Black Hills Speedway

About Black Hills Speedway

Black Hills Speedway is a half mile dirt oval at 2467 Jolly Lane on the east edge of Rapid City, South Dakota. Racers call it simply The Half Mile. It has been running for around six decades, it races Friday nights from spring into late summer, and it carries a six class program that mixes IMCA and WISSOTA divisions with 360 sprint cars. A restaurant and bar sits above the track.

Six Decades of Rapid City Racing

The track’s own description of itself comes down to one word: legacy. Dirt track racing has been handed down here over six decades, with the track adapting as the sport has changed around it.

What visitors notice first is that it feels authentic rather than polished. One first time visitor described it as old school, low tech and simple, with free parking on the grass, families filling the bleachers on a Friday night, and racing that felt genuinely local. That is the appeal.

A half mile is long by modern dirt track standards. Most tracks in the region run a third or three eighths of a mile, and the extra distance gives cars room to build real speed down the straights, which is why sprint cars race so well here.

Six Classes on Friday Night

The weekly card runs six divisions: 360 Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Hobby Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, WISSOTA Street Stocks and WISSOTA Mod Fours. Dirt Late Models appear on the schedule as well.

Running IMCA and WISSOTA classes side by side is unusual and it works in this part of the country, where the two sanctioning bodies overlap. A racer building to either rule book has somewhere to run.

Gates open at 5:00 and racing starts at 7:00 on Friday nights, from late spring into late summer. Racing is streamed live for anyone who cannot get there.

Half Mile Nationals and Border Wars

The season closes with the South Dakota Lottery Half Mile Nationals, a two night event run on Thursday and Friday in late August, now past its ninth running.

The Nationals are part of the Border Wars Points Series, a six day run shared with Gillette Thunder Speedway across the state line in Wyoming. That cross border format gives racers in a thinly populated region a real series to chase rather than a single track championship.

Points championship night comes the week before, crowning the season’s class champions.

Food, Drinks and the View

The feature that sets this track apart from most dirt ovals in the region is the restaurant and bar located above the track. You can have dinner and a drink while watching the racing from indoors, which in a place where a Black Hills evening can turn cold or wet is worth knowing about.

Reservations are not accepted, so come early if you want a table.

Getting There

The track is on Jolly Lane in Rapid Valley, just east of Rapid City off Highway 44 near East 38th Street, in Pennington County. Parking is free.

Rapid City is the gateway to the Black Hills, so a Friday night at the track fits easily into a trip built around Mount Rushmore, the Badlands or Sturgis. The Jackpine Gypsies club grounds in Sturgis are about thirty miles northwest.

Note that this part of South Dakota is on Mountain time.

Schedules, results and rain calls are posted on the track website, its Facebook page and its MyRacePass listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the track?

It is a half mile dirt oval, which is why racers call it The Half Mile.

What night does Black Hills Speedway race?

Friday nights, from spring into late summer. Gates open at 5:00 and racing starts at 7:00.

What classes race there?

Six divisions: 360 Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Hobby Stocks, WISSOTA Midwest Modifieds, WISSOTA Street Stocks and WISSOTA Mod Fours, with Dirt Late Models also on the schedule.

What is the Half Mile Nationals?

The South Dakota Lottery Half Mile Nationals, a two night event in late August that closes the season, now past its ninth running.

What is Border Wars?

A six day points series shared with Gillette Thunder Speedway in Wyoming, which includes the Half Mile Nationals.

Is there food at the track?

Yes. A restaurant and bar above the track serves dinner and drinks with a view of the racing. Reservations are not accepted.

Can I watch online?

Yes, races are streamed live. Check the track’s schedule page for current streaming details.

Where is Black Hills Speedway located?

2467 Jolly Lane, Rapid City, South Dakota 57703, off Highway 44 near East 38th Street on the east edge of the city.

More information on Black Hills Speedway; Click here http://www.blackhillsspeedwaybhs.com/

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