FREEPORT RACEWAY PARK

Years of operation: 1937 through 2011 (last race scheduled for 9/24/2011)

Location: 1920 S. Walnut Road, Freeport, Ill. (located on Walnut Road, quarter mile south of South Street next to the Stephenson County Fairgrounds on 43 acres).

Notes:  ½ mile dirt track that operated between 1937 and 2011… promoted by Randy and Virginia Gill during its last years…track experienced major flooding episodes in 2010 and 2011…Mel Kenyon started his racing career there in stock cars…Joe Finn of Stockton – a five time track champion, Joe Shear also a former champion…track known as Walnut Street Speedway or Walnut Road Speedway in the 1950s, track was torn down in October of 2011.

Freeport Raceway Park Stock Car  Champions
                                                                                                                       
2011- Nick Downs                           Freeport, IL
2010- NO LATE MODELS           --------------
2009- Jeff Larson                             Freeport, IL
2008- Jeff Larson                             Freeport, IL
2007- Jeff Larson                             Freeport, IL
2006- Dan Shelliam                         Hazel Green, WI
2005- Jeff Larson                             Freeport, IL
2004- Craig Jacobs                          Freeport, IL
2003- Mike Miller                           Leaf River, IL
2002- Jeff Larson                             Freeport, IL
2001- Ryan Dolan                            Lisbon, IA
2000- Ryan Dolan                            Lisbon, IA
1999- Brad Stewart                          Milledgeville, IL
1998- Darren Miller                        Chadwick, IL
1997- Rob Toland                            Hillsdale, IL
1996- Bob Grenoble                        Nora, IL
1995- Bob Grenoble                        Nora, IL
1994- Dave Meile                            Baileyville, IL
           Tom Schoney                         Freeport, IL         (Co-Champions in 1994)
1993- Mel Abels                              Freeport, IL
1992- Nick Kuipers                         Bartlett, IL
1991- Bob Grenoble                        Nora, IL
1990- Tom Guithes                          Maple Park, IL
1989- NO RACING                          --------------
1988- NO RACING                          --------------
1987- Craig Jacobs                          Freeport, IL
1986- Craig Jacobs                          Freeport, IL
1985- John Engelkins                       Morrison, IL        (Duke Jackson subbed because of eye injury to Engelkins)
1984- Craig Jacobs                          Freeport, IL
1983- John Knaus                            Rockford, IL        (Year of the “Late Model Boycott”)
1982- Tom Hearst                            Wilton, IA
1981- Tom Hearst                            Wilton, IA
1980- John Connolly                        Delhi, IA
1979- John Connolly                        Delhi, IA
1978- John Connolly                        Delhi, IA
1977- John Connolly                        Delhi, IA
1976- Kenny Walton                       Viola, IA
1975- John Connolly                        Delhi, IA
1974- Darrell Dake                          Cedar Rapids, IA (Track Opened in June)
1973- Darrell Dake                          Cedar Rapids, IA (Track Closed August)
1972- Don Bohlander                      Glasford, IL         (by 5 pts. over Larry Fabris)
1971- Don Bohlander                      Glasford, IL
1970- Larry Fabris                           Sycamore, IL
1969- Lem Blankenship                    Keokuk, IA
1968- Joe Shear                               South Beloit, IL
1967- Joe Shear                               South Beloit, IL
1966- Norm Meinert                        Davis, IL              (First year of “Stock Cars”)
1965- LeRoy Lemke                        Sterling, IL           (Ran Coupes and Stock Cars)
1964- Al Cooper                             Dubuque, IA        (Last year of “Coupes”)
1963- Al Cooper                             Dubuque, IA
1962- RACING HELD, BUT NO “CHAMPION” (Stock Cars started the year, Coupes finished the year)
1961- Joe Finn                                  Stockton, IL
1960- Todd Kohl                              Monroe, WI         (Track closed in August)
1959- Lee Schmelzer                         Freeport, IL
1958- Bill Schmelzer                         Freeport, IL
1957- Joe Finn                                  Stockton, IL
1956- Hal Schroeder                        Bettendorf, IA
1955- Joe Finn                                  Stockton, IL
1954- Joe Finn                                  Stockton, IL         (After two years in Korea)
1953- Red Aase                                Rockford, IL
1952- Jack Bolender                        Orangeville, IL
1951- Joe Finn                                  Stockton, IL
 
Thanks to Jerry Gille, Ron Thruman, Eric Huenefeld and others who put together this information.