On September 5, 1927, the AAA National Championship visited the Altoona Speedway in Tyrone, Pennsylvania, for a 200‑mile contest on the 1.25‑mile high‑banked wooden board track. Cliff Woodbury claimed the pole position, qualifying at 136.3 mph, setting up a fast and competitive race. Frank Lockhart captured the victory, averaging 116.713 mph over the distance. Peter DePaolo finished second, followed by Babe Stapp in third, with Tony Gulotta and Leon Duray completing the top five. This race was a critical points event in the 1927 AAA championship season and showcased the era’s top drivers racing at high speeds on one of the premier board tracks of the country.
Following the September 5 event, the Altoona Speedway required extensive repairs to continue hosting races for the 1928 season, costing $30,000—a substantial investment at the time. The repairs were necessary to maintain the wooden track surface and ensure safety for drivers competing at high speeds. The event exemplified the excitement and dangers of 1920s board‑track racing while also highlighting the financial and logistical challenges of maintaining these iconic but deteriorating racing venues.
