SAFE Circuit of Champions History

The SAFE Circuit of Champions stock car racing group (Society of Auto Sports Fellowship and Education) was formed in 1952 by race directors Harry Redkey and Charles Scharf. Its offices were located at 4501 West 16th Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its competitors were comprised of track champions from across the United States and Canada or any racer who had scored at least five hard top stock car feature events. The cars they competed in were strictly stock with absolutely no modifications permitted. Events were presented at both asphalt and dirt race arenas all across the lower forty-eight and in Canada normally before sell-out audiences. In 1954 a handful of SAFE events were co-sanctioned along with John Marcum's MARC Stock Car organization. In 1955 the SAFE All-Stars evolved into an only full-sized American convertible division, the first of its kind in auto racing history. At the conclusion of the 1955 season a merger was formed between SAFE and Bill France's NASCAR organization and the group would become what was known as the NASCAR Convertible Division. SAFE's 1955 point's titlist Don Oldenberg of Highland, Indiana would be recognized as the inaugural NASCAR Convertible champion. Following four years of successful operation the merger would bring about the demise of the SAFE All-Star Circuit of Champions.