Watching the car races is Just a fun night outing with the family or a date night! Descent priced food! Just remember to bring ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones! read more

Ocean Speedway - Food line at the 2x monster truck show! - Amateur Sports Teams Near Me - Watsonville, California

Typical dirt track racing and all that goes with it. If you're from the southeast they do things a bit differently in regard to control over the track but it's still the same thing. Seating is bleacher type with a cover over the middle. The left and right are uncovered and allow smoking. The gate has an ATM but it's all cash no card. The pits are on the backside. The price of food didn't seem too high. I expected it to be more expensive. But the entrance tickets are higher out here but within the cost of living for California. I'll go back next year and I recommend it if your into dirt track racing. read more

We enjoyed the atmosphere of the races, it was an all American good time. My wife was in contact with someone who was in charge of the race merchandise and we will be there representing the next time we go to the races. read more

Taking the opportunity to update details for the 2023 Ocean Speedway season, as information are either outdated or lacking some clarity. First off, attended the May 19 races with some friends. First time attended. WHAT A BLAST! Here are some pertinent info updates: 1. Parking: FREE. The closest lot to the entrance is about a 100-yard walk. Bonus: You can tailgate prior to the races. Leaving the lot after the races: With a few hundred cars it seemed a little chaotic, but drivers were courteous enough to let folks merge in. Some of the parking lot lights were not working. There is also only one lane to get out to highway 152. But otherwise, it is easy to navigate. 2. Tickets: For this night pricing was $25 for adults, $15 for juniors (12 - 16) and $10 for 6 to 15. The little ones under age 5 are free. The most important thing to know about purchasing tickets is that it is CASH ONLY. There is an ATM machine right next to the ticket booth. Same cash only policy for the snack bars. 3. Seating and Grandstand Areas: There is one large grandstand with some 25 rows, with a fairly steep incline/decline. It spans the full straightaway. The upper half grandstand is covered. There are also two smaller seating areas on either side of the main grandstand. Be careful because If you drop anything behind the seats there is an opening that will suck down your phone, gloves, unruly toddlers, etc. Additionally, unless you want to get pelted by small dirt chunks when the powerful Sprint cars are on the track, you need to sit at least 12 to 13 rows from the bottom. These dirt chunks don't hurt when they get you, but it can be amusing. You are very close to the action on the track. It gets cold as the evening wears on. Layer up and add layers as the evening wears on. Gloves and hats are a good idea. Finally, the fans at the races were solid; down home, friendly, and great people. They would knowledgeably answer any questions for us rookies. Snack Bar: Most importantly, there are no beer sales this season. Asked folks why there was no suds, they were vague on the subject. Only cash at snack bar. Burgers are $9 - $13 each. Dogs (Regular, Chili, Corn and Polish), range from $7 - $9. They also have fries, chili fries and nacho cheese fries ($6 to $10). Best bet: The speedway allows you to bring your own food and drink (no glass bottles). No ice chests are allowed but I did see a few in the stands that night. Improvement suggestions: There is no merchandise table to purchase hats, shirts, hoodies, stickers, etc. This is a goldmine waiting to happen. Also, there is no online merchandise site. Track Operations: The entire racing experience is extremely professionally operated, hitting it out of the park on all accounts. All races, including qualifying and time trials were one right after the other, allowing literally non-stop action throughout the evening. Qualifying and time trials start at 4:30 and main events begin at 6 pm. The track itself is dirt and is about a quarter mile in length, which makes for some tight maneuvering for the cars. This makes things exciting at all times. It was nice to have the honorary singing of the national anthem and pre-race prayer (and I'm agnostic!) prior to the main events. There is a small electronic scoreboard/info display at the opposite end of the track, near turn three. You can track the lap count there. Minor Improvements Recommended: 1. There are no printable race info sheets (driver names, car numbers, etc.) when you enter the raceway. Also, there was no info of races on the Facebook page where first timers like me had to figure out things as they went along. 2. The Facebook site should have weekly race information, including general race times, the different types of races and explanations of the different class of cars with specs and FAQ's. Would have been cool to also include driver profiles for the more familiar names. 3. They need better advertising. I have yet to see any advertising in local newspapers or the weekly 'Good Times' rag. Also, the need for a merchandise stand onsite and online. Finally, do yourself a favor and check these Friday night races out sometime. It's a hoot on a major level! read more

See all

I had previously given a 4 star rating BUT.....1) Handicap parking is very limited AND not convenient at all. 2) There is no Senior pricing. (I ordered two adult tickets on line $67!). 3) The beer has gone up from $5.00 to $7.00 for a smaller amount. 4) The food concession went from great to HORRIBLE. In line for 50 minutes to get a burger with NO condiments (The condiment bar is gone). The racing itself is ok but NOT WORTH the price and the aggravation. read more

