Abe Slusky found the land just across the river from downtown Omaha in 1947 which became known as Playland Park. He built a large wooden roller coaster, many other rides and converted the closed dog track into a track for auto racing. Playland Speedway was thus born featuring midget auto racing. Midget racing turned into stock cars in the ‘50s and Playland Speedway was the hotbed of racing in the Midwest. Among the drivers that raced at Playland Speedway were Tiny Lund, Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame inductees Bud and Bob Burdick along with Bob Kosiski. Playland Park closed down from 1964-1967 due to Interstate 480 construction. Slusky spent 18 years stamping his style of leadership on the local, regional and national racing scene. Slusky died from a heart condition in 1970, but over the next six years Playland Speedway enjoyed huge success until 1977 when it finally closed. Slusky was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.