Milwaukee Mile
| America's Legendary Oval The Mile | |
|---|---|
Paved Oval (1954–present) | |
| Location | Wisconsin
State Fair Park 640 S. 84th St, West Allis, WI, |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (UTC−05:00 DST) |
| Coordinates | 43°01′12″N 88°00′36″W / 43.02000°N 88.01000°W |
| Capacity | Approx. 37,000 |
| Owner | State of Wisconsin |
| Operator | Wisconsin State Fair Park |
| Broke ground | 29 September 1899 |
| Opened | 11 September 1903 |
| Construction cost | $150 million (USD) |
| Former names | Wisconsin State Fair Park Speedway (1949–1989) Wisconsin State Fair Speedway (1903–1948) |
| Major events | Current: IndyCar Milwaukee Mile 250 (2004–2009, 2011–2015, 2024–present) Indy NXT Milwaukee 100 (1986–2001, 2004–2009, 2011–2015, 2024–present) Former: NASCAR Truck Series LiUNA! 175 (1995–2009, 2023–2024) ARCA Menards Series Sprecher 150 (1982–1983, 2005–2007, 2021–2024) NASCAR Xfinity Series NorthernTool.com 250 (1984–1985, 1993–2009) Can-Am (1987) USAC Stock Car Milwaukee 200 (1960–1980) NASCAR Midwest Series (2001, 2005) Atlantic Championship (1988, 1993–2004) Barber Pro Series (2003) ASA National Tour (1998–2000, 2004) X-1R Pro Cup Series (1997, 2008) NASCAR Southeast Series (1993–1994) |
| Website | milwaukeemileracing |
| Paved Oval (1954–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 1.015 miles (1.633 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | Turns: 9.25° Straights: 2.5° |
| Race lap record | 0:21.519 ( Scott Pruett, Reynard 97I, 1998, CART) |
| Infield Road Course (1955–present) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 1.800 miles (2.897 km) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Original Dirt Oval (1903–1953) | |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Length | 1.000 miles (1.609 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
The Milwaukee Mile is a 1.015 mi (1.633 km) oval race track in the central United States, located on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, a suburb west of Milwaukee. Its grandstand and bleachers seats approximately 37,000 spectators. Opened in 1903 as a dirt track, it was paved in 1954. In addition to the oval, there is a 1.800 mi (2.897 km) road circuit located in the infield.
As the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, the Milwaukee Mile has hosted at least one auto race every year from 1903 to 2025 (except during U.S. involvement in World War II). The track has held events sanctioned by major bodies, such as the AAA, USAC, NASCAR, CART/CCWS, and the IndyCar Series. There have also been many races in regional series such as ARTGO.
Famous racers who have won at the track include: Barney Oldfield, Ralph DePalma, Rex Mays, Ted Horn, Johnny Mantz, Norm Nelson, Rodger Ward, Marshall Teague, Frank Mundy, Don White, Parnelli Jones, Paul Goldsmith, A. J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Mario Andretti, Al Unser, Jim Clark, Alan Kulwicki, Rick Mears, Tom Sneva, Michael Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Kurt Busch, and Tony Kanaan.
On December 16, 2009, Wisconsin State Fair Park officials confirmed that the Milwaukee Mile would not host any NASCAR or IndyCar races in 2010. NASCAR confirmed that their June Nationwide Series date would remain in Wisconsin for 2010, as they announced they would hold a race at Road America for the first time since the Grand National Series raced there in 1956. NASCAR also announced on January 20, 2010, that the Milwaukee date for the truck series would be moved to August. The track hosted two ASA Late Model Series races in 2010.
IndyCar returned to the track in 2011, but the Mile was left off of the preliminary 2012 schedule after a poorly attended 2011 event that resulted in part from an inexperienced promoter. In February 2012, it was announced that IndyCar would return to the Mile on the weekend of June 15–16. The event was promoted by Andretti Sports Marketing, owned by former Indy driver Michael Andretti, and was billed as the Milwaukee IndyFest. The event included open-wheel racing featuring the IndyCar Series and the Firestone Indy Lights, as well as a driver question period and autograph sessions, music and other attractions. The series again left after the 2015 season when Andretti Sports Marketing went out of business. The track hosted no major professional races until ARCA returned in 2021.