▁car ved ▁a ▁one - third ▁mile ▁o val ▁into ▁a ▁ber ry ▁patch ▁to ▁practice ▁driving ▁his ▁race ▁car . ▁He ▁and ▁his ▁wife ▁I rene ▁further ▁developed ▁the ▁facility ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁the ▁gates ▁were ▁opened ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁compet itive ▁event . ▁Gl enn ▁D onn elly ▁( origin ally ▁with ▁Ken ▁Er m iger ) ▁purchased ▁the ▁race ▁track ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 , ▁increasing ▁the ▁cl ay ▁o val ▁to ▁ 3 / 8 ▁mile , ▁and ▁creating ▁the ▁flags hip ▁for ▁the ▁Super ▁D IR T car ▁Series . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁D onn elly ▁sold ▁the ▁race ▁track ▁to ▁the ▁World ▁Racing ▁Group ▁for ▁$ 4 . 3 ▁million . ▁▁ ▁Since ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁the ▁speed way ▁has ▁been ▁owned ▁by ▁Al ▁Hein ke , ▁partner ▁in ▁Hein ke ▁Bald win ▁Racing , ▁and ▁previously ▁a ▁partner ▁with ▁Sk ip ▁Bar ber ▁at ▁L ime ▁Rock ▁Park . ▁ ▁Con cert s ▁In ▁the ▁early - 1 9 8 0 s ▁the ▁ven ue ▁started ▁hosting ▁major ▁concert s ▁by ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁biggest ▁bands ▁in ▁rock ▁music , ▁including ▁A eros m ith , ▁ ▁Sant ana , ▁Ste vie ▁N icks , ▁The ▁Beach ▁Boys , ▁Peter ▁F ram pton , ▁Neil ▁Young , ▁G uns ▁N ' ▁Ros es , ▁K iss , ▁Met all ica , ▁Bry an ▁Adams , ▁O z zy ▁Os bourne , ▁Van