Upper Peninsula International Raceway

Info Updates:

1/18/2013 - Kathy Rose

ICE IS NICE TO KICK OFF 2013 UPIR RACE SEASON For die hard motorsports racers, ice is nice. The 1/3 mile ice track at the the U. P. State fairgrounds in Escanaba will thrill racers and fans alike on Saturday, January 19th. Upper Peninsula International Raceway and Great Lakes Ice Racing volunteers have been dropping water on the track for weeks. The cold snap this week will result in a solid ice track to kick off the 2013 UPIR racing season. Racers from the M & M Ice Breakers in Marinette/Menominee will join local 4/6 and 8 cylinder cars to debut the car class. Motorcycles, micro-sprints, quads and three-wheelers that have ice raced locally for years will show off their talents. There will be studded and non-studded classes following the rules of Great Lakes Ice Racing and the M & M Ice Breakers. Pits open at 3:00 PM with racing at 5:00 PM EST. Pit passes for all ages are $15. Grandstand admission is $5 with 10 and under free. Concessions will be open under the west end of the grandstand and in the pits. Paid grandstand admission will allow fans to view racing from their vehicles on the hill outside of the track between turns one and two. Space is limited and on a first come, first served basis. The grandstand will also be open for seating. Entering the fourth year of racing, Upper Peninsula International Raceway is a group of volunteers dedicated to keep racing in Escanaba. All proceeds are deposited to the Track Development Fund to improve the race facility. The second date for UPIR ice racing is Saturday, February 9th. Races on the clay oval are scheduled for May 18, June 2 and 22, July 7 and 27, August 3, 17 and 24 and the 4th Annual UPIR Yooper Fall Classic September 13 and 14. For the second year, Mother Nature intervened and forced cancellation of the Ice Masters 300 snowmobile races sponsored by the Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau on January 12 and 13. Organizers are currently working to reschedule a dates. Volunteers for UPIR races are always welcome. Contact Cathy at 906-553-5624 to volunteer. For race questions contact Tom at 906-399-7760. www. upirtrack. com.

6/12/2012 - brad beckett

just to let those know that the mouse, wes beckett is still around in nothern ontario and he still loves his speed at the young age of 74. if anyone has any picture of his race car i sure would like to get to view them thanks.

2/28/2012 - Chuck

the mouse Jim is talking about is Miles Melius from Milwaukee. chuck.

2/27/2012 - Kathy Rose

MOTORSPORTS TRADE SHOW/SWAP MEET AND GREAT LAKES ICE RACING EVENTS AT UPPER PENINSULA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - ESCANABA, MI The Escanaba fairgrounds and UPIR will be a blizzard of activity this coming weekend with two days of motorsports events. Volunteers of local racing groups are hosting both events. Fairground staff and volunteers built a 3/8 mile oval ice track for the MIRA Midwest International Racing Association Ice Masters 500 this past weekend. MIRA racers were impressed with the track and facility and plan to return in 2013. UPIR Volunteers and the Delta County Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the 2nd annual UPIR Motorsports Trade Show/Swap Meet at the fairgrounds Ruth Butler Building, 2401 12th Ave. No. , Escanaba on March 3, 2012. All areas of motorsports and affiliated businesses are welcome to rent a booth. Racers can team up and sell their extra parts. A 10x10 booth is $25 and 10x20 is $40. Booths include tables, chairs and two $5 admission passes. The show runs from 9 to 5 EST. Concessions, door prizes, hourly 50/50 raffles, kids’ activities and auction round out the event. Admission is $5. 00 (12 and under free). All proceeds go to the Track Development Fund. Details and registration form are at www. upirtrack. com and Facebook under Upper Peninsula International Raceway or the Delta County Chamber of Commerce. Contact Tom Dubord at 906-399-7760 or Cathy Winling at 906-553-5624 with questions or email upinternationalraceway@gmail. com Great Lakes Ice Racing, which races on the Escanaba River, is hosting an Ice Racing Invitational and the Michigan AMA State Championships on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 & 4 at UPIR. Racing begins at 5 EST on Saturday and noon EST on Sunday. Motorcycles and Quads will compete for impressive payouts and a long list of prizes. Details are on www. greatlakesiceracing. com with a link to registration and rules. Discounted registration fees for racers end at noon on March 1 Lodging information is available at www. deltami. org.

