Ace Speedway is a 4/10 (.400) mile oval stock car racing track in Altamahaw, North Carolina. The track was constructed by Roy Maddren and opened in 1956 as a 1/3 mile dirt oval. In 1984, the track was expanded to a 3/8 mile dirt oval. In 1990, under the ownership of Fred and Jim Turner, the track was paved and was under the NASCARWinston Racing Series banner. In 1999, the track was re-expanded to a 4/10 mile paved oval, the pits was expanded and other stuff was added to the track such as new bleachers.
Currently, the track runs Late Models, Limited Sportsman, Modifieds, Mini-Stocks and X-Treme cars on a weekly schedule and has ISCARS, Mini-Cups, Flat Head Fords, Southern Ground Pounders, Mini-Trucks, Legend Cars and Bandoleros on a part-time schedule. Touring series such as CARS Late Model Stock Tour, PASS (Pro All Stars Series SLM), UARA, Rolling Thunder Modifieds as well.
In 2020, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper ordered restrictions to address the spread of COVID-19, including restricting outdoor gatherings. In protest, the owners of Ace Speedway held races that attracted large crowds of people.[1] Calling the race gatherings "dangerous," Cooper and then-Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) secretary Mindy Cohen ordered the race track to close and took the owners to court.[2] The local superior court judge issued a temporary restraining order, requiring the racetrack to be closed.[3]
In 2021, NC DHHS made a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the Speedway had no constitutional claims and that DHHS was immune due to sovereign immunity. Ace argued that the governor and DHHS had exceeded their constitutional authority and had denied protected rights based on the North Carolina constitution's clause that allows citizens to enjoy the fruits of their own labor. The motion was denied by the superior court judge, and was appealed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, who ruled that Ace had made sufficient constitutional arguments to continue the case, denying the motion to dismiss, stating, "Ace pled colorable claims for infringement of its right to earn a living and for selective enforcement of the Governor's orders sufficient to survive the Secretary's motion to dismiss."[4]
NC DHHS appealed that decision to the North Carolina Supreme Court, and arguments were heard in November 2023.[5]
The Mischa Sell Memorial race is a 74-Lap main race for Limited Late Model stock cars. The Memorial race was started in 2012 by David Sell to honor his wife's legacy and raise money to help fight cancer. The race is one of the biggest in the area for limited late models.
