Richard Petty once won on a little oval in the West Virginia hills, and you can still buy a ticket to watch racing there today. Kids twelve and under even get in free.
The first race drew a reported 16,000 fans back in 1963. Fred Lorenzen took the checkered flag that August night, and Petty, Bobby Allison, and other future legends would soon follow him onto the asphalt.
One quirky detail makes me grin. An airport sits right next door, so small planes can take off and land while stock cars trade paint on the track below.
I can’t imagine a better way to spend a warm Saturday night with family, especially when the budget is tight. So how did one small track in the Mountain State end up hosting NASCAR’s biggest names?
The Only Paved Oval In The Mountain State Sits Next To A Runway
Ona Speedway holds a title no other track in West Virginia can claim. It’s the state’s only paved oval, a 7/16-mile asphalt loop in Cabell County between Huntington and Charleston.
The shape is a D, with four turns banked between 10 and 13 degrees. The straights carry a gentler 4 degrees, which keeps cars bunched and drivers busy.
Over the decades, the place has worn a few different name tags. It has been called West Virginia International Speedway and International Raceway Park before settling on its current name.
Then there’s the neighbor. Ona Airpark sits right beside the track, so a small plane might drift overhead while Late Models fight for the inside line.
That pairing feels very West Virginia to me, practical and a little unexpected. Few places let you watch wheels on asphalt and wings in the sky during the same evening.
Racing typically runs on Saturday nights through the warm months, roughly April through October. Those evenings bring short-track action where inches matter and patience gets tested every lap.
Plenty of tracks claim character. This one backs it up with geometry, history, and an airfield for a next-door neighbor.
Richard Petty And Friends Left Their Tire Marks Here In The 1960s
Construction began in 1962, and the gates opened the following summer. On August 18, 1963, the Mountaineer 300 reportedly drew 16,000 spectators to this corner of West Virginia.
Fred Lorenzen won that first race. Not a bad way to christen a brand-new track in the hills of Cabell County.
The NASCAR Cup Series kept coming back through the 1960s and into the early 1970s. Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and Lorenzen all raced here, and Petty collected multiple wins along the way.
Let that sink in for a second. The King of stock car racing once circled the same asphalt where local drivers now chase weekly points.
History took a showbiz turn in 1969. Television host Dick Clark owned the track that year, which is a fun fact to drop in the concession line.
The decades that followed brought quiet stretches when the track sat dormant. Each time, someone stepped up and brought the engines back to life.
That stubborn streak is the real story here. Over 60 years later, the lights still come on and the green flag still waves.
Few small tracks anywhere can point to a lineup of legends like this one. Ona Speedway wears that resume quietly, without much fuss.
Late Models, Legends Cars, And Even Crown Vics Fill The Lineup
Variety is the secret sauce of a good short-track night. Ona Speedway serves up a full plate of divisions, so the field changes every time a new class rolls out.
Late Models and Modifieds bring the horsepower and the headline battles. Legends cars, smaller and nimble, often squeeze into gaps that bigger machines can’t touch.
Then come the Hobby Stocks and UCAR divisions, where everyday-looking cars get plenty serious. Crown Vics round out the roster, and yes, those are the same big sedans you remember from police fleets and taxi stands.
Each class brings its own style. Some nights the action strings out single file, and other nights a division puts on a door-to-door show.
The track’s D shape and modest banking reward patience. Drivers who push too hard into turn one often find out fast that the asphalt doesn’t forgive much.
Watching a full card is like flipping through a family photo album of racing. You get the veterans, the up-and-comers, and the folks who just love turning left on a Saturday.
No matter which class you pull for at first, you’ll likely have a new favorite by the feature.
The Youngest Racers Now Get Their Own Laps On The Frontstretch
Talk about starting early. In 2025, Ona Speedway added a kids’ juice box class, giving little drivers a chance to roll down the frontstretch in electric-powered cars.
I love that idea. It turns future fans into future racers before they’re even tall enough to see over the fence.
Family pricing helps, too. Children 12 and under get in free with general admission, and adult tickets stay friendly to a West Virginia paycheck.
The whole venue is set up for everyone. It’s fully handicap accessible, with designated parking, a viewing deck, and accessible restrooms.
One practical tip makes a big difference with little ones. Stock cars are loud, so noise-canceling headphones are a smart pack for kids sensitive to sound.
The overall vibe leans wholesome and community-centered. It’s the kind of outing where grandparents, parents, and toddlers can all find something to cheer about.
Some seasons have even closed race nights with fireworks. Check the schedule for those special dates, because a sky full of color makes a great encore.
Pack a light jacket for when the evening air cools off. Small comforts go a long way over a full race card.
Barbecue Smoke Drifts Over Both Sides Of The Fence
Hunger at a race track is a serious matter. Thankfully, Ona Speedway runs full concessions on both the general admission side and the pit side.
