Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed today announced plans for a 90,000 square foot expansion of its Lincoln, Nebraska, facility. The $10M project will be completed in two phases commencing this Fall.
Recognized earlier this year as the No. 1 Attraction for Car Lovers in USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice awards, the Museum is currently home to over 150,000 square feet of display space over three levels. The Museum’s current collection was the result of “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith’s personal involvement in racing and hot rodding, and their family’s lifelong passion for collecting and preserving racing and automotive history. Its mission is to present a continuous chronology of automotive racing engine and speed equipment development, and to preserve, interpret and display items significant in racing and automotive history.
Among its many unique displays are large collections of vintage pedal cars, gas-powered miniature race cars, automobile-themed toys, automotive art, lunchboxes and more. The expansion will showcase cars from the Darryl Starbird Rod & Custom Hall of Fame Museum; race vehicles from the Herzog Motorsports Collection; and collector cars from Eric Zausner’s E.Z. Spindizzy Foundation, among many others.
The Smiths started collecting in the 1940s, prior to founding Speedway Motors in 1952 — still a family-owned business run by Bill and Joyce’s four sons Carson, Craig, Clay and Jason Smith. To honor their parents, the Smith brothers have committed to match all contributions to the Museum in support of this expansion project. In addition to the in-kind contribution and donations of collections, the museum has received significant financial commitments from Herzog Motorsports, LeRoy Beyers and Speedway Motors.
“We are excited to expand upon the already popular Lincoln attraction and make it even bigger and better through the commitment from our owners and partnership with other museum supporters,” said Tim Matthews, Museum curator. “The new addition will allow us to add enhanced displays for NASCAR, off-road racing and growing our already popular land speed, drag racing and custom show car displays. We also plan to add more interactive displays for youth and families making it an immersive experience for the whole family.”
For more information about Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed, museum hours or displays, visit www.museumofamericanspeed.com.
