Candlelight Stadium
Track champions included the late George Rice in the Midgets and Whitey Brainard during the Modified era.
Located at Evergreen Street and River Street, on the banks of the Pequonnock River, the old Candlelite Stadium hosted racing in Connecticut’s largest city.
A pair of fatalities marred the action including Alvin “Jeep” Colkitt and Mariano (Mid) Marozzi, which took place on October 7, 1947 and May 10, 1948 in the midgets.
March 28, 1954 - Hall of Famer Chick Stockwell cops the season opener, the first of four races under the SNYRA sanction (Joe Saleem/Vintage Racer)
The final race occurred on May 1, 1955 with Roger Bailey taking down the win. Fittingly, a Long Islander won the last event as the city of Bridgeport is located on Long Island Sound. With the roar of the mighty midgets at Candlelite silenced, progress moved in as the stadium was demolished to make room for a drive-in theater.
1951 Aerial Photo (CT State Library Collection)
Below is an aerial image of the present-day site: