Atomic Speedway Tennessee

[70satomic]

Bob Martin started the track up and it was sold to the ogle ' s Johnny Gibson was the first track champion

[Phatdaddy]

You mean it didn't close due to unclean restrooms and overpriced concessions ???? Who'd have thunk it!! (sarcasm) .

[El Diablo-fightingchicken]

If you want a track that's close to atomic in being highbanked and fast go to North Georgia or Tazewell. I grew up at atomic, worked at track for awhile and even raced there. NG and the Taz are the closest ive ever found. Wartburg is an awesome outlaw track but you get tore up real quick there. We was at Talladega short track for the ice bowl this year, my first, and it was awesome. First track we've been at that didn't have walls. It reminded me of the layout of atomic in a way. So recommended racetrack replacements are North Georgia as it's fast and highbanked and closer to the length of atomic. Tazewell is the fastest racetrack in the world and it has 27° banking with fast times coming in the 10 second range, i seen Vic hill post a 10.26 in an advance auto parts race there the same year atomic closed i believe. And TST for track layout, but you gotta watch the walls, or lack thereof lol. I was on the inside of the atomic deal and know exactly why is was sold, it was worth more to the owner as an industrial site then it was as a race track. Talks had been underway for two years prior to its close and the owner held on to it as long as he could but the plan was always to sell it.

[Governor]

We loved going to Atomic. Unbelievable racing, great people, nice facility.

One year Carson had a big race planned for Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. There were several of us camping at the track on Thursday, and Leebo and Bea were staying at a motel. Carson came out to the track and picked up all of us and took us to Thanksgiving dinner at the Dinner Bell in Lenoir City. Leebo was in his glory. Another time when we were up there for a big race Leebo organized a 4M breakfast meeting. That's where we met dglenn.

Great memories.

[Slideways]

I only got to that great track twice, and I can't for the life of me, remember the exact dates. I do know however, that the first time that I was there, Skip Arp won a $10k Hav-A-Tampa race, driving the Ralph Curtis entry. My second trip to Oak Ridge, ended with Scott Bloomquist taking a $15k World of Outlaws race.
Every time I see photos or video of Atomic, it still makes me sick. Such a waste...

[El Diablo-fightingchicken]

Carson might have extended himself a little too much but he did take atomic in a new direction and it worked. He was a great Booker and loved the fans and racers alike. Wish he would come back. On Sundays he would take us all to the dinner bell too. He knew how to show appreciation. I miss him and his family. Loved it when he had smoky mountain and we would run atomic on Friday and smoky on Saturday. Last race i remember having two races was the trick or treat 125 on Halloween 1999. 75 laps at atomic and 50 at smoky. Them where the good old days.

[25 Jay 53]

I think 3 times I went there. First year was 97 and Moyer won with a broken wrist in the GVS car, then seen Bloomer win in 98, those 2 races were in late August or early September. Last time I went was a day race in March 1999, think Eckert won that one.

[superdirt]

I55 is a lot like Atomic was

[SVP]

70's threw 90's videos can be found here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...JG3NSNyBrLk1qf

[SVP]

There are 88 videos of just Atomic in the play list / https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis..._OMdoeNm_SZybA

[edavis71]

I was there 1 time, probably in the last few years it was open. Day races, sucked. McDowell won both days and I got soaked going to my seats on the backstretch by the water truck. LOL!!!

[Krooser]

I would park my truck on the westbound shoulder and watch the races from my cab.... did that several times until the cops got savvy and started ticketing guys who did the same.

[GA-DIRT]

Good an bad memories, the good we wow a HAT race there, the bad we got a $2500.00 bad check from Carson! That was with Ray Cook

[gorj]

Atomic was my favorite track, saw some great SAS and HAT races there. Leebo and I used to make about 6 trips a year to E Tenn for Atomic and Bulls Gap. Mr. Turner had The Gap back then and it was great.

[gorj]

Atomic was my favorite track, saw some great SAS and HAT races there. Leebo and I used to make about 6 trips a year to E Tenn for Atomic and Bulls Gap. Mr. Turner had The Gap back then and it was great.