Murfreesboro resident Steven Luboniecki reached a milestone more than five decades in the making in July when he visited Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana, for Indiana Sprint Week, making it the 100th different racetrack he has visited since first falling in love with auto racing as a child.
His journey as a racing fan, photographer, competitor and journalist has now spanned 55 years, taking Luboniecki to racing venues from Ontario, Canada, to Florida, from New York to Missouri, while covering virtually every level of the sport—from hometown Saturday night dirt-track racing to NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula One and sprint car competition.
For Luboniecki, the racing craze sparked in 1963.
“Our family went on an outing to Cimarron City, a Western-themed attraction near Monticello, New York,” he says. “When we got there, it was closed permanently. To appease my disappointment, my father stopped to ask what else was there to do. On hearing that Orange County Fair Speedway had stock car races that night, we made a beeline for the track.
“The roar of the engines, the bright colors . . . racing on a 5/8th-mile clay track—I was hooked.”
That childhood fascination eventually grew into a lifelong hobby. Today, Luboniecki has attended races as a fan, photographer, journalist and even a driver.
He’s been to Talladega, Bristol, Charlotte, Daytona, Indy, Atlanta and Pocono; his travels have taken him from the New York State Fairgrounds to the Orlando Dragstrip and dirt tracks and drag strips all over the eastern U.S.
Music City Dragstrip / photo by Steven Luboniecki
When asked about some of his favorite memories, Luboniecki told the Pulse: “There are so many—coming out of the tunnel to the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and facing that wall of grandstand seats, taking in the expanse of the place. Also that same day experiencing the original ‘Snake Pit,’ one of the most raucous group of fans ever.
“Then there was the time a group of us went to Watkins Glen to watch our first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix and see Mario Andretti race.”
In Tennessee, the lifelong fan has experienced racing at the Bristol oval and the Memphis Dragstrip, Winchester, Hohenwald, Hermitage, Twin Fountains, Clarksville and many other tracks.
Kyle Bush / photo by Steven Luboniecki
During his career covering motorsports, he has photographed races across North America and interviewed notables including Jack Roush, Kenny Schrader, Joseph Newgarden and legendary NASCAR artist Sam Bass, along with many regional stars and promising young drivers.
His experiences have also put him in the driver’s seat. Another favorite memory came during the Indy 101 Driving Experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he climbed into a real Indy car and reached 165 mph.
“My 16-year-old son beat me,” he said with a laugh. “He ran 166.”
Mark Day at Nashville Fairgrounds / photo by Steven Luboniecki
Luboniecki’s name appears on a commemorative plaque at Nashville Superspeedway as one of the facility’s original Legacy Fans, having attended opening day and remaining a season-ticket holder through the years.
He also attended the inaugural Music City Grand Prix, watching IndyCars race through the streets of downtown Nashville during that event’s first running, another of the historical racing moments Luboniecki got to witness firsthand.
Paraplegic Driver Mark Dowdy / photo by Steven Luboniecki
Now, the retired automotive manufacturing engineer, project manager and educator still enjoys attending and photographing races and following the next generation of drivers.
“A bit of a hobby of mine is seeking and following up-and-coming drivers, especially local drivers, female racers and those in development programs,” he said.
Kokomo Speedway / photo by Steven Luboniecki
As far as the 2026 visit to his 100th documented track, “The visit to Kokomo went very well,” Luboniecki said. “As with any dirt track, the dust flew in the main feature event.”
At the race and mingling in the tailgate area, Luboniecki said he met many nice fellow racing fans, and mentioned the occasion being a special day, being his 100th different venue.
“Almost everyone was excited for me, but believe it or not, some fans had me beat,” he said.
After 100 racetracks and countless races, he’s still looking forward to the next high-octane experience.
Young Chase Elliott by Steven Luboniecki
Reaching 100 tracks isn’t simply a satisfying personal accomplishment. Luboniecki hopes that sharing his passion for the sport and the milestone shines a light on keeping local racetracks across America alive and functioning.
Many of today’s NASCAR and IndyCar stars began racing at neighborhood speedways, and those facilities continue to serve as gathering places where families can enjoy affordable entertainment while watching tomorrow’s champions.
