Same place, new name

K-C Raceway has reverted to its former name, Atomic Speedway. Track public relations manager Scott Wolfe, submits this for today's blog.


By Scott Wolfe

What is old is new and what is new is old," is a phrase that depicts a cycle of human nature. Jeff and Vickie Schrader, in the name of restoring the explosive nature of their K-C Raceway, have officially renamed the 3/8-mile track in Southern Ohio as "The Atomic Speedway."

"We felt that Atomic Speedway has always been Atomic Speedway,”Jeff Schrader said. “That was the name of the track when my Dad came here in 1953, and I grew up at Atomic Speedway. I appreciate all the work, the improvements, and personal care the previous owners of the track have done here."

A huge banner was unveiled on the track scoreboard with the new Atomic Speedway Logo developed by Brian Phipps of Graphic Creations.

In 1953 a group of Chillicothe businessmen realized a plan that had been in the making for several years. The group, which consisted of racing fans, drivers, and car owners, sought to provide a premier racing facility for the rapidly growing sport they knew as Stock Car Racing. It was a sport they lived and loved. It was the vision of this particular group of men that led to the construction of Atomic Speedway, which became known nationwide as K-C Raceway

Although the track was widened to its present state in the mid-1970's to accommodate higher speeds, the track still maintains its original configuration.

This group formed what became known as the non-profit organization of the Chillicothe Stock Car Racing Association or CSCRA, which previously sanctioned races at the Ross County Fairgrounds track. Their new endeavor, which began as a purchase of prime land off State Route 23 on Blaine Highway, became known as Atomic Speedway for its proximity to the new uranium enrichment plant at nearby Piketon, Ohio.

Probably none of the original members of the ownership envisioned that what they took on as a hobby would ever grow into what Atomic Speedway has become.

Almost immediately big-time racers from all across the Midwest wanted to test the Atomic High-banks. Drivers learned quickly that Atomic was more than the typical bullring; it was the Indy 500 of short track racing. Besides a wealth of drivers from the Ross County-Scioto-Pike County areas, Atomic was drawing drivers from Indiana and Kentucky as well as Northern Ohio and especially the Columbus, Ohio area.

The track operated under the sanction of the CSCRA until around 1978, and was known for the "Buckeye 100" and "Atomic 100."

After several changes in ownership, it became the property of Jeff and Vickie Schrader in 2009.