From the 1960s through the 1980s, Catamount Stadium in Milton was a major center of racing in Chittenden County. Plans for a paved one-third-mile NASCAR-sanctioned oval track were made in 1964, and the newly built I-89 gave racers and fans easy access. Those involved in building the track and stadium included WDEV radio station owner and announcer Ken Squier, Jack Dubrul, Ray and Reginald Cooley, Gordon Fitzgerald, and Milton resident John Campbell. Its inaugural races were held on June 11, 1965, drawing 4,500 people. The track became known for the quality of its racing and drew attention from spectators and competitors near and far, including hometown heroes Bobby and Harmon "Beaver" Dragon, racers from across the Northeast and Canada, and national figures such as Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Benny Parsons, and Tiny Lund. Quebec’s Jean Paul Cabana won both the inaugural main event in a sportsman coupe on June 11, 1965, and the final major event, the American-Canadian Tour’s "New England 300," on September 27, 1987. Although Catamount Stadium closed in 1987, its memories, friendships, and influence remained alive in the Milton community and in many hearts and spirits.

Photo: Kevin Craft

Photo: Kevin Craft

Photo: Kevin Craft

Milton, Vermont · USA