Forgotten Omaha is a series of caches that will take you to the locations of iconic Omaha landmarks that have given way to progress, redevelopment, and the changing needs of a growing city.
Sunset Speedway opened at this location northwest of Omaha in May of 1957. The track was a 3/8-mile dirt oval with the grandstand facing west, giving patrons great sunset views, and the racetrack its signature name. Sunset Speedway quickly became a popular family attraction, and hosted Sunday night racing for 44 years until it closed in 2000. In the late 1990’s we played softball at nearby Kelley Fields and could hear the roar of the engines every time a race started.
As Sunset Speedway grew in popularity and reputation it featured Late Models, Modifieds, Super Modifieds, Sprint Cars, the World of Outlaws, and the NASCAR Busch All Star Tour racing. Sunset Speedway became one of the country’s premier short tracks in the late 80’s and early 90’s with crowds of over 4000 people packing the grandstand for Late Models, Grand National, and Pro Am racing.
Housing developments are creeping closer to the old track, but the oval shape can be made out on satellite imagery and you can still see the banked turns at the north and south end.