2/7/2012 - Kathy Rose

MOTORSPORTS TRADE SHOW/SWAP MEET MARCH 3, 2012 UPIR Volunteers and the Delta County Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring the 2nd annual UPIR Motorsports Trade Show/Swap Meet at the fairgrounds Ruth Butler Building, 2401 12th Ave. No. , Escanaba on March 3, 2012. All areas of motorsports and affiliated businesses are welcome to rent a booth. Racers can team up and sell their extra parts. A 10x10 booth is $25 and 10x20 is $40. Booths include tables, chairs and two $5 admission passes. The show runs from 9 to 5 EST. Concessions, door prizes, hourly 50/50 raffles, kids’ activities and auction round out the event. Admission is $5. 00 (12 and under free). All proceeds go to the Track Development Fund. Details and registration form are at www. upirtrack. com and Facebook under Upper Peninsula International Raceway or the Delta County Chamber of Commerce. Contact Tom Dubord at 906-399-7760 or Cathy Winling at 906-553-5624 with questions or email upinternationalraceway@gmail. com.

1/17/2012 - ron elliott

The mouse that one person was talking about was a man named Wes Beckett and he was a Canadian from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario. He ran a modified with a 289cid ford engine.

7/14/2011 - Kathy Rose

UPIR Ready to Rumble with Racing July 16 The new clay is in, the track is packed and the Upper Peninsula International Raceway at the Escanaba Fairgrounds will throw the green flag at 6 PM EST July 16. The second race of the 2011 UPIR racing season will feature heart throbbing racing action with 4/6 cylinder cars, micro-sprints and quads. Fans will be treated to a special event with former Escanaba resident, Jerry Hansen, performing jumps with his crowd-pleasing bus. The Delta County Chamber of Commerce will operate the concessions with volunteers and all menu items are only $2. The grandstand opens at 5 PM with a $5 gate admission and children 10 and under are free. Pits open at 3 PM and all pit passes are $10. The racers fee is $10. Racers can preregister at the Chamber of Commerce and save $5 The 2011 UPIR slate includes races on July 30 with the Milwaukee Vintage Modified Stock Car Club making the trek to the UP with their Mods, including cars formerly owned by local racing legends Jerry Richer and Herb & Bob Iverson. August 16 is the Demolition Derby during UP State Fair Week, which is being organized and run by UPIR volunteers. Saturday, August 20 will again feature fender to fender racing with cars, micro-sprints and quads. A Nickel Toss for kids will highlight the fair race. The 2011 season will culminate with a three-day event from September 16-18 with the 2nd annual UPIR (Yooper) Fall Classic. A weekend of motorsports action with lawn tractor pulls, mower racing with the UPIR Sod Slingers, Wisconsin Lawn Mower Racing Association and mower racers from below the bridge and the season finale of racing with 4/6 cylinder cars, micro-sprints and quads. In the second year of fundraising for the planned facility, all proceeds go to a “Track Development Fund” for the planned facility, which will benefit the entire Upper Peninsula. UPIR volunteers strive to work with other racing venues so all can survive and thrive. Race dates are chosen to keep conflicting racing events in the UP to a minimum. The Bays de Noc Convention and Visitors Bureau has generously awarded a $5,000 Drivers’ Purse to UPIR for the 2011 season. All proceeds go to a Track Development fund for a multi-use (asphalt and clay), multi-season motorsports facility at the fairgrounds to benefit the entire UP. In 2010, the volunteers raised nearly $50,000 thanks to the support of businesses, fans and racers. Rules, point standings and details are at.

6/16/2011 - Kathy Rose

UPIR website www. upirtrack. com. UPIR's season opener is June 18th. Fans will be on the edge of their seats with classes of Quads, Sprints, 4/6 Cylinder Cars and Mowers racing. Jerry Hansen Stunts with his Mutt Cutts van will put on a spine tingling show. A Mower Build Clinic will begin at 4 with the Wisconsin Lawn Mower Racing Association. The UPIR Sod Slingers is a newly formed affiliate club of the United States Lawn Mower Racing Association, the premier group for lawn mower racing. Stands open at 5 and green flag racing at 6 EST. Admission $5, children 10 and under free, concessions $2. UPIR Volunteers have races scheduled on June 18th, July 16th, July 30th, Aug. 16 (Demo Derby), Aug 20th and the 2nd annual UPIR (Yooper) Fall Classic Sept. 16-18. All proceeds go to the track development fund for a multi-use, multi-season motorsports facility at the Escanaba Fairgrounds. The Delta County Chamber of Commerce volunteers with concessions.

5/17/2011 - Greg brazeau

The track was called Superior Speedway at one point in the mid 1980's. I have the trophy from there to prove it. Canadian Hubie BRAZEAU set a new super late model track record during the fair and still has the plaque and trophy from Superior Speedway in Escanaba.

