About Casino Speedway
Casino Speedway is a quarter mile dirt oval at 104 South Lake Drive in Watertown, South Dakota, on the shores of Lake Kampeska. It has been racing for more than seventy years, it runs WISSOTA sanctioned racing on Sunday evenings from late April to early September, and the track bills itself as the fastest quarter mile dirt track in the Northern Plains. Six classes race on a typical night.
Seventy Years on Lake Kampeska
The track has been running on the same ground since the early 1950s, which puts it among the oldest continuously operating dirt ovals in the region. Its position on the shore of Lake Kampeska makes it one of the more scenic places to watch a race anywhere in the Dakotas.
The green flag drops at 6:00 every race night unless noted otherwise, and the track promises about three hours of family entertainment. A candy toss and bike giveaway run at intermission, which tells you who this track is built for.
Racing here has a reputation beyond the state. Fans who have traveled to small tracks across the country regularly rank a Sunday night at Casino Speedway among the best short track racing they have seen, and the quarter mile size is why. Fender to fender and door handle to door handle is the phrase the track uses, and on a bullring that short it is accurate.
Sunday Night WISSOTA Racing
The weekly card runs six WISSOTA divisions: Late Models, Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Gen X Late Models and Hornets.
Gen X Late Models are worth explaining. The class is built to be a more affordable path into late model racing, with cost controls that keep it reachable for a local racer. Hornets serve the same purpose at the entry level, taking four cylinder cars.
A typical race night runs pits open at 4:00, grandstands at 5:00, draw cutoff and drivers meeting at 6:00, and the green flag at 6:30 on special nights. Admission is family priced, with adult and youth tickets and free entry for children seven and under with a paid adult. Pit passes are sold separately.
Races are available on pay per view through the track's own streaming service for anyone who cannot make it.
Memorials and Special Nights
The calendar is full of named events. The Marilyn Olson Memorial brings the WISSOTA Late Model Challenge Series in for a substantial purse and has now run for well over a decade. The B-Dubs Summer Slam puts MSTS and NOSA 410 sprint cars on the quarter mile for added money. Soak the Drivers Night pits drivers against fans in a water fight, Kids Night includes a driver meet and greet on the track, and Sunday Night Thunder runs the full six class program.
The season opens with an annual car show and spring test and tune, usually in late April.
Note that special events sometimes drop classes from the card. A sprint car night may run without Late Models, Modifieds, Midwest Mods or Hornets, so check what is racing before you go if you are coming for a specific division.
Getting There
The track is on South Lake Drive in Watertown, in Codington County in northeastern South Dakota, at the junction of I-29 and US 212. Sioux Falls is about ninety minutes south.
The track phone is 605-881-5219. Schedules, classes, admission and streaming details all run through the track website, which is actively maintained.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the track?
It is a quarter mile dirt oval, described by the track as the fastest quarter mile in the Northern Plains.
What night does Casino Speedway race?
Sunday evenings, from late April to early September. The green flag usually drops at 6:00.
What classes race there?
Six WISSOTA divisions: Late Models, Modifieds, Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks, Gen X Late Models and Hornets.
What are Gen X Late Models?
A cost controlled late model class designed to be more affordable than a full WISSOTA Late Model, giving local racers a realistic way into the division.
How old is the track?
It has been racing for more than seventy years on the shores of Lake Kampeska.
Is it family friendly?
Yes. Children seven and under get in free with a paid adult, and a candy toss and bike giveaway run at intermission.
Can I watch online?
Yes. Races are available on pay per view through the track's streaming service.
Do all six classes race every night?
No. Special event nights sometimes drop classes from the program, so check the schedule if you are coming for a specific division.
Where is Casino Speedway located?
104 South Lake Drive, Watertown, South Dakota 57201, on Lake Kampeska. The phone number is 605-881-5219.
More information on Casino Speedway; Click here https://www.casinospeedway.com/
For more venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/auto/