Racing at the Myrtle Beach Speedway in South Carolina

Myrtle Beach Speedway, located on the beautiful Grand Strand, about 5 miles west of Myrtle Beach, SC, began life as Rambi Raceway in 1958. It was originally a dirt track and was paved after the 1974 season. The old speedway was purchased by Nick Lucas in 1968 and 10 years later, in 1978, it was renovated. The front straightaway was redesigned to include a dog leg, making the track a tri oval. The turns were banked to twenty-five degrees. The overall length of the track was then .538 of a mile. Billy Hardee became a co-owner in 1987 and the ownership remains the same today.

From the late 1950's and into the 1970's the Grand National Series, a forerunner of the current NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, ran at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Such racing legends as Richard Petty, Donny and Bobby Allison, Ned Jarrett, David Pearson and Ralph Earnhardt were regular visitors to the racetrack.

Racing at Myrtle Beach Speedway could be called a family tradition as some of the premiere families of racing have graced this track. Lee, Richard, Kyle and Adam Petty, with Lee, Richard and Kyle driving on the dirt track. David Pearson and his sons, Larry and Eddie have made their way around the track. Ralph Earnhardt raced there and Dale even won the Late Model Sportsman Championship in 1978. Dale, Jr raced there full time for a season and Kelly and Kerry made appearances there as well. Dale, Jr drove his first Busch Grand National race there in 1996. Mark, Jeff and David Green have turned laps at Myrtle Beach Speedway. Jeff Gordon is a former Busch Series track record holder at the track.

The future of the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series is racing there as well with rising stars such as Jason Jarrett, son of Dale Jarrett, and Jamie Skinner continue the family tradition.

Myrtle Beach Speedway was a regular stop for the Busch Grand National Series from 1988 until 2001. In 1999, however, the Myrtle Beach 250 brought in the largest crowd ever in attendance with names like Earnhardt, Petty, Gordon and Hendrick.