3/31/2011 - Wells Lions Racing

The Wells Lions Club are going to be running races at this track as well. We are going to be running the 4/6 cylinder cars, Jr. micro sprints, Sportsman micro sprints, 600 micro's and air/liquid classes of 4-wheelers. The dates are May 14th, June 11th, July 9th, Sept. 24th, and Oct TBA. Check out more info at www. WLRseries. com Hope to see ya there.

3/27/2011 - jim

I spent the majority of my teen-age years at the UP State Fairgrounds when it was dirt. There was an epic rivalry between the Iverson and Richer camps in the modifides. The racing was incredible. My Mothers cousin, Dick Peterson was Track Champion for years in the Stock Division. Couple times of year the odified guys from around Milwaukee would show up and blow the doors off all the locals. They had the money our guys didn't. The guy I remember the most went by the nickname the Mouse. He was bad fast. I had some of the best times at this track.

1/18/2011 - Kathy Rose

Upper Peninsula International Raceway 2011 Schedule - Escanaba, MI Races sponsored by UPIR Volunteers & Delta Commerce Center. 1/5 mile clay track. All proceeds go to Track Development Fund. Grandstand admission $5, Concessions $2, Pit Pass $10, Race Registration $10. Register with Delta Commerce Center at 907-786-2192. Rules posted under UPIR Logo, www. upirracing. blogspot. com and Facebook under Upper Peninsula International Raceway. Race questions: email upinternationalraceway@gmail. com. January 20th 7:00 PM EST - Public meeting at America’s Best Value Inn Conference Room, 2301 No Lincoln Rd. Escanaba March 5th 9 to 5 EST - Motorsports Trade Show/Swap Meet, Escanaba Fairgrounds, 2401 12th Ave. No. , Escanaba June 18th - 6 PM EST -Racing with 4/6 Cylinder Cars, Micro Sprints, Tuff Trucks TBA, Special Event TBA July 16th - 6 PM EST - Racing with 4/6 Cylinder Cars, Micro Sprints, Tuff Trucks, Special Event TBA July 30th - 6 PM EST - Racing with 4/6 Cylinder Cars, Micro Sprints, Tuff Trucks, Special Event TBA Aug. 16th time TBA - Demo Derby (fair week) Aug 20th - 6 PM EST - Racing with 4/6 Cylinder Cars, Micro Sprints, Tuff Trucks, Special Event TBA Sept. 16-18 time TBA - 2nd Annual UPIR (Yooper) Fall Classic, Events TBA Campground available on fairgrounds, except during fair week Aug. 13 thru Aug 21. Register for camping at www. deltami. org or call Delta Commerce Center at 906-786-2192.

12/23/2010 - Kathy Rose

I would like the Upper Peninsula International Raceway in Escanaba to your website. The address is 2401 12th Ave No, Escanaba, MI. 49829. We have a 1/5 mile dirt track and will have 5 races in 2011. We are a group of volunteers working with the Delta County Chamber of Commerce raising funds for a multi-surface, multi-season motor sports facility. We do not have our own website yet but are on Facebook and www. upirracing. blogspot. com.

7/13/2010 - Chuck

A PAVED OVAL WOULD NOT BE THE MOST BENEFICAL IN THE LONG RUNG FOR PETES SAKE MAKE A BANKED DIRT TRACK!!!!!!!!!!

4/29/2010 - Bougie

4-17-2010 They had a crew of 25 guys. they are going to start up the track again
in June with about three races on dirt or clay. Now that the county owns the Fairgrounds, it will make working with them alot easier. They are talking for the 2011 season to have it paved. That is it for know.

11/9/2009 - Robert

it was paved in late 70s and dick trickle holds the track record and close in mid 80s

5/8/2008 - Sean Fitzgerald

Oh my goddness, enclosed grandstands with real seats? Sweet

5/6/2008 - Chris Walk

Used to go to the races at the Escanaba Fair Grounds all the time in the 70''s. Good dirt track racing. They ruined it when they paved it. Never went after that.

10/15/2006 - Sean Fitzgerald

According to NA-Motorspots Thunder Valley near Marquette was called superior Speedway at one time. When I went to thunder Valley a few years ago, we called a speedway in Escanaba to see whenthey were running. I think we got through. What speedway might that have been?

10/5/2006 - Don Bougie

Bayland Speedway is not open it is closed as of 2002. thanks again Don

10/4/2006 - Don Bougie

It was never called Superior Speedway. The last name of the track at the U.P. State Fair Grounds was Bayland Speedway. But at the height of racing in Escanaba was between 1966 to 1974 on dirt.

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Upper Peninsula International Raceway