Flat Track Builder Dennis Pearson: 1954-2026
Veteran track builder and flat track supporter Dennis Pearson has passed away at the age of 71. Pearson learned under renowned track builder Harold Murrell as a teenager before making his own contributions. Pearson built tracks for a number of racing disciplines, including flat track, Supercross, and NASCAR Sprint car events.
Pearson later worked for Progressive AFT, where he was known as "Dr. Dirt" for his work preparing racing surfaces. A celebration of life has been tentatively scheduled for May 30, in Oakdale, California, with another memorial planned for the summer in his native state of Michigan.
Begin Press Release: AMA Pro Racing Mourns the Loss of Former Track Builder Dennis Pearson Dennis