Big O Speedway

85 Speedway

Location	Ellis County, at 3118 FM 85, Ennis, Texas 75119
Owner	Roger Archer
Opened	1985
Oval
Surface	Clay
Length	0.25 miles (0.40 km)
Turns	4
Banking	Semi-banked

85 Speedway is a 1/4 mile, semi-banked, clay oval dirt track located just east of Ennis, Texas that hosts Saturday night races for classes such as Twister, Jr. Mini, Cruiser, Bomber, Street Stock, IMCA Southern Sport Mod, and IMCA Modifieds, with special events held throughout the season with guest race classes, candy giveaways, bicycle giveaways, wheelbarrow races, tricycle races, an Independence Day fireworks show, and more.

The schedule for 2012 is filled with exciting races each week. The regular weekly classes are Twister, Jr. Mini, Cruiser, Bomber, Street Stock, IMCA Southern Sport Mod, and IMCA Modified. Special classes are the SST Sprint Cars, the Winged Modifieds, the Lone Star Dwarf Car Club, the Southern Outlaw Street Stock, and the Young Guns.

In 2011, a class was started for young, beginner drivers called the Twisters. These 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive cars are completely stock. Drivers could start at 11 years of age, with their parents approval. The class was very popular with kids and grownups too. For older and more experienced drivers, the Jr. Mini class was also a 4-cylinder car but these cars are rear wheel drive cars, and faster than the Twisters. The special classes continued and included the Lone Star Dwarf Car Club and the Southern Street Stock class. The track also hosted special sanctioned races during the year.

2010's special classes include the Lone Star Dwarf Car Club and the Southern Street Stock class from Texas Dirt Motorplex in East Texas. The track is also host, each season, to the Regional IMCA Southern SportMod race which brings cars from Texas and the surrounding states.

Fans, drivers, and car owners will be impressed with the track staff members who work hard to ensure that the evening is fun and entertaining, and that each fan, driver, and car owner knows how their support of local racing is appreciated. The tradition still continues each year, bringing family entertainment and exciting racing action.

History

In 2012, track owner and promoter, Roger Archer is celebrating his 27th year as a racetrack operator. Seventeen of those years have been spent in Ennis, Texas at 85 Speedway, the oldest racing facility in Ellis County. Previously, the Archer’s owned Texas All-Star Speedway, in Bellmead, Texas, but sold the track in 1995 to relocate to Ennis.

Roger was born and raised around cars his entire childhood. Later, he opened his own car repair businesses, and owned and operated the garage for 45 years. Racing and cars were in his blood. He went to his first car race when he was 9 years old, with his dad. Roger started racing sprint cars when he was 26 years old, building and maintaining the car. Roger was his own boss, so every week, he was making his way to tracks in Texas, New Mexico, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Roger was lucky enough to have raced with Johnny Rutherford, Jim McElreath, and Eldon Dotson, among many others. Roger has also been featured in Circle Track Magazine, and is well-known and respected in the dirt track racing sport.

After 22 years of racing, Roger finally decided to stop racing, and put all his talent into Texas All-Star Speedway in Bellmead, Texas, just outside Waco. Roger and Wanda, their daughter Tila, and granddaughter Melanie operated the track for nearly 10 years before 85 Speedway became available for sale in 1995, and the Archer's made the track, which was originally opened in 1985, their new home.

Hours and Policies

The season runs from mid-March to September. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and races begin at 8:00 p.m. Concession stands serve hot food, cold drinks, and lots of sweet treats. Ice chests are allowed and alcohol is permitted, but no glass bottles. Alcohol is not allowed in the pits. Track phone: 972-875-8500

Location and Contact

The track is located 5.2 miles East of I-45, Exit 249 in Ennis, Texas. Track phone: 972-875-8500.

Season History

2012 Season

New to the track in 2012 are two classes for kids that will complete weekly with kids starting at 11 years of age. Food is being cooked on the bar-b-que pit each week with great food all night.

2011 Season

New to the track in 2011 are the reintroduction of the Street Stock division and the addition of the Jr. Mini Stock division. Jr. Mini Stock is a class for children ages 12 to 16 with the cars being 4-cylinder, rear-wheel drive, and some race modifications.

2010 Season

New to the track in 2010, racing cars is for teens and pre-teens too, and starting in March, boys and girls, ages 11–15, will be racing in the Twister class. This is the first season for this class to compete at 85 Speedway, but other tracks around Texas have found it a popular activity and sport for the young drivers and their parents. These drivers compete in 4-cylinder, front-wheel drive cars that are completely stock, except for windshields and glass that have been removed. These young drivers learn driving skills, basic car maintenance, and sportsmanship, while spending quality time with their families.

Each of the different classes of cars, compete for points, and all competitors, including he Twister class, compete throughout the year for the Championship at the end of the season. Season-end also brings the annual two-day race, and any special shows that are planned. The end-of-season shows always bring cars and fans from all around the state and lots of exciting racing action. There is space for overnight camping during our two-day shows, and the drivers are always anxious to spend time talking to their fans during the extended weekend.

Track Champions

2010 Champions

Driver	Car Number	Class
Taylor Cantrell	58	Twister
Paul Pelham	13	Cruiser
Mike Marusak	45	Bomber
Albert McCall	30	IMCA Sport Modified
Robert Black	07	IMCA Modified

2009 Champions

Driver	Car Number	Class
Paul Pelham	13	Cruiser
Michael Self	7	Bomber
Jackie Hefti	11	Street Stock
Robert Black	07	IMCA Sport Modified
Jeff Long	401	IMCA Modified

2008 Champions

Driver	Car Number	Class
Paul Pelham	13	Cruiser
Rodney Weeks	52	Bomber
Wes Milliorn Sr	07	Street Stock
Robert Black	07	IMCA Sport Modified
Charlie Upchurch	214	IMCA Modified

External links

• 85 Speedway Official Website
• 85 Speedway Facebook page
• 85 Speedway MySpace page
• 85 Speedway on TexasDirtTrackers.com

32°18′32.8799″N 96°30′48.59″W