"The Speedplant"
West Virginia Motor Speedway, aka WVMS (or the Speedplant) is a five-eight’s mile dirt racing facility located along the Ohio River and Interstate 77 in Mineral Wells, WV. The #WorldsFastestDirtTrack’ is promoted by Cody Watson, a decade long motorsports mogul. The Mountaineer native with the support of speedway owners, PM Company of Vienna, WV have given the track new life as part of phase one of renovations. The speedway has undergone a few hundred thousand dollar makeover as it reopens in 2021. The track first opened in 1985 as a dominant figure in dirt track racing. The first ever race was held May 85′ and was won by Charlie Swartz. Since then the track has operated off and on with its latest stint, an eight year absence from competition from 2013-2021.
WVMS plays host to some of the largest dirt racing events in the East, including the all-new Historic 100 paying $40,000 to win. Additionally, a national $20,000 to win Sprint Car weekend dubbed the World Race of Champions. Perhaps best known for its “RaceFest” weekend that takes place every fall and will once again pay $20,000 to win.
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| Track Name: | West Virginia Motor Speedway |
| Physical Location: | Mineral Wells, WV |
| Mailing Address: | 2 Matheny Drive, Mineral Wells, WV 26150 |
| Telephone: | (304) 771-5051 |
| Email: | visitwvms@gmail.com |
| Website: | www.WVMotorSpeedway.com |
| Manager: | Cody Watson |
Track Info |
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| Size: | Five-Eight Mile |
| Surface: | Red Clay |
| Configuration: | Large Oval |
| Banking: | Turns – 14 degrees / Straights – 5 degrees |
| Year Built: | 1985 |
| Seating: | Permanent – 9,530 / Hillside – 6,000 |
| Parking: | Free in designated areas |
| Camping: | Pay lots around facility |
| Concessions: | 3 permanent stands |
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| Green | The green flag is waved to indicate the start of a race. The green flag will remain displayed during a race as long as the track is clear for full speed competition | |
| Yellow | The yellow flag is used when hazardous conditions are present on the track. Once the yellow flag is displayed, drivers cannot advance positions on the track. Laps made under yellow flag conditions do not count in the total number of race laps. | |
| Red | The red flag is used when track conditions become too severe for cars to continue circling the track. The red is automatically displayed any time a race car flips. | |
| Black | The black flag is a consolation flag, indicating that the driver must report to the pit steward immediately. The black flag is used when a driver violates a track rule or has an safety issue that needs checked before returning to the race. | |
| White | The white flag indicates there is one lap to go in the race. | |
| Checkered | The checkered flag indicates the race is complete. | |
| Crossed Flags | The flagman will take two furled flags and cross them to indicate to the drivers that the race has reached its halfway point. Half of the scheduled laps have been completed and half of the scheduled laps remain. | |
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| Track Packing | After water is applied to the dirt surface just prior to racing, track crews may call upon the help of ‘packer trucks’ to help iron in the racing surface by making several laps with their large tires. This process is known as track packing. |
| Hot Laps | Otherwise known as practice; these are laps given to a driver at the beginning of a race night, just prior to qualifying. |
| Time Trial | A timed lap(s) given to each driver. The results of time trials are typically used to line up heat races. |
| Heat Race | A short distance race (typically 8-10 laps), whose results are used to line up feature events. |
| B-Feature | Drivers who failed to transfer to the A-Feature event through their heat race are required to run a B-Feature. This is the last chance for drivers to advance to the A-Feature. |
| A-Feature | The main event for a racing division is called the A-Feature. This race is longer in distance, sometimes up to 60 laps in major events. |
| Pit Area | The pit area at WVMS is located East of the racing oval. This is the working area where teams are located on race night. An overflow pit area, located inside the infield is also used on occasion. |
| Driver Meeting | A meeting where drivers and officials meet before a race to discuss the upcoming event, rules, procedures, and any other pertinent information. |
| Banking | The West Virginia Motor Speedway is banked 14 degrees in the corners and 5 degrees on the straightaway |
| Cushion | As race cars continue to make laps around the track, they tend to push loose dirt up the track. As the dirt gets pushed up higher and higher, a ‘cushion’ of loose dirt develops. Drivers will often race their cars right up against the cushion. |