Steel City Raceway – Export, PA

Steel City Raceway, located just outside of Pittsburgh in Delmont, Pennsylvania, joined the international motocross map in 1987 when it hosted a round of the 125cc United States Grand Prix of Motocross. The first—and only—USGP at the track paved the way for Steel City’s debut on the AMA Motocross Championship tour the next year. It’s been a staple on the circuit ever since, and because Steel City’s race often serves as the final round of the tour, the track has hosted some of the most epic moments in the sport’s history.

The Bellora family opened the track in 1983. The Pennsylvania clan had a motocross background, and one son, Dickie, was one of the fastest minicycle pilots in the area. At the races, the Belloras often ran into the Coombs family, who ran High Point Raceway in Mount Morris, Pennsylvania. Eventually, the Belloras teamed with Dave Coombs Sr. to turn their family property into a motocross track, and together they formed a company called Bellco. The track patriarch, Dick Bellora, spent countless hours during the year shaping the jumps on the Steel City track. (Pro racer-turned-freestyle legend “Mad” Mike Jones eventually married into the Bellora family and for years, fans rolling through the track’s front gate could see Mike practicing tricks on his freestyle ramps.)

The Steel City track is favored by both riders and spectators alike. The soft Pennsylvania loam forms huge berms and deep braking bumps, and because the track is laid out in a valley, it creates lots of off-camber turns and gives fans nearly 100 percent viewing of the track from a variety of areas.

If the hills of Steel City could talk, they would tell stories of AMA Motocross Championship fights being decided at the last round. Jeff Emig and Jeremy McGrath squared off at the facility for the 1996 250cc National Championship, with Emig (now a SPEED TV color analyst) taking the victory. Travis Pastrana managed to overcome Stephane Roncada in the final moto for the 2000 125 National Motocross Championship. And the 2001 125cc National Championship final might have been the wildest ever, as South African import Grant Langston broke a wheel with just a few laps to go, opening the door for Mike Brown to win the title. Ten-time AMA Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael also completed the first perfect season in the history of the sport by winning here in 2002; James Stewart accomplished the same feat in 2008.

On the same Saturday afternoon in 2008 that Stewart was completing his perfect season, Ashley Fiolek finally toppled Jessica Patterson for the Women’s Motocross Championship, ending Patterson’s five-year reign in the WMA. For 2009, the WMA will return to Steel City, only now it’s Fiolek who will wear the #1 plate on her factory Honda.

And finally, the AMA Pro ATV Pro Open will make its third appearance at Steel City, taking place right after the last motorcycle motos go off. Last year’s AMA Pro ATV Open was won by Suzuki-mounted Chad Wienen.

Feature Venue Events
• Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship
• Loretta Lynn's AMA Amateur National Regional and Qualifiers
• ITP/Moose Racing AMA ATV Pro Motocross Championship
• PAMX Regional Series

2008 AMA Motocros Winners
• 450 class: James Stewart (Monster Energy Kawasaki)
• 250 class: Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)

SPECIAL EVENT FEATURES
• 450 and 250 Classes televised on SPEED
• Women's Motocross Championship – Final Round
• 3rd Annual ATV Pro Open
• Legends Lap featuring MX stars from the past
• Vintage Bike Show
• Live Band! 10 Man Push
• Friday: Racer X Fan Fest 4-7 pm, Open Pro Pits
• Friday Night: Pit Bike Race
• Amateur Motocross Racing Sunday
• Sunday: 2009 MX Sports Awards Celebration, Grand Concourse, Station Square, Pittsburgh