Track History

2002 - 2005
The upgrades and facility improvements at The Milwaukee Mile starting in 2002 have been substantial to say the least. The bleacher seats were replaced with all-aluminum seating in the north and south terrace in 2002. In 2003, a completely new center grandstand area with 25,000 seats with improved sightlines, brand-new restrooms, concession areas and other fan-friendly amenities was completed, in time for The Mile’s centennial season, providing nearly 40,000 brand new seats at America’s oldest operating motor speedway. Not only was the facility enhanced, the amount of racing activity increased substantially.

The speedway’s infield underwent a transformation during this period, with a complete retrofitting of the infield road course, paving and widening the road course layout to 36 feet wide, offering greater usage of The Mile with a variety of course layouts. Increased car club and karting activity blossomed, in addition to corporate outings, factory roll-outs and police training activities. A non-tax supported bond also allowed the removal of older structures in the infield paddock to make way for new construction of a critical care/media building, new pavement along hot pit road, a new pit wall, and new scoring pylon which replaced the two-panel scoreboard dating back to the 1960’s. In addition, the paddock area was expanded to allow pass holders closer access to the action!

The first-ever Champ Car World Series night race took place at The Mile on May 31, 2003, with Michel Jourdain, Jr. streaking to victory under a well-crafted, temporary MUSCO Lighting system illuminating the historic oval. That year also provided a nighttime setting for the speedway’s popular NASCAR doubleheader weekend, with the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series moving to a Friday night, with the NASCAR Busch Series running under the lights the following Saturday night near the end of June.

In 2004, The Milwaukee Mile introduced season tickets and partial season ticket options and upped the major spectator weekend from two to four, doubling the number of events with the addition of the IndyCar Series and the return of the Governor’s Cup event weekends.

Returning to The Mile in 2004 after an 11 year absence was the United States Auto Club (USAC), with its proven Silver Crown and National Midget Series competing on the IndyCar Series weekend.  In ’04, USAC held it’s 172nd and 173rd sanctioned point races held at The Mile, won by David Steele and J.J. Yeley, respectively. They joined inaugural IndyCar Series victor Dario Franchitti and Indy Pro Series winner Paul Dana on a memorable open wheel weekend.

Grass roots stock car racers from Wisconsin and the upper Midwest found a home at The Mile on the speedway’s rejuvenated Governor’s Cup August weekend that has continued since 2004.

The ARCA RE/MAX Series was added to Champ Car weekend in 2005, bringing back the Midwestern-based stock car series back to The Mile for the 9th time, with 7-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel fittingly picking up the winner’s trophy in the series’ first visit to The Milwaukee Mile since 1983. Later that season, the first USAC Sprint Car Series event since 190 was held. Indiana’s Bobby East sped away to victory in the Parnelli Jones Classic, which was a prelude to the NASCAR Autozone Elite Division, Midwest Series 150-mile race, won by Alabama’s J.R. Norris.

Champ Car winners during these seasons were Paul Tracy, Jourdain and Californian Ryan Hunter-Reay. NASCAR Busch Series victors were Greg Biffle, Jason Keller, Ron Hornaday and Wisconsin’s Johnny Sauter in the Busch Series, with veterans Terry Cook, Brendan Gaughan, Dennis Setzer and Wisconsin’s Ted Musgrave picking up his second Truck victory at The Mile, making him the only driver to win more than one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at America’s Legendary Oval (2001 & 2004).

In 2005, Ohioan Sam Hornish, Jr. became a popular Milwaukee Mile IndyCar Series race winner at the same speedway his father and mother – who is a Milwaukee native - shared their first date. Hornish provided legendary team owner Roger Penske with his eighth pole position earned and sixth open wheel championship race victory at The Mile.

The 2005 Governor's Cup weekend was highlighted by a return of Wisconsin racing legend Dick Trickle, who started on the front row of the super late model race only to suffer suspension failure and post a 16th place finish in one of four races held that weekend.  Illinois native and short track ace Jeremy Miller capture two feature victories that weekend, as well.

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