Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event?

Mike Schwartz · 12-20-2024, 04:34 PM

As Capitol Raceway is my local track, it would be interesting to see if they could hold one of the major events with facility improvements.

Location:
Odenton (Crofton/Gambrills) Maryland, off MD-3 / Crain Hwy (Commercial four-lane dual carriageway)

Travel Distance:
Baltimore (23mi) Columbia (24mi), Silver Spring (27mi), Washington DC (27mi) Wilmington (88mi) Philadelphia (119mi) Richmond (136mi)

Staging lanes: almost 4000 linear feet

Track width: 50 ft

Shutdown: 1/4: 2600 feet, 1000: 2900 ft, 1/8 3200ft

Usable/convertible pit space: around 6-7 acres

Seating: Roughly 1500 currently, with room for expansion or temporary stands.

On-site parking: unknown

Noise issues: Somewhat better than Englishtown. Immediately surrounded by woods/industry/a quarry and scattered single-house wooded lots. There is a shopping center at 3500 feet from the starting line and two townhouse complexes at 1700 feet. Dense housing is 4-5000 feet away. The track is located on a hill above the built-up area.

Off-track support: A motel, and many restaurant, fuel, and shopping opportunities within a mile. At least 25-50 hotels within 30 minutes.

(Data estimates from Google Maps)

Steve Stasko · 12-23-2024, 08:56 AM

I stopped at Capitol on my way to MIR not long after they reopened a few years ago (2021). Really cool track, they had some interesting...processes...at the time. Fairly large facility, decent length shutdown, plus it's uphill. When I was there, they were using some funky portable timing system...Race America. It was giving me weird incremental times. Hopefully that is gone. I didn't have any problems with traction, they seemed to be using a good bit of glue.

The traffic on Route 3 can be downright ridiculous. If you don't know where you're going and miss the turn, you will play hell getting your rig turned around. It wasn't bad late at night leaving, but getting there on a Friday afternoon was interesting.

JP1738 · 12-23-2024, 09:33 AM

I dig it. It's an 8 hour drive for me with no traffic, but I could use a good excuse to see a new race track.

Greg Gay · 12-23-2024, 12:18 PM

Bellows Falls VT (426 miles of mostly miserable traffic)

j gardiner · 12-23-2024, 01:13 PM

Capitol would not do well with an IHRA race there. It is pretty much a test tune/grudge race track no, meaning they run a pretty loose program,Like the other fellow said it is in a heavily congested area and traffic can be a problem.

1320racer · 12-23-2024, 01:21 PM

The ghetto crowd

Mike Schwartz · 12-23-2024, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j gardiner

Capitol would not do well with an IHRA race there. It is pretty much a test tune/grudge race track no, meaning they run a pretty loose program,Like the other fellow said it is in a heavily congested area and traffic can be a problem.

They sometimes run no-prep races in the reverse direction starting on the top end.

Mike Schwartz · 02-06-2025, 02:35 AM

I found an event flyer from the days when 7's and 8's were good for a Funny Car. I haven't seen any pictures of the track itself from the 70's.

CMcAllister · 02-07-2025, 09:59 PM

Was there a long time ago, once. Never a reason for me to go back and a number of reasons not to. And it's not far for me.

MIR would be a better choice for the Mid Atlantic area.

12-20-2024, 04:34 PM	#1
Mike Schwartz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 533 Likes: 129 Liked 248 Times in 89 Posts	Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? As Capitol Raceway is my local track, it would be interesting to see if they could hold one of the major events with facility improvements. Location: Odenton (Crofton/Gambrills) Maryland, off MD-3 / Crain Hwy (Commercial four-lane dual carriageway) Travel Distance: Baltimore (23mi) Columbia (24mi), Silver Spring (27mi), Washington DC (27mi) Wilmington (88mi) Philadelphia (119mi) Richmond (136mi) Staging lanes: almost 4000 linear feet Track width: 50 ft Shutdown: 1/4: 2600 feet, 1000: 2900 ft, 1/8 3200ft Usable/convertible pit space: around 6-7 acres Seating: Roughly 1500 currently, with room for expansion or temporary stands. On-site parking: unknown Noise issues: Somewhat better than Englishtown. Immediately surrounded by woods/industry/a quarry and scattered single-house wooded lots. There is a shopping center at 3500 feet from the starting line and two townhouse complexes at 1700 feet. Dense housing is 4-5000 feet away. The track is located on a hill above the built-up area. Off-track support: A motel, and many restaurant, fuel, and shopping opportunities within a mile. At least 25-50 hotels within 30 minutes. (Data estimates from Google Maps)

12-23-2024, 08:56 AM	#2
Steve Stasko Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Western PA Posts: 455 Likes: 13 Liked 274 Times in 143 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? I stopped at Capitol on my way to MIR not long after they reopened a few years ago (2021). Really cool track, they had some interesting...processes...at the time. Fairly large facility, decent length shutdown, plus it's uphill. When I was there, they were using some funky portable timing system...Race America. It was giving me weird incremental times. Hopefully that is gone. I didn't have any problems with traction, they seemed to be using a good bit of glue. The traffic on Route 3 can be downright ridiculous. If you don't know where you're going and miss the turn, you will play hell getting your rig turned around. It wasn't bad late at night leaving, but getting there on a Friday afternoon was interesting.

12-23-2024, 09:33 AM	#3
JP1738 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 564 Likes: 1,599 Liked 1,169 Times in 331 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? I dig it. It's an 8 hour drive for me with no traffic, but I could use a good excuse to see a new race track. __________________ Dawson Pauley #2827 N/SA 1980 Malibu SW 2S 305/180 #2827 S/ST 1978 Mazda RX7 w/ 383 sbc/glide

12-23-2024, 12:18 PM	#4
Greg Gay Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 385 Likes: 21 Liked 283 Times in 70 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? Bellows Falls VT (426 miles of mostly miserable traffic)

12-23-2024, 01:13 PM	#5
j gardiner Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: waldorf Posts: 220 Likes: 14 Liked 53 Times in 28 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? Capitol would not do well with an IHRA race there. It is pretty much a test tune/grudge race track no, meaning they run a pretty loose program,Like the other fellow said it is in a heavily congested area and traffic can be a problem.

12-23-2024, 01:21 PM	#6
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? The ghetto crowd

02-06-2025, 02:35 AM	#8
Mike Schwartz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 533 Likes: 129 Liked 248 Times in 89 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? I found an event flyer from the days when 7's and 8's were good for a Funny Car. I haven't seen any pictures of the track itself from the 70's.

02-07-2025, 09:59 PM	#9
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 612 Likes: 16 Liked 915 Times in 257 Posts	Re: Capitol Raceway for an IHRA national event? Was there a long time ago, once. Never a reason for me to go back and a number of reasons not to. And it's not far for me. MIR would be a better choice for the Mid Atlantic area.