History of Evergreen Speedway
Jimmie Collier spotted a beat up old dirt horse track with a few rickety wooden bleachers in 1954 while working as a telephone company lineman. Collier, an auto racing fanatic, went to work convincing Snohomish County officials to turn it into a place where he could race his Model T roadster. He succeeded, and the dirt on the 5/8 mile track was prepared for auto racing. Through the years, the track has seen many changes. Roadsters were the first cars to race on the original dirt track. "Hardtops" later joined in. The track was eventually paved in the early 1960's and the existing Figure eight track was built. The wooden grandstands came down to make way for the present covered structure which was completed in 1967.
Evergreen Speedway has hosted a variety of racecars throughout its history including Sprint Cars, Roadsters, Midgets, Figure Eights, Foreign Stock, Modified, Hobby Stocks, Jalopies, Limited Sportsmen, Demolition, Grand National, Winston West, NASCAR Northwest Tour, Super Stocks, Mini Stocks and Bombers.
Some of the top drivers who competed include: Ray Elder, Billy Foster, Hershel McGriff Art Pollard, Roy Smith, Tom and Jerry Sneva.
The first Promoter of the Speedway was Dick Norton. After his death, his wife Tina and son Rick managed the operation for a couple of years. The following four years were promoted by Jack McInstosh. A & P Sports (Bill Amick & Ted Pollock) took over the duties in 1968 and continued to promote here until 1976. During their reign, race fans saw the first NASCAR sanctioned race featuring Limited Sportsmen cars in 1968. The 3/8 mile track was built in 1973. The lease on the facility was then awarded to Sparky Taft in 1977. International Productions, Inc. (Bob Beadle, John Beadle, Mickey Beadle) acquired the contract in 1978 and have successfully promoted the Speedway to present time. Throughout this era, many improvements have been made, including a new lighting system that made it possible to hold night races on the 5/8, plus additional seating, cement barriers and signage.
Evergreen Speedway has hosted the "500", the richest and most prestigious race in the West. This $50,000.00 to win event attracted some of the best drivers in the country including: Bill Elliott, Derrike Cope, Chad Little, Sterling Marlin, Geoff Bodine, Ken Schrader, and the late Davey Allison.
From 1995 to 1999 Evergreen Speedway was instrumental in the beginning of the NASCAR Truck Series. Evergreen held the first and only 500 lap NASCAR Race in the Northwest and Bill Elliott won his first NASCAR short track race here at Evergreen.
Our good friend Jimmie Collier, died of leukemia in May 2002. Everyone on the car-racing circuit knew Jimmie as a champion sprint car owner in the former Washington/Oregon Racing Association and the Racing Roadster Association of Washington. Jimmie was one of the founders of the Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, a lifetime member of Sky Valley Racing Association, and a Hall of Fame member of Golden Wheels Racing Fraternity.
"Jimmie built a type of car which could be converted in a short time from a regulation sprint car to a roadster," Dan noted. "He was well known and loved by racers ... he would always do machining and repair work for them -- anytime of day or night." When he was 80, he drove a couple of high-speed laps around the Skagit Speedway track in Alger, but conceded that driving the fast cars made him a tad uncomfortable. A racecar Jimmie built with an aircraft engine is on permanent display at the Hilton Hotel in Reno, Nev. A cherry Pratt & Whitney nine-cylinder aircraft engine that used to be displayed not far from his pipe organ in the barn was donated to the Museum of Flight. Over the years, Jimmie donated several hand-built racecars to various charity auctions.
Special thanks to: Jimmie Collier Bud & Ardelle Kern Don & Virginia Perry Ted Pollock Dale & Gail Youmans.
