Grand National Auto Races

race track as the future home for the event. Merrick at the time, was the promoter for auto races at the fairgrounds in Hutchinson as well as his home track in Dodge City, Ks. The following year, (1958) the "Nationals" were moved to the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Ks. and re-named the "National Championship Jalopy Races." Kansas drivers would dominate the event for the first 14 years before a flashy young driver from Tulsa, Ok, placed his Jack Zink owned race car in victory lane in 1971. Emmett Hahn would be the first driver outside the Sunflower state to capture the crown. Hahn would go on to win a total of 3 titles carding wins in 1971 - '77 & '79. With the popularity of a fabricated full body car gaining interest across the country in the early '70's, Merrick added the Late Model division to the program in 1974 to join the advanced Super Modified's which had evolved from the Jalopies. Merrick remained the promoter of the event until his death in 1976. Ray Hall, General Manager and owner of 81 Speedway in Park City, Ks. became the successor to Merrick with the start of the 1977 season and continues to be the auto racing and motorsports promoter at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Hall's first priority was to give the event a new name. With two divisions now competing for the title since 1974, the new name would become the "Hutchinson Grand Nationals." After 5 years as the "Hutchinson Grand Nationals," Hall received a letter from NASCAR stating he would have to drop "Grand National" from the name of the event due to the fact NASCAR had a division and patent on those names. In 1983, the event became the Hutchinson National Auto Races. With the demise of NASCAR's Grand National stock car division over time, Hall again decided to change the name of the event to what it is today, The Annual Hutchinson Grand National Auto Races. As the event grew in popularity, new divisions were introduced to the event to accommodate other types of race cars and there fans. The 2015 event, which will be contested on July 24 & 25, will mark its 59th year as one of the most coveted titles in Dirt Track Auto Racing