A piece of Salina’s racing history came back to life Sunday as the “Back to the Track” event drew 407 cars to the former Salina Raceway site, according to Shawn Jennings, who spearheaded the event.

The gathering was organized as a photo and history event, not a racing or burnout event. The former raceway site became a meeting place for classic cars, local racing enthusiasts, photographers, families and residents who wanted to see the old track remembered.

Salina311 spoke with Jennings following the event. He said the turnout and community response made the day a success.

“Thank you to everyone,” Jennings said. “The Salina Raceway staff that works so hard to put this event together for everyone turned out absolutely fantastic. We could not have asked for a greater day to do this.”

Jennings said the day carried historic meaning for those involved.

“I am so happy and pleased that we were all involved and we made Back to the Track such a historic day,” Jennings said.

The event was built around Salina’s drag racing history and the memories tied to the former raceway. For many who attended, the gathering was less about putting on a traditional car show and more about returning to a place that still holds meaning for Salina’s racing community.

Sunday’s event included car displays, photo opportunities and a focus on preserving the memory of the former track. Organizers had previously emphasized that the event was not intended for racing, but rather as a way to bring people back to the original location and recognize what the site once represented.

The event also included a food donation effort, though Jennings said the final amount collected was difficult to determine because of the size and pace of the turnout.

Jennings said volunteers collecting food did not arrive until 11 a.m. By about 10:30 a.m., he estimated there were already around 250 cars at the event.

When asked how much food was collected, Jennings said he could not provide a total. He said people used their own vehicles to take donated items to the food deposit location. He also said someone used his golf cart to collect items from attendees throughout the event and deliver them to the food donation vehicle.

Jennings said he was told the container being used for donations was full, though he did not personally see all of the collected items.

The food collection added another community element to the day, giving attendees a way to support a local need while also taking part in a historic gathering.

For Jennings and others involved, the 407-car turnout showed that the former Salina Raceway still holds a strong place in local memory. What started as an effort to bring people back to the track became a full-scale community event.

Sunday’s turnout also raises the possibility that “Back to the Track” may not be a one-time moment, but the beginning of renewed local interest in documenting and preserving Salina’s racing history. For one afternoon, the former raceway was not just an old piece of pavement. It was a reminder that local history is often still sitting right where people left it.