Boyd's Speedway is one of my local dirt tracks just over the Tennessee/Georgia border in Ringgold, GA. It was opened in 1952 by E.A. Boyd. From 1952 to 1961 the track was a clay oval. In 1962 it turned into an asphalt oval.
On August 3rd, 1962 the Grand National Series (Now Sprint Cup Series) competed on the oval. A field full of NASCAR Hall Of Famers Richard Petty, Joe Weatherly, Fireball Roberts, Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, Wendell Scott, and Buddy Baker competed with 14 other drivers in the Confederate 200. The King Richard Petty would start on the pole with Ned Jarrett on the outside. Richard Petty would lead the most laps at 172 but Joe Weatherly would take the checkered flag leading only 19 laps. Joe made 1000 dollars after racing on Boyd's Speedway.
In 1964 NASCAR returned to the Boyd's Speedway for the second and final time. The 1964 Confederate 300 would be competed on June 19th. Richard Petty would start from the pole once again and with fellow NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson on the outside pole. Petty would lead 60 laps but ended the race in 2nd place. David Pearson would become the star of the show leading 240 of the races 300 laps.
In 1977 the track was converted back into a dirt track.
Since then Boyd's hasn't hosted a NASCAR race but has had drivers like Ty and Austin Dillon compete on it. On July 28th, 2015 Austin Dillon beat the track record with a lap of 12.980 on the 1/3 mile Clay Surface. NASCAR hasn't forgot its roots and neither has the track forgot about it's NASCAR roots. In 2014 Dirt Legend Dale McDowell and Racer David Duplissey purchased Boyd's Speedway.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series runs at Eldora which is a dirt track in Ohio owned by Tony Stewart. Just imagine if NASCAR returned to Boyd's? Anything Is Possible!
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