Built in 1985 and located in Meeker, Oklahoma, the circuit has operated under numerous names throughout its history, including Franklin Motor Speedway, County Line Speedway, Lincoln County Speedway, Meeker Speedway, and Claxton Speedway. Most recently, it was known as Brill Motor Speedway before becoming Red Dirt Raceway.
The track was originally a quarter-mile (0.250 miles / 0.402 km) dirt oval. In 2006, it was extended to three-eighths of a mile (0.375 miles / 0.603 km), featuring high banks that promoted exciting side-by-side racing and overtaking opportunities. However, in 2017, the track was shortened back to a quarter-mile.
Racing was steady from 1986 through 1997. In 1998 and 1999, the track sat idle with no events, and little information is available about the cause.
In 2005, Mark Brill purchased the speedway and renamed it Brill Motor Speedway. Initially, the first few races attracted only 19 or 20 entrants, but this quickly turned around to an average of 65 to 70 entrants by 2008.
Like most speedways at the time, the track faced challenges in July 2013, when it closed for two years due to low entrants and few spectators. It was put up for lease but reopened briefly in June 2015 under Mark Brill’s ownership, hosting a few events featuring sport mods, pro stocks, pure stocks, and mini stocks.
The Brill family worked hard to maintain the track in racing condition over their years at the speedway. However, like many other speedways facing economic difficulties, they were unable to continue.
In December 2016, Cody Brewer and his father Ken Brewer purchased the speedway from Mark Brill and rebranded it as Red Dirt Raceway. The family made several upgrades to the circuit, enhancing spectator facilities, pit access, and drainage. Events began in April 2017, featuring Friday night racing through May and June.
The Brewer family has been highly successful in their management of the speedway. Today, the speedway hosts events throughout most of the year, sometimes up to three events a weekend, featuring a wide range of racing categories including 410 Sprint Cars (Winged & Non-Winged), 360 Sprint Cars (Winged), 305 Sprint Cars (Winged), Sport Modifieds / B-Mods, Factory Stocks, Tuners, Micros, Restricted Micros, A-Class Micros, and Non-Wing Micros.
Sources:
TJ Slideways
The Oklahoman [2]
Lone Star Speed Zone
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