Don't Forget: Northeastern Speedway Re-Opening on Saturday

We're headed to the grand re-opening of Northeastern Speedway in Lower Waterford on Saturday, July 18, and we suggest you might do the same.

If you're headed to Oxford Plains Speedway in Maine for TD Banknorth 250 weekend, we highly recommend that you make the four-mile detour off Route 2 and witness a piece of New England racing history. Northeastern is a 1/5-mile bullring that operated from 1959-1966 as both a dirt track and an asphalt track, and was the catalyst and sister speedway to Barre's Thunder Road. Vermont's first organized auto racing sanctioning body and promotional team was spearheaded at Northeastern Speedway.

Paul and Lise Bellefeuille have purchased the facility and done a total renovation over the last 18 months, and will re-open the speedway exactly 50 years to the day after its first race, which was won by eventual track champion Johnny Gammell of nearby St. Johnsbury.

Gammell is expected to be in attendance at the gathering, along with 1960 champion Glen Andrews and many great drivers of the Northeastern era. As many as 50 vintage race cars from the New England Antique Racers (NEAR), Senior Tour Auto Racers (STAR), and Maine Vintage Race Car Association (MVRCA) clubs will be on hand, including a handful of original Norteastern Speedway cars.

Northeastern Speedway is located on Route 18 in Lower Waterford, Vt., just five minutes from St. Johnsbury. Festivities begin at 9:00am, with parade laps starting at 2:15pm. Click here for more information.

(PHOTO: Northeastern Speedway owners Paul and Lise Bellefeuille are ready to open their nostalgic track in Lower Waterford for its 50th anniversary reunion on Saturday. Photo courtesy Northeastern Speedway)