Explore Outdoors: History steeped in speed at All American Raceway

AND THIS WEEK’S EXPLORE OUTDOORS KCRA 3’S MIKE TESELLE REVS UP THE ENGINES FOR A HIGH OCTANE LOCATION. IT’S A SPOT THAT WAS ONCE SOMETHING TO DO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT FOR RAILROAD, RAILROAD WORKERS AND IT’S NOW A PIPELINE TO MAJOR LEAGUE RACING. FOR THIS WEEK’S SPOT, YOU CAN LOOK FOR THE OLD PLAQUE FROM 1965 SAYING ALL AMERICA CITY BOULEVARD. OR YOU COULD JUST LISTEN. THAT IS THE SOUND THAT FOR SEVEN DECADES HAS COME TO DEFINE THIS SPOT. THIS IS THE ALL-AMERICAN SPEEDWAY IN ROSEVILLE. AND IF YOU THINK THAT THIS IS A SPOT JUST FOR RACING FANS, THINK AGAIN. THIS SPOT IS STEEPED IN HISTORY AND A SURVIVAL STORY. AMID MORE AND MORE SMALL COMMUNITY TRACKS DISAPPEARING. YOU’RE SEEING THEM SLIP AWAY IN DIFFERENT PLACES. THE LAND IS JUST GETTING SO VALUABLE THAT A LOT OF SATURDAY NIGHT TRACKS ARE DISAPPEARING. BILL MCANALLY IS A FORMER RACE CAR DRIVER, CREW CHIEF PROMOTER WHO HAS BEEN LINKED TO THIS SPEEDWAY SINCE THE 1980S, AND HE’S SEEN THE HISTORY AND THE CHANGE FIRSTHAND. FIRST OPENED AT THE PLACER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN THE 1950S, THIS WAS A QUARTER MILE TRACK CALLED THE PLACER COUNTY SPEEDWAY, BUT IN 2008, THE TRACK WAS RENOVATED AND LENGTHENED TO A THIRD OF A MILE. OVAL. UNDERGROUND BILL UNCOVERED A FEW HIDDEN SURPRISES. WE WERE DOING CONSTRUCTION OUT THERE AND IN 2007 AND DIGGING THROUGH THE LAYERS OF THE TRACK, YOU COULD SEE WHERE IT WAS ASPHALT, DIRT, ASPHALT, TRACKS. SEEN A LOT OF THINGS. AND I’LL TELL YOU, SOMEBODY OUT THERE DRANK A LOT OF BEER BECAUSE I DUG UP A LOT OF OLD BEER CANS. SINCE THEN, THIS SPEEDWAY HAS HOSTED THE ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST, THE TOP REGIONAL NASCAR RACE ON THE WEST COAST IN 2023, NASCAR’S TOP BOSS EVEN RECOGNIZED THE SPEEDWAY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO RACING, AND LEADING UP TO THIS WEEKEND’S RACE. RACE CAR DRIVER ERIC JOHNSON JR ALSO NOTED, IF YOU COME TO VISIT WITH AN OVAL TRACK SO TIGHT, DON’T BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE TEMPERS FLARE ON THE TRACK. OH YEAH. YEAH, A LOT OF TEMPERS, A LOT OF ARGUMENTS. THE ALL-AMERICAN SPEEDWAY IN THE HEART OF ROSEVILLE MIKE TESELLE FOR EXPLORE OUTDOORS. AND THIS WEEKEND IS A PRIME CHANCE TO SEE THE BEST OF THE BEST. THAT RACE AT SPEEDWAY. THAT’S BECAUSE THE ALL-AMERICAN SPEEDWAY IS HOSTING THE ARCA MENARDS BEST OF THE WEST. NAPA AUTO PARTS 150 ON SATURDAY. GRANDSTANDS OPEN AT FOUR. DRIVER AUTOGRAPHS ARE AT FIVE. THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS AFTER THE RACE. TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. $35 FOR TEENS AND ADULTS, 25 FOR KIDS. THEY ALSO HAVE VIP TICKETS FOR $65, WHICH INCLUDES A BARBECUE DINNER. EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU’RE NOT INTO RACING ANY SPORT, YOU CAN SEE THAT CLOSE BECOMES INSTANTLY INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU HEAR IT AND YOU SMELL IT, AND YOU C

A few dozen yards off Washington Boulevard is a plaque, dating back to the 1960s, that commemorates Roseville's All American City Boulevard.But across the street is where the high-octane action happens.Roseville's All American Speedway dates back to the mid-1950s and has been recognized by NASCAR for its contributions to the legacy of community race tracks and for its survival over the decades."You're seeing a lot of tracks disappearing ... land prices are so high ... a lot are disappearing," said Bill McAnally, a former race car driver at the speedway.The track was originally one quarter mile long and named the Placer County Speedway.In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it hosted multiple Winston Grand National West Series events.However, McAnally helped lead a renovation effort that transformed the speedway into one third of a mile oval in time for the 2008.During that time, McAnally made some unexpected discoveries as the new track was constructed.To learn more about what he discovered, watch the story in the video player above.This weekend offers a prime opportunity to experience the speedway as it hosts one of its premier events of the racing season.The NAPA Auto Parts 150, which showcases raising stars in the ARCA Menard's Series West, drops the green flag on Saturday night.Ticket information can be found here."It'll definitely be entertaining," said Ernie Johnson who will be racing for BMR Napa Racing.

A few dozen yards off Washington Boulevard is a plaque, dating back to the 1960s, that commemorates Roseville's All American City Boulevard.

But across the street is where the high-octane action happens.

Roseville's All American Speedway dates back to the mid-1950s and has been recognized by NASCAR for its contributions to the legacy of community race tracks and for its survival over the decades.

"You're seeing a lot of tracks disappearing ... land prices are so high ... a lot are disappearing," said Bill McAnally, a former race car driver at the speedway.

The track was originally one quarter mile long and named the Placer County Speedway.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it hosted multiple Winston Grand National West Series events.

However, McAnally helped lead a renovation effort that transformed the speedway into one third of a mile oval in time for the 2008.

During that time, McAnally made some unexpected discoveries as the new track was constructed.

To learn more about what he discovered, watch the story in the video player above.

This weekend offers a prime opportunity to experience the speedway as it hosts one of its premier events of the racing season.

The NAPA Auto Parts 150, which showcases raising stars in the ARCA Menard's Series West, drops the green flag on Saturday night.

Ticket information can be found here.

"It'll definitely be entertaining," said Ernie Johnson who will be racing for BMR Napa Racing.

Explore Outdoors: History steeped in speed at All American Raceway

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