History
The Prince Speedway Company of Chicago opened the one-mile wooden oval on July 25, 1915, with seating for 10,000. Ralph Mulford was credited with the August 1915 AAA race and Ralph DePalma won in June 1916 at 91.88 mph.
The track was dismantled in November 1917 and the land returned to farming.
Why it matters: Iowa's only board track from the 1910s speedway boom.
Timeline
- July 25, 1915Track opens[1]
The one-mile board track opened.
- August 7, 1915AAA race[1]
Rain postponed the AAA race from July 29; Ralph Mulford was ultimately declared the winner at 87 mph after DePalma was first named.
- June 24, 1916DePalma wins[1]
Ralph DePalma won the AAA race at 91.88 mph.
- November 1917Dismantled[1]
The track was dismantled.
The site today
| Physical status | Demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Cornfield[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Location | Valley Junction, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Venue type | board track |
| Sports | Motorsports |
| Level | AAA |
| Opened | July 25, 1915[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1917[1] |
| Demolished | November 1917[1] |
| Physical status | Demolished |
| Original capacity | 10,000[1] |
| Surface | Wood (board) |
| Owner / operator | Prince Speedway Company of Chicago[1] |
Sources
- Des Moines Speedway, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, owner operator
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.