08/30/2026
The Unique and Important History of Portland International Raceway
The motorsports scene in the Pacific Northwest is severely underrated. In small tracks throughout the region, grassroots racing is alive and well. There have also been several drivers who hail from this beautiful area of the country that have made it to the big time. Names such as Kasey Kahne (18 Cup wins), Chad Little (Cup driver and Truck series managing director), Derrike Cope (1990 Daytona 500 winner), and of course Greg Biffle (19 Cup wins) all called this area home.
Perhaps the crown jewel of Pacific Northwest motorsports facilities is the 12 turn Portland International Raceway (PIR). At just under 2 miles in length, PIR has enjoyed a long history that has seen the biggest names in racing tackle its twists and turns. With events in Indycar, NASCAR, Trans-Am, Super Bike, and Formula E, the facility has proven to be incredibly versatile. The track is also the site for not one, but two of the closest road course finishes in Indycar history. Mario Andretti edged out son Michael at the line in 1986 when the latter had fuel problems, and a three wide finish took in 1997 that saw Mark Blundell edge out Raul Boesel and the late Gil de Farren to take victory.
However, prior to its life as a race track, the grounds now occupied by the circuit hold a fascinating history of hope, tragedy, and progress. In 1942, housing construction began on the land to support a nearby shipyard, one of seven Kaiser Shipyards facilities. Once completed, the community was home to workers from the nearby maritime facility where Liberty ships were routinely completed, and sent off to aid in the fight during World War II. The town, named Vanport, was home to around 40,000 people at its height. At the time, it was the second largest city in the state of Oregon. The population would drop significantly as the war came to an end.
As construction began, the nation was largely still segregated. However, recent desegregation laws attracted a large number of African-Americans to the region to work in the shipyards. These workers made up approximately 40% of Vanport's population. Despite racial tensions that were unfortunately common at that time, the community became a springboard into integrating the state of Oregon as a whole with residents becoming the first African-Americans in the state of Oregon to hold positions such as teachers and police officers.
This progress was literally wiped off the map on May 30, 1948. On that day, the entire city was destroyed by a flood that originated from heavy snowfall that was melting coupled with intense rains. This lead to the flooding of tributaries of the Columbia River that ultimately overwhelmed levees in the area. The flood was confirmed to have killed 16 people, however, the death toll was speculated to be as high as 102. The town of Vanport, completely destroyed in the disaster, was never rebuilt.
As the floodwaters receded, all that remained were the roads and a few residential foundations. Like so many racetracks (mostly in England), these surface streets were quickly utilized for motor racing. From these origins, the Portland International Raceway was born, evolving into the facility we see today.
As for the displaced residents of Vanport, they dispersed throughout the area, greatly accelerating de-segregation in Oregon in the process. National Urban League director Lester Granger, a crucial figure of the early Civil Rights movement, postulated that the destruction of the city was a catalyst to further integration throughout the state. Perhaps it is fitting that the first ever NASCAR race to have two African-American drivers (Bill Lester and Bobby Northfleet in a 1999 Truck race) took place at PIR.
So come along with us as we take on the Portland International Raceway. 110 Laps in the current Indycar vehicles on the way after race day qualifying takes place. The action kicks off on August 30 at 4pm Pacific time on the Majors Series YouTube channel.
The Majors Series Americas Region heads to the Pacific Northwest fo...
