Mobile International Speedway returns to life in 2021

A new promoter has taken the helm at the famed short track

Mobile International Speedway, a track located in Irvington, Alabama is set to return from the graveyard in 2021. It’s a paved half-mile oval.

The track was built by Walter ‘Skip’ Wetjen and it opened top race fans in 1965.

The short track hosted the NASCAR Southeast Series from 1991-2001.

From 2012-2015, the track hosted the ARCA Menards Series. Grant Enfinger won three of the four events.

In late 2015, the track was listed for sale. In 2016, racer Jason Smith attempted to purchase the track but that deal failed to come into play.

Later in 2016, the ARCA events went away and a NASCAR Pro Series event moved into the facility. The track hasn’t hosted a national touring series since.

For 2021, Gina Schild-Knowles has taken over promotions of the track. Gina previously rejuvenated Houston Motorsports Park. Ida Fields remains the current owner of the facility.

Lee Fields, the husband of Ida Fields promoted the track from 1972 until 1999. He passed away in 2000.

Schild-Knowles has signed on to serve as the track promoter. The duration of the contract last through 2021 with a future option to purchase the track.

She’ll be hands on with her new project. Gina Schild-Knowles and her husband Bo will live in a house on the property.

Mobile International Speedway
Mobile International Speedway

Gina Schild-Knowles

“I’m excited to be carrying on the tradition of great racing that Miss Ida and Lee Fields built,” Schild-Knowles said.

“The plan is to run it as a sister track to Houston Motorsports Park. I feel that if we sanction them identically, it will be a good thing.”

Houston Motorsports Park is a multi-purpose facility in Houston, Texas. The track features a oval as well as a drag strip.

“We want to see MIS and HMP thriving together, and to present exciting short track action for race fans on a consistent basis.”  

“Mobile has a rich history, and we plan to add to that history in the coming years,” Schild-Knowles added.

“It is a beautiful facility with a lot of room for growth. We think with some hard work and solid promotion, racers and fans will come back to enjoy it again. I’m anxious to get things rolling and excited to be working with a team of people who genuinely love short track racing.” 

“Working with Miss Ida on this deal to operate the speedway has allowed us to draw on her years of experience.”

“She’s offered guidance as to how to revive the place, which I value a great deal. She shared some great stories with me one evening, I can’t wait to hear more.” 

Ida Fields

“I still have a big piece of my heart in that track,” Fields said.

“My family means the most to me, but we had so many good years at the speedway. I’m very proud of what my husband accomplished in his years of running Mobile International Speedway. It was a big part of our lives for a long time.”

“I was very impressed with Gina when I first met her,” Fields said.

“She seems like a sweet, caring woman with a deep passion for racing and racers. I think she’ll do good things at the track. The racers have to trust you, and I think Gina will earn that trust. She’ll restore that faith in the community.”

“A lot of people still do feel good about Mobile. Every person I speak to about it has good things to say. They understand I can’t do it any more, and Gina has the experience and knowledge to get things headed in the right direction. I wish her nothing but the best in her efforts at Mobile this year.”

A new website is in development. Currently, they’ll use the Texas Short Track Racing website below to provide info.

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Mobile International Speedway

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