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Where to Catch Racing Near Murfreesboro
Middle Tennessee offers plenty of opportunities for racing fans to experience race action—from weekly dirt-track competitions to the thunder of NASCAR to hobbyist mechanics tuning up a project car on a drag strip.
Duck River Raceway Park
1100 Haskins Chapel Rd., Lewisburg
A favorite among dirt-track fans, Duck River Raceway Park features race classes including late models, crate late models, open wheel mods, street stocks, front wheel drives, enduro and other divisions on its high-banked, quarter-mile clay oval near the Wheel community in Bedford County.
Saturday night races continue through the summer with the Duck’s Big Deal weekend set for Sept. 25 and 26.
duckriverracewaypark.com
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Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway
625 Smith Ave., Nashville
One of America’s oldest continually operating racetracks, the historic Fairgrounds hosts major touring events throughout the season.
Upcoming highlights include the Bass Tire Family Night featuring the Pro Late Model 100 and multiple support divisions on Aug. 8, Autumn Thunder on Oct. 3 and All American 400 festivities, events surrounding one of the South’s premier Super Late Model races, Nov. 6–8.
nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing
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Nashville Superspeedway
400 Victory Ln. Dr., Lebanon
Middle Tennessee’s NASCAR venue hosts the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series each season. The 1.33-mile concrete oval has become one of the region’s biggest sporting attractions. The Superspeedway just hosted the Music City Grand Prix Indycar weekend in July, and the venue hosts driving experiences, Cars & Coffee meetups, manufacturer events and special motorsports activities throughout the year.
nashvillesuperspeedway.com
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Music City Kartplex
3225 Highway 231 N., Shelbyville
Many local racing fans still remember Twin Fountains Raceway, the paved track in between Murfreesboro and Shelbyville that hosted Saturday night stock car racing for decades before closing in 2023. The facility was later reborn as Music City Kartplex, a professional outdoor karting complex featuring a challenging road course that attracts racers of all ages—from beginners to nationally competitive drivers. Anyone can get in on the action at this quarter-mile oval and half-mile road track where the spirit of speed lives on. Visitors can get 8 minutes of competitive track time in a racing kart for $30. The Kartplex also hosts championship and league races.
musiccitykartplex.com
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Veterans Motorplex at The Rim
6801 Kelly Willis Rd., Greenbrier
Long known as Highland Rim Speedway, this classic Tennessee short track hosts racing every Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m. Veterans Motorplex aims to maintain a family environment—children as young as 8 years old can compete in the Bandolero division—with other categories including late models, legends, pure stocks, front runners and more.
highlandrim.com
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Middle Tennessee Dragway
680 Rock Springs Rd., Buffalo Valley
This 1/8th-mile International Hot Rod Association-sanctioned strip near Cookeville hosts street drags every Tuesday (weather permitting). The longtime destination for drag racing enthusiasts, formerly known as Buffalo Valley Dragway, also sees small tire, motorcycle, junior dragsters, nitrous, hard tire and specialty races and events on weekends.
middletndragway.com
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Ethridge Motorsports Park
29 Dooley Rd., Ethridge
This Lawrence County strip has attracted competitors from across Tennessee and Alabama for decades. The 1/8th-mile concrete dragstrip regularly hosts bracket races, grudge racing, test-and-tune nights and specialty events with upcoming race dates set for Aug. 8, 22 and 29.
ethridgemotorsports.com
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Bristol Motor Speedway / photo by John Harrelson / NKP / Facebook
Bristol Motor Speedway
151 Speedway Blvd., Bristol
Worth the drive for serious Middle Tennessee racing fans, “The Last Great Colosseum” out in the eastern tip of the state hosts NASCAR’s biggest stars twice each year and remains one of the most iconic venues in motorsports. NASCAR Playoff Weekend is set for the Bristol half-mile, with the massive stadium surrounding the legendary track packed fans Sept. 17–19 for the Craftsman Truck Series, Xfinity Series and the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in the NASCAR Cup Series.
bristolmotorspeedway.com
