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Sundays! Sundays! Sundays! were for drag racing at Lakeland International speedway

By , Special to The Daily Memphian Updated: August 17, 2025 4:00 AM CT | Published: August 17, 2025 4:00 AM CT

“Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Lakeland International dragway! I-40 at Canada Road!”

Some are old enough to remember the booming voices of advertising spots in the 1960s and 1970s promoting drag racing every weekend in Lakeland. 

It might be hard to envision today, but the east Shelby County suburb was once home to the Lakeland International Raceway, which opened on July 4, 1960, and hosted its last race in 1979.

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Subscriber Only Lakeland International Raceway Lakeland The Lake District drag racing

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Michael Waddell

Michael Waddell is a native Memphian with more than 20 years of professional writing and editorial experience, working most recently with The Daily News and High Ground News.


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