First opened in 1957 as the Gamecock Raceway, the Sumter Speedway has played host to a variety of racing series and legendary drivers over the years. Though it may look like just a dirt oval off Wedgefield Road today, the track has seen NASCAR Hall of Famers like Ned Jarrett, Lee Petty, and David Pearson and even briefly hosted official NASCAR and USAC races. In the late 1950s and early 1960s the Speedway was one of four major racetracks in South Carolina, along with the Columbia Speedway, Darlington Raceway, and Greenville-Pickens Speedway. Today Darlington is the only remaining NASCAR Cup Series venue of the four, and the Sumter Speedway is the only remaining dirt oval track of the group to still host races. While today the Speedway hosts mainly amateurs, pieces of its professional heritage can still be seen at the Sumter Museum, including photos, newspaper articles, and even a trophy won by NASCAR driver Billy Baker in the 1960s. To see Baker’s trophy and other pieces of Sumter’s racing heritage, schedule an appointment to go behind the scenes at the Sumter Museum today!
