Track History :The Mission Valley Auto Racers were organized in 1970 as a revenue generating enterprise for and on the premises of the old Pony Palace in Pablo. (The present day site of the Peoples Center (1999)). The next year in 1971 the MVAR became an incorporated, non-profit organization.
With the incorporation of the Auto Racers, officers were elected. Duane Olsen was president, Frank Arlint was Vice President, Bill K. Jones was Secretary and Doug Smith was Treasurer. Bob Lulow was the flagman. At this time, in 1971, the women were not able to join the organization, so they organized their own called the Mission Valley Auto Racers Ladies Auxiliary. At its inception, Janice Olsen was president, Janet Arlint was Vice President, Janet Lafrinire was Secretary and Jan Smith was Treasurer.
     The Speedway was a short quarter mile dirt track that ran North and South with spectator bleachers on the East side. Unfortunately, due to the bleachers location, fans had to contend with the setting sun and the west wind blowing dirt in their faces! Due to this the bleachers were moved to the west side in 1971.
        Regular MVAR classes that ran were 6 cylinder "C" Stocks and 8 cylinder Super Stocks. The cars had to be at least 10 years old or later. In the tracks second season, 1971, the car count increased considerably. The Modified's traveled up from the Missoula track several times that season. The Mission Valley Speedway continued in its original location through the 1973 season.
       In the fall of 1973, a new 3/8 mile facility was started in its present day location on North Reservoir road. The Job Corps under the direction of Wayne Hamel did the track work, with the MVAR members under the direction of then president Bob Dailey working on the concession stands. The speedway remained dirt for 2 or 3 years until approximately 1977 when the Job Corps laid a 2 inch asphalt lift on the track.
      This asphalt track endured 20 years of life, during which it was sub-leased to individuals a handful of times, closed for approximately 2 years, and ran the rest of the time by the Mission Valley Auto Racers.
      Then in the fall of 1996, with the help of the S&K College Heavy Equipment class under direction of Art Trahan and Dave Bick the life of that first asphalt track came to an end. The old asphalt was torn up, and the site was readied throughout the winter for the arrival of the new asphalt in the spring of 1997.