On 11 September 1903, the Milwaukee Mile hosted its first automobile race at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin, beginning an extraordinary chapter in American motorsport. The one-mile oval had originally been established as a horse-racing track in 1876, and the Agricultural Society of Wisconsin acquired the site in 1891 as the permanent home of the State Fair.
Chicago driver William Jones won the inaugural five-lap automobile speed contest, recording a 72-second lap at approximately 50 mph. The event established the Milwaukee Mile as the world's oldest continuously operating motor speedway.
For decades, the track remained a dirt oval before being paved with asphalt in 1954. It subsequently welcomed generations of racing stars and major series, including USAC, CART, NASCAR and IndyCar.
Among its legendary competitors was A.J. Foyt, who raced at the Mile more times than any other facility. The venue's remarkable longevity makes it a living link between America's earliest automobile races and modern professional motorsport.
