Palm Beach International Raceway – Florida Road Course Guide
Originally published December 2016. Last updated October 2026: expanded Tier B circuit guide, facts table, table of contents, internal links, FAQ schema, and editorial refresh while preserving legacy images and story.
Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) is a multi-configuration motorsport park near Jupiter, Florida, combining an 11-turn road course, a quarter-mile drag strip, and a kart track. Opened in 1964, it built a national reputation through NHRA and IHRA drag racing while the road course hosted SCCA club racing, one Trans-Am round, winter testing for IndyCar and IMSA teams, and television shoots including Top Gear.
The venue never joined the Formula One or IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendars at the top level, but its near-miss to host the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1966 and the 2008 road-course rebuild make PBIR an important footnote in Florida endurance history.
Contents
Palm Beach International Raceway facts
| Location | Jupiter, Palm Beach County, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1964 (built by Joe and Edward Bucheck Jr.) |
| Road course | 2.043 miles (3.27 km), 11 turns (since 2008) |
| Other facilities | Quarter-mile drag strip; 0.8-mile kart course |
| Former name | Moroso Motor Sports Park (1981–2008) |
| Notable national events | NHRA/IHRA drag; Trans-Am (1983); ARCA (2010 one-off); USF2000 |
| Lap record note | Spencer Pigot — 1:12.783 (USF2000; compare within series) |
Control tower at Palm Beach International Raceway
1964 opening and first races
Contractors Joe Bucheck Jr. and Edward Bucheck built PBIR near the Pratt & Whitney engine factory. The original complex included a 2.25-mile road course and drag strip. The first NHRA event ran in October 1964; SCCA sports-car races followed on the road course in March 1965.
Sebring relocation plan
After the troubled 1966 12 Hours of Sebring, promoter Alec Ullman signed a contract to move the Florida endurance classic to Palm Beach as the Florida Grand Prix of Endurance. Reconstruction was budgeted at about $1.5 million, matching the original build cost, but weather delayed work and the deal collapsed. The race stayed at Sebring International Raceway, and PBIR remained a regional road course alongside its drag programme.
Rock concerts and festivals in the late 1960s and 1970s added pop-culture visibility beyond club racing.
Moroso Motor Sports Park signage (1981–2008)
Moroso Motor Sports Park
By the early 1980s the surface needed work. Dick Moroso bought the track in 1981, invested roughly $200,000 in repairs, and renamed it Moroso Motor Sports Park. SCCA and AMA events continued, and 1983 brought the only Trans-Am Series round, won by Gene Felton with actor and racer Paul Newman among the entrants.
Moroso marketed the venue as a winter test base for IMSA and IndyCar teams and launched the Super Chevy Show, drawing about 100,000 visitors over three days. Moroso died in 1998; his family kept the schedule of regional road-course races and national drag events.
The drag strip remains PBIR’s busiest competition surface
Drag racing and television
During 2001–2002 the road course gained additional chicanes. MTV filmed a drag-racing documentary in 2002; Speed Channel’s Pinks used the track in 2007; and the BBC Top Gear USA Special filmed at PBIR the same year. Commercial and music-video shoots had been common since the 1980s.
Map: Palm Beach International Raceway layout since 2008
2008 rebuild and new layout
Local investors bought Moroso in 2008, restored the Palm Beach International Raceway name, and closed the site for months to separate the drag strip from a new 2.043-mile road course. The layout reopened in October 2008 for club and regional racing.
ARCA held a one-off national round in February 2010, won by Justin Marks. Stock cars have not returned as a headline series.
Entrance to Palm Beach International Raceway
Club racing, schools, and testing
USF2000 visited in the 2010s; Spencer Pigot set the widely quoted lap benchmark of 1:12.783. Skip Barber and other schools run programmes on the road course, while mild winters again attract IndyCar and IMSA squads for testing.
Compare Florida club venues with Homestead-Miami Speedway, Daytona International Speedway, or Road Atlanta when planning a south-eastern track tour.
Onboard lap video
Visiting PBIR
Public events range from NHRA sportsman and professional drag meetings to SCCA and NASA track days. Check the official calendar for gate times and infield access rules, which differ between drag and road-course weekends.
Related reading
- Sebring International Raceway
- Homestead-Miami Speedway
- Daytona International Speedway
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
Address: 17047 Bee Line Highway, Jupiter, FL 33478, USA
Phone: +1 561 622-1400
Official website: racepbir.com
Photo credits: racepbir.com; floridatrackdays.com
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palm Beach International Raceway?
Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) is at 17047 Bee Line Highway, Jupiter, Florida 33478, in Palm Beach County, north-west of West Palm Beach near the Pratt & Whitney engine plant.
How long is the Palm Beach road course?
The current road course is 2.043 miles (3.27 km) with 11 turns, reopened in 2008 after reconstruction. The facility also includes a quarter-mile drag strip and an 0.8-mile kart circuit.
When did Palm Beach International Raceway open?
Local contractors Joe and Edward Bucheck opened the track in 1964. The first NHRA drag event ran in October 1964; SCCA sports-car races followed on the road course in March 1965.
Why was Palm Beach Raceway called Moroso?
Businessman Dick Moroso bought the tired facility in 1981, spent roughly $200,000 on repairs, and renamed it Moroso Motor Sports Park. The Palm Beach International Raceway name returned after new ownership in 2008.
Did Palm Beach almost host the 12 Hours of Sebring?
After the troubled 1966 Sebring weekend, promoter Alec Ullman signed a contract to move the Florida endurance race to Palm Beach, but weather delayed reconstruction and the deal collapsed. The race stayed at Sebring International Raceway.
Has Palm Beach hosted Trans-Am or ARCA?
Trans-Am visited once, in 1983, with Gene Felton winning. ARCA held a one-off round in February 2010, won by Justin Marks. Major international series have not raced here regularly.
Was Top Gear filmed at Palm Beach?
Yes. The BBC’s Top Gear USA Special in 2007 used Palm Beach International Raceway as a backdrop, part of a long list of television and commercial shoots at the venue.
What is the lap record at Palm Beach International Raceway?
Spencer Pigot set a widely quoted benchmark of 1:12.783 during a USF2000 race. Compare lap times only within the same series and track configuration.
Is Palm Beach mainly a drag strip or road course?
Both. NHRA and IHRA drag racing built the track’s national reputation, while the road course serves club racing, schools such as Skip Barber, winter testing for IndyCar and IMSA teams, and regional championships.
Related Posts