U.S. 30 Dragstrip 1954 Tank Top

By the '50s, drag racing was becoming more organized, largely due to the efforts of the American Hot Rod Association. Dirt fields sprouted bleachers and concession stands, and then beautiful paved tracks with safety fences and elaborate pit areas as drag racing became big business. Being a racing-crazy state, Indiana was not immune to this, and so a famous track was born in 1954 in Hobart, Indiana, just east of I-65 on the north side of US 30. For tourism purposes and making it easier for folks to find, the track was said to be in the much larger city of Gary, Indiana which was just a few miles north of Hobart. The track became a favorite for fans and drivers alike and quickly became known as the place "where the great ones run."