Milwaukee Mile: The World’s Oldest Continuously Operating Motor Speedway

Nestled in West Allis, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Mile isn’t just a racetrack—it’s a living museum of motorsport history. Since 1903, this one-mile oval has been the oldest continuously operating motor speedway on Earth, predating even the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by a decade. But its origins trace back even further: built in 1876 as a horse racing track, it later became home to the Wisconsin State Fair in 1891 before cars took over the dirt surface. The first automobile race in 1903 saw Milwaukee native William Jones blaze a 50-mph lap in 72 seconds, setting the track’s first record.

For decades, horses and cars shared the oval, with groundskeepers constantly adjusting the surface—loosening it for harness racing and hardening it for speed contests. Safety upgrades finally arrived in the mid-1920s, with a concrete fence in 1925 and a cement wall in 1927. The track’s golden era in the 1930s saw the addition of 14,900 seats and the launch of Champ Car events, including a 100-mile race in June and a 200-mile race in August. The infield became a cultural hub too: between 1934 and 1951, the Green Bay Packers played occasional home games there, including the 1939 NFL Championship—a 27-0 blowout over the New York Giants.

In 1969, the same grounds hosted the Midwest Rock Festival, featuring Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, and Joe Cocker. The track was finally paved in 1954, and a major 1967 renovation added a pit lane and expanded paddock. The Mile thrived in open-wheel racing through the 70s and early 80s under USAC and CART, while NASCAR brought its Busch Late Model Sportsman Series (1984–1985, 1993–2009) and Craftsman Truck Series (1995–2009). A 2002–2003 overhaul added 40,000 seats and a new main grandstand.

After IndyCar left in 2015, the track found new life with ARCA Menards Series events, including the Milwaukee 150 in June and August. The Save the Mile campaign, active since 2008, has fought to keep the venue alive amid development pressures. In 2023, IndyCar hinted at a return, and in 2024, the Milwaukee Mile officially rejoined the NTT IndyCar Series. This August, the Snap-On Makers and Fixers 250 will mark its latest chapter—a testament to a track that refuses to quit.