Track History

Dirt Track Racing in Waco dates back to 1916 at the ½ mile Texas Cotton Palace Fairgrounds Oval. Racing was held at the Cotton Palace Fair Grounds until the 1940's. Racing moved from the cotton palace fairgrounds to the suicide bowl when it was built in the 1940's.

Photographs by: Fred R. Gildersleeve - "Courtesy of The Texas Collection, Baylor University"

The Suicide Bowl was built in 1946 by Joe Zeebro and dirt track racing was held at the speedway until 1955. The race track was closed due to the construction of the Lake Waco Dam. The track now sits submerged at the bottom of Lake Waco.

Once this occured the flag man for the suicide bowl Harold McCain made the decision to build and run his own track. Harold first leased property near Lincoln City which is just south of the current location of the speedway. He operated at that location for six years under the name of Heart O' Texas Speedway. Some of the biggest names is Waco auto racing history competed at that speedway. Racing ended at the original location in 1966 when the current facility was originally constructed.

Photographs courtesy of Gordon Woolley.

The Heart O' Texas Speedway holds the distinction of being the longest continuously operating speedway in the same location in Texas.

After purchasing 22 acres with Interstate 35 frontage just north of Elm Mott, Harold McCain built the new Heart O' Texas Speedway, opening in 1966. Harold promoted the new track through the 1980 racing season.

In 1981 Mr. McCain leased the track to longtime racing fans and HOT employees, Gene Adamcik and Richard Rogers. In 1983, this partnership exercised their option to purchase the speedway.

After the purchase was completed, a major investment was made to completely rebuild and update the concession and restroom facilities at the track. In addition, the adjoining seven acres to the south was purchased to expand the pit area and overflow parking.

These improved facilities, as seen today, helped to dramatically increase fan attendance and racer participation in the subsequent years.

At the close of the 1987 racing season, Richard Rogers moved to Austin and was replaced by Walter Stovall and Bill Adamcik, Gene's brother. Bad health caused Walter Stovall to retire from the speedway partnership a few years later.

Gene and Bill Adamcik continued to operate the speedway through the 2014 season.

Prior to the 2015 racing season, the Heart O' Texas was sold to racer, Jerry Frydrych from Austin. Jerry made major renovations to the pit and parking areas over the first two years ownership. The speedway's latest renovations was upgrading a majority of the seating at the speedway to aluminum bleachers. Jerry continues to make improvements to the speedway in support of its long running tradition and reputation of excellence.

There have been many track, regional, state and national champions that have graced the grounds of Heart O’ Texas Speedway in its more than 50+ years of existence. Many of the names of those drivers can be seen on the Wall of Fame located behind the grandstands at the facility.

Heart O’ Texas Speedway's current configuration is a ¼ mile, high-banked clay oval. The track is located seven miles north of Waco on Interstate 35. The speedway currently host racing events every Friday night from March through September and is beginning its 57th year of continuous operation in its current location.

Dirt track racers from throughout Texas compete in six weekly racing divisions: IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, IMCA Southern SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, Outlaw Street Stocks, Factory Stocks, and Jr. Limiteds.

The 2024 Season will see the speedway host special event classes to include: ASCS Sprint Cars, RaceSaver Sprints, Touring Outlaw Modified Series, MOD WAR 100, Brazos River Shootout and the Texas Shootout.

In 2024 the track will also Host the inaugural MOD WAR 100, Brazos River Shootout, and Texas Shootout.