Michigan Tracks Outside The MARC News Coverage Area
The MARC News coverage area extends 250 miles into the state of Michigan from the MARC News headquarters in Jonesville, MI, which goes about as north as Traverse City. While that covers most racetracks in the state of Michigan, that does leave some in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula out.
With that said, we thought we’d take a look at those tracks in the state of Michigan that are outside of the MARC coverage area.
Northern Michigan Speedway
Located in Elmira, MI, Northern Michigan Speedway is a ¼-mile that hosted racing from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend in 2026. The track opened in 1969 and continues to hold weekly racing.
Location: Elmira, MISize: ¼-mileRaceday: SaturdayDivisions: ABC Stock Cars, Sportsmen, B-Mods, 4-Cylinders, Go-KartsWebsite: https://www.northernmichiganspeedway.net/
Onaway Speedway
The northernmost track in the Lower Peninsula, Onaway Speedway has both a ¼-mile oval and the only uphill semi drag racing venue in the country, hosting the Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge. While the oval has hosted weekly racing and even the Growler 100 for Outlaw Super Late Models in the past, racing at the facility is now limited to the drag strip and monster trucks on the oval.
Location: Onaway, MISize: ¼-mileRaceday: N/ADivisions: N/AWebsite: https://onawayspeedway.com/
Kinross Raceway Park
Perhaps the most well-known racetrack in the Upper Peninsula in our area, Kinross Raceway Park sits right off I-75 in between the Mackinac Bridge and Sault Ste. Marie at the Chippewa County Fairgrounds. Kinross has hosted some marquee races in recent years, including the Reveal The Hammer season opener this season and the Hot Shoe 100 in 2019.
Location: Kinross, MISize: ¼-mileRaceday: Every Other SaturdayDivisions: Modifieds, Late Model Sportsman, ABC Stock Cars, 4-CylindersWebsite: https://kinrossracewaypark.com/
Escanaba Motor Speedway
Escanaba Motor Speedway (located in the U.P. State Fairgrounds) is the only dirt track on this list; which is ironic considering its rich history as an asphalt track back in the day. Similar to Tri-City Motor Speedway, the existing dirt track is built inside the old asphalt track that hosted Wisconsin legends like Dick Trickle, Tom Reffner and Joe Shear.
Location: Escanaba, MISize: ¼-mileRaceday: Alternating Between Saturdays And SundaysDivisions: 600cc Winged Micro Sprints, Super Modifieds, Jr Micro Sprints, Sportsman, Vintage Modifieds, Unified Street Stocks, Sport Modifieds, Sport CompactsWebsite: https://www.escanabaspeedway.com/
Norway Speedway
While located at the Dickinson County Fairgrounds in the Upper Peninsula, Norway Speedway is just a mile from the Wisconsin state border and is very much entrenched in the Wisconsin short track racing scene. Norway hosts the ASA Midwest Tour on a yearly basis along with the Stateline Challenge, their biggest Super Late Model race of the season.
Location: Norway, MISize: 1/3-mile Raceday: FridayDivisions: Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Sportsman, 4-CylindersWebsite: https://www.escanabaspeedway.com/
Sands Speedway
The northernmost racetrack in the entire state of Michigan, Sands Speedway is also by far the most unique. The track is built into the base of a hill and features a 32 foot elevation change between the two straightaways, with two completely different corners to boot.
Location: Gwinn, MISize: ¼-mile Raceday: SundayDivisions: Late Models, Fuel Injecteds, 4-Cylinder Street Tire, 4-6 Cylinder Modifieds, Street Stocks/Super StocksWebsite: https://sandsspeedway.com/
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