▁racing ▁series ▁held ▁in ▁October . ▁ ▁History ▁▁ 1 9 3 0 s - 1 9 4 0 s ▁ ▁In ▁late ▁ 1 9 3 7 , ▁car ▁owner ▁at ▁that ▁time , ▁Em m ett ▁Sh elle y ▁convinced ▁Williams ▁Gro ve ▁Park ▁O wner ▁Roy ▁Rich w ine ▁to ▁build ▁a ▁speed way ▁across ▁the ▁street ▁from ▁the ▁park ▁and ▁on ▁May ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁Williams ▁Gro ve ▁Speed way ▁held ▁its ▁first ▁race . ▁ ▁The ▁race ▁was ▁won ▁by ▁Tommy ▁H inners h itz . ▁ ▁The ▁speed way ▁ran ▁" big ▁car " ▁races ▁under ▁the ▁American ▁Autom obile ▁Association ▁( AA A ) ▁san ction ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁select ▁American ▁Motor cy cl ist ▁Association ▁( A MA ) ▁Pro ▁Fl at ▁track ▁races ▁in ▁its ▁first ▁few ▁years ▁of ▁operation . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁the ▁speed way ▁halt ed ▁operation ▁due ▁to ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁until ▁after ▁its ▁completion ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 7 , ▁a ▁year ▁after ▁the ▁continu ation ▁of ▁racing , ▁major ▁improvements ▁at ▁the ▁speed way ▁were ▁made ▁including ▁light ing ▁for ▁night ▁racing , ▁a ▁ped est rian ▁tunnel ▁at ▁the ▁entrance ▁to ▁turn ▁one ▁and ▁the ▁" f am ous " ▁bridge ▁across ▁the ▁back st retch . ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁the ▁American ▁Championship ▁Car ▁Racing ▁National ▁Championship ▁would ▁make ▁an ▁appearance ,