Saved by Grace BBQ handles the food offerings. That name sounds like it belongs at a church picnic, which feels just right for a Saturday in the hills.
The setup means nobody has to cross the whole property for a bite. Grab something to eat and you’ll be back in your seat before the next heat race goes green.
Comfort matters over a long evening, too. The track keeps restrooms on site, and the venue’s accessibility extends to those facilities.
Snack strategy is half the fun of a race night. Eat between heats, save room for later, and keep one eye on the track while you chew.
Concession lines can build during intermissions, so timing matters. Head over during a caution or a class change and you may beat the rush.
Food really does tie the whole experience together. A good plate and a close finish make for the kind of evening worth talking about on the drive home.
Pitch A Tent And Make A Whole Weekend Of It
Not everyone wants to drive home after the checkered flag. Ona Speedway allows camping on the property, which turns one race night into a full weekend getaway.
Drivers who bring a race car can camp for free. Everyone else pays a modest weekend fee, so the cost stays easy to swallow.
Plan to rough it a little, though. There are no electric or water hookups, so bring your own supplies.
Campfires are welcome with one rule attached. They must sit in elevated pits, which keeps the grounds safe and tidy.
Pit passes add another layer for curious fans. Pit admission costs a bit more than general admission, but it puts you closer to the cars and crews.
Seeing a Late Model up close changes how you watch the race. Suddenly every tire, spring, and decal means something when it rolls past the grandstands.
Grandstand seating faces the D-shaped oval with good views of the action. Bring a seat cushion, since bleachers and long evenings aren’t always best friends.
Waking up trackside on a Sunday morning has its own quiet appeal. The roar is gone, but the memory of last night’s racing sticks around.
Planes, Cruise-In Cars, And The Mountaineer 100 Make The Calendar Pop
Weekly racing is the backbone, but the special dates are where Ona Speedway really shows off. The Mountaineer 100 honors the track’s roots, tipping a cap to that first Mountaineer 300 back in 1963.
Then there’s the West Virginia Roar and Soar Cruise In and Plane Show. With an airport next door, the name practically wrote itself.
That event brings car fans and aviation fans together in one place. Cruise-in cars and airplanes share the spotlight, which is about as fitting a combo as this property could offer.
Test N’ Tune days also pop up on the schedule. Those give drivers time on the asphalt to sort out setups before the points start counting.
Special events open the gates to a wider mix of interests. Plane lovers, car lovers, and racing lovers can all share one afternoon.
Dates shift from year to year, so check the track’s official schedule before you plan. Missing the Mountaineer 100 by a week would sting.
I like how these events keep the history front and center. A track this old deserves a party or two every season.
Mark one on the calendar early. You’ll thank yourself when the lineup gets announced.
Your GPS Might Send You To The Runway Instead
Here comes the most useful tip in this whole article. Ona Speedway’s physical address is 2674 Prichard Road, Ona, West Virginia 25545, but the drive takes a little know-how.
Some directions point to 1 Fair Skies Drive, which can land you at the neighboring Ona Airpark. Don’t panic if you see hangars instead of grandstands.
The speedway entrance is a gravel road marked with a sign. It sits at the east end of the property near the end of runway 25, an area sometimes called Tail Winds Drive.
Expect some narrow, winding roads on the final stretch. Take it slow and save the racing for the drivers on the track.
Ona sits between Huntington and Charleston, so it’s an easy evening trip from either city. Interstate 64 runs nearby, which keeps most of the drive simple.
Racing typically starts around 6:30 or 7 p.m., and gates usually open a few hours earlier. Arriving early gives you time to park, grab food, and claim a good seat.
Schedules can change with weather, so check the track’s official social media before leaving. A quick look could save you a wasted trip.
A Saturday Night Tradition Worth Keeping Alive In West Virginia
Sixty-plus years is a long run for any small-town track. Ona Speedway has outlasted name changes, quiet seasons, and a TV-star owner, and it still fires up every summer.
What it offers is simple and honest. You get affordable tickets, free admission for young kids, real food, and close racing on the state’s only paved oval.
Racing fans will appreciate the history. Families will appreciate the price, the accessibility, and the chance for little ones to try the juice box class.
Planes overhead add a bonus that no other track in West Virginia can match. It’s a strange and wonderful combination that somehow just works.
Is every seat brand-new? No, but the track keeps chipping away at improvements, including a partial repave in 2025.
That kind of work shows a track still investing in tomorrow. It matters for a place that once welcomed Richard Petty.
I believe places like this hold a community together in quiet ways. Every lap adds another chapter to a story that started in 1963.
So pack the headphones, round up the grandkids, and head for the hills near Huntington. The engines are ready, and the green flag doesn’t wait for anyone.
