ward 1998 Robert Turner 1999 Ray Young 2000 Glenn Massey 2001 Glenn Massey 2002 James York 2003 Phillip Faucette 2004 Frank Deiny Jr. 2005 Robert Turner 2006 Rodney Cook 2007 Rodney Cook 2008 Dean Fogleman 2009 Speedy Faucette 2010 Dustin Rumley 2011 Barry Beggarly 2012 Dustin Rumley 2013 Dustin Rumley 2014 R.D. Smith 2015 R.D. Smith
Mischa Sell Memorial 174 The Mischa Sell Memorial race is a 74-Lap main race for Limited Late Model stock cars. The Memorial race was started in 2012 by David Sell to honor his wife's legacy and raise money to help fight cancer. The race is one of the biggest in the area for limited late models.
Mischa Sell Memorial 174 WinnersYearDriverHometownWinners Purse2012Scott Hall Walkertown, North Carolina$2,7002013Joey Throckmorton South Boston, Virginia$4,8852014Austin Thaxton Cluster Springs, Virginia$5,6252015Dylan WardWinston-Salem, North Carolina$10,750
References
External links
TRACK CHAMPIONS Mischa Sell Memorial Race