When was the track built?

Evergreen Speedway was established in 1954 on the grounds of the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. The original dirt track had previously been used for horse racing before local drivers gained permission to hold automobile events.

The oval was paved during the 1960s, and additional layouts were constructed inside it. This created an unusually flexible venue capable of hosting several different forms of motorsport within one stadium.

When did racing begin?

Automobile racing began in 1954, initially using the dirt horse-racing oval. The venue later became an important stop for leading West Coast stock-car drivers and hosted long 500-lap NASCAR races.

Three-time NASCAR champion David Pearson reportedly called Evergreen the Super Speedway of the West, a nickname the circuit still uses today.

What's the circuit like?

• Several tracks in one: The outer oval surrounds smaller courses, allowing the layout to change according to the event.
• Fast outer oval: The five-eighths-mile course has long corners and higher speeds than a typical local short track.
• Technical inner oval: The 3/8-mile layout has progressive banking, encouraging drivers to try different racing lines.
• Figure-eight intersection: Cars cross through the centre from different directions, requiring careful timing as well as speed.

What races here?

• Late Models: Powerful stock-bodied cars used for Evergreen's leading conventional oval races.
• Street Stocks and Mini Stocks: More affordable categories based more closely on production vehicles.
• Legends and sprint cars: Lightweight machines that produce short laps and rapid direction changes.
• Figure-eight cars: Several divisions compete on the crossing layout, ranging from entry-level cars to fast Outlaw machines.
• Drifting and special events: The complex also hosts drifting, autocross, demolition derbies and occasional monster-truck meetings.

Major events and benchmarks

• Summer Showdown: A major Late Model weekend attracting leading short-track drivers from across western North America.
• Figure 8 Nationals: First held in 1984 and now one of Evergreen's best-known annual traditions.
• Winged sprint record: 18.595 - Jeff Montgomery, 2013, on the five-eighths-mile oval.
• Outlaw Figure 8 record: 15.494 - Steve Durham, 2018.

Times from different layouts and vehicle categories cannot be compared directly because each course has a different length and purpose.

Why go?

Evergreen offers more variety than most short tracks. A single season can include traditional oval racing, figure-eight action, drifting and entertainment events, making it approachable for visitors who do not follow one particular championship.

The large covered grandstand also provides a clear view over most of the complex while offering useful protection from the Pacific Northwest weather.

Where's the best place to watch?

• High central grandstand seats: Best for seeing the complete oval and understanding how a race develops.
• Near Turns 1 and 2: Good for braking, overtaking attempts and cars entering the corner side by side.
• Near Turns 3 and 4: Watch drivers search for grip before accelerating onto the main straight.
• Opposite the figure-eight crossing: Best for following the timing and close encounters that define figure-eight racing.