Freeport Speedway Track Champions List

[highgroove]

FREEPORT RACEWAY PARK

Years of operation: 1937 through 2011 (last race scheduled for 9/24/2011)

Location: 1920 S. Walnut Road, Freeport, Ill. (located on Walnut Road, quarter mile south of South Street next to the Stephenson County Fairgrounds on 43 acres).

Notes: ½ mile dirt track that operated between 1937 and 2011… promoted by Randy and Virginia Gill during its last years…track experienced major flooding episodes in 2010 and 2011…Mel Kenyon started his racing career there in stock cars…Joe Finn of Stockton – a five time track champion, Joe Shear also a former champion…track known as Walnut Street Speedway or Walnut Road Speedway in the 1950s, track was torn down in October of 2011.

Freeport Raceway Park Stock Car Champions

2011- Nick Downs Freeport, IL
2010- NO LATE MODELS --------------
2009- Jeff Larson Freeport, IL
2008- Jeff Larson Freeport, IL
2007- Jeff Larson Freeport, IL
2006- Dan Shelliam Hazel Green, WI
2005- Jeff Larson Freeport, IL
2004- Craig Jacobs Freeport, IL
2003- Mike Miller Leaf River, IL
2002- Jeff Larson Freeport, IL
2001- Ryan Dolan Lisbon, IA
2000- Ryan Dolan Lisbon, IA
1999- Brad Stewart Milledgeville, IL
1998- Darren Miller Chadwick, IL
1997- Rob Toland Hillsdale, IL
1996- Bob Grenoble Nora, IL
1995- Bob Grenoble Nora, IL
1994- Dave Meile Baileyville, IL
Tom Schoney Freeport, IL (Co-Champions in 1994)
1993- Mel Abels Freeport, IL
1992- Nick Kuipers Bartlett, IL
1991- Bob Grenoble Nora, IL
1990- Tom Guithes Maple Park, IL
1989- NO RACING --------------
1988- NO RACING --------------
1987- Craig Jacobs Freeport, IL
1986- Craig Jacobs Freeport, IL
1985- John Engelkins Morrison, IL (Duke Jackson subbed because of eye injury to Engelkins)
1984- Craig Jacobs Freeport, IL
1983- John Knaus Rockford, IL (Year of the “Late Model Boycott”)
1982- Tom Hearst Wilton, IA
1981- Tom Hearst Wilton, IA
1980- John Connolly Delhi, IA
1979- John Connolly Delhi, IA
1978- John Connolly Delhi, IA
1977- John Connolly Delhi, IA
1976- Kenny Walton Viola, IA
1975- John Connolly Delhi, IA
1974- Darrell Dake Cedar Rapids, IA (Track Opened in June)
1973- Darrell Dake Cedar Rapids, IA (Track Closed August)
1972- Don Bohlander Glasford, IL (by 5 pts. over Larry Fabris)
1971- Don Bohlander Glasford, IL
1970- Larry Fabris Sycamore, IL
1969- Lem Blankenship Keokuk, IA
1968- Joe Shear South Beloit, IL
1967- Joe Shear South Beloit, IL
1966- Norm Meinert Davis, IL (First year of “Stock Cars”)
1965- LeRoy Lemke Sterling, IL (Ran Coupes and Stock Cars)
1964- Al Cooper Dubuque, IA (Last year of “Coupes”)
1963- Al Cooper Dubuque, IA
1962- RACING HELD, BUT NO “CHAMPION” (Stock Cars started the year, Coupes finished the year)
1961- Joe Finn Stockton, IL
1960- Todd Kohl Monroe, WI (Track closed in August)
1959- Lee Schmelzer Freeport, IL
1958- Bill Schmelzer Freeport, IL
1957- Joe Finn Stockton, IL
1956- Hal Schroeder Bettendorf, IA
1955- Joe Finn Stockton, IL
1954- Joe Finn Stockton, IL (After two years in Korea)
1953- Red Aase Rockford, IL
1952- Jack Bolender Orangeville, IL
1951- Joe Finn Stockton, IL

Thanks to Jerry Gille, Ron Thruman, Eric Huenefeld and others who put together this information.

[old dirt 77]

1973... Larry Fabris
1972...Steve Lance Sr.

[TheJet-09]

I was just thinking about Freeport the other day. Looked at a satellite image...sad to see it now. I raced there weekly not long after Adrian resurrected the place...a truly "big" half mile. Some heavy hitters from the asphalt world on that list too...Joe Shear...John Knaus (father of Chad). Thanks for the share! I wonder what prompted that?

[bullring]

Year of the "Late Model Boycott". What was the story on that?

[CIRF]

That list brings back some memories with names like Joe Shear, Don Bohlander, Darrell Dake, Ken Walton, John Connelly and Tommy Hearst.

Thanks for posting!

[klemmabyna]

thanks for posting the history. but painful to remember "the end".

saw many great races there since it was the closest late model track to where I now live.

unfortunately just another member of the "lost tracks" list.

others still operating should take note of what can go wrong and how fast it can happen.

[highgroove]

thanks for posting the history. but painful to remember "the end".

saw many great races there since it was the closest late model track to where I now live.

unfortunately just another member of the "lost tracks" list.

others still operating should take note of what can go wrong and how fast it can happen.

Yea...me to buddy...i have an uncle that lives in Freeport and used to go with him...Big fast track...

[SHOE32]

Went there since I was 5yrs old.really enjoyed the Busch all star tour there. Last five yrs or so it was a joke. Wish someone with actual racing smarts could have bought it.