Here are my criteria for how I rate a dirt rack track: How is the seating/bleachers? Wooden bleachers with back support. Somewhat comfortable; however, Merced Speedway has same back support, but more leg room. How is the food? For a track, you will be surprised here. They have BBQ pit going with burgers, tri-tip sandwiches, grilled chicken sandwiches, dogs, and even chicken on a stick - my personal favorite. Of course they also have the typical junk food, but I appreciate that they went the extra mile to offer the fans something yummy. If you're in the pits, heads up - same selection is not available. Is outside food/beverage alllowed? Surprisingly yes. I still appreciate though that they let outside food in. Yes, the snack bar is good, but as a mom of little ones, I like the choice to bring in healthy little snacks for them without feeling guilty. How are the ticket prices? Fair. Sometimes they are a bit high depending on the cars racing though. Check the schedule for pricing in advance! What is the pit access like after the races? This is one of my least favorite things. The parking lot for fans is pretty far away from the track and even farther from the pits. So you can walk to the pits after the races (gate by track near restrooms will open) OR you can go get your car after the races and drive it in. If you walk, you will just have that much farther to walk back to your car once you are done visiting your favorite driver(s). How is the weather? COLD. No matter how warm the day is you can count on a cold evening unless is a RARE heat wave. I would highly suggest always dressing in warm clothes for this track and/or bringing blankets not only to sit on but to for bundling up. How are the announcers? Good, they sound professional and seem to know what they are talking about. As with any racing event, I always appreciate when and if they will explain things assuming there will be first time fans in the stands. How is the flow of racing? Decent, once they get going. How is the parking lot? Lot is FAR away and there is no place for handicapped parking clearly marked. Or if they have it, it's always gone. I have a relative with a permanent sticker and also my mom has a handicapped card as well and the parking is always an ordeal. If you need close parking plan to get here EARLY for something decent. Also, much of the lot is DIRT if you get there late. Lines are not clearly marked either so the dirt lot ends up being a free-for-all with folks making up their own spaces and sometimes folks have gotten blocked in. I also had a bad experience in this lot back in 2006 - someone hit my car (only a week old!) and also scratched it up pretty good. I had to make an insurance claim. Park at your own risk as you would at any track or sporting event. Try to steer clear of parking on edges where you might get hit by reckless drivers after the races. How are the bathrooms? Fair. There a lot of stalls which is nice. Never a line. However, the restrooms are far from the grandstands and if you are towing little ones it's a long walk with a toddler who is "holding it." Plan wisely with little ones. Bottom Line: If I could take a start off for being COLD, I would. But they can't control the weather so I won't. It's my main reason for disliking this track. I hate being out in the cold and I would rather be soaking up the warmth of the central valley tracks even though the food and program here is much better. Misc Thoughts: They seem to have gotten really strict on "in/out privileges." I have no clue why. There must be a reason but be careful of this - don't leave anything in your car you might need later. The promoter does a good job having kid-friendly events so check the schedule for free-kids night etc with extra activities going on. Be mindful, the lower seats can get really muddy especially with certain cars. Arrive early for higher seats. Another note is that for some reason at the track, the fuel burning in the cars really burns my eyes badly unlike any other track. I don't know why this is. Maybe it's the air or fog trapping in the fumes? I have no clue, I just know that my eyes burn really bad here and I don't have this problem at other tracks. So if your eyes tend to get sensitive, consider bringing protective eye gear. My purpose for writing dirt track reviews is to offer info for drivers/families who may not have visited the track before and have no idea what to expect! read more

Ocean Speedway - Oval dirt track racing. - Amateur Sports Teams Near Me - Watsonville, California

See all

This is a lot of fun, I highly suggest it, especially with family. I also suggest you bring headphones or ear buds with you, trust me. It gets loud. read more

My home away from home; I spend about half a years worth of Friday nights there racing every year, and I wouldn't rather be anywhere else. John Prentice is the man in charge, he's a good dude, and as fair as fair can be. The entirety of the staff are just great people, from Sam and Camille in the ticket stand (and running the show) to Doug at the tech line. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get in, the racing surface is very unique, and the track shape is deceptively complex; Kyle Larson says its the most underrated dirt track on the west coast, and I'd say he knows his way around a handful of tracks. Everyone is there to have a good time, and that's part of the experience. After the racing is finished for the night, the pits open up to the public, and everyone in the stands is urged to come to the pits through the turn 1 gate and interact with the race teams, some of whom have their own merch at their trailers. It's also worth mentioning that this place has the best gosh darn corndogs west of the Mississippi. Bring the whole family. I'd advise bringing safety glasses in case the track goes dry and dusty, and ear plugs for the kiddos or anyone with sensitive hearing, especially if it's a sprintcar night. They sell beer too, if that matters to you see you all at the track read more

See all

I love having a dirt track so close to watch sprint cars. I had to subtract a star because of the little bitch working the ticket counter. She has consistently been rude all of 2016. read more

Such a great venue! I hope they keep this place going. My husband and I keep coming back to this place to watch the races, it's definitely a great way to spend your Friday night. Great for first dates, family outings, etc. Make sure you bring ear plugs, safety glasses, and something soft to sit on for the benches. See you at the races! read more

The promoter leaves a ROAD GRADER ON THE TRACK during the races. It's tucked between 3 and 4 tight against the wall, but cars DO HIT IT! Totally inexcusable, deadly, and stupid. And I'm surprised the county doesn't close the track down for unsafe conditions. read more

Been coming here for years. Great people, great racing, cold beer and bbq. What more could you ask for? A lot of memories and great Friday nights here. Thanks guys read more

Always have a fun time at Ocean Speedway. Enjoy a beer and races with friends and family. Go get a chance to meet the drivers after in the pits. read more

I want to disagree with the ticket booth girl. I've known her for years and I don't have any idea what this other person is talking about. Maybe it him and not her. I can never see her doing anything that's not called for. She's The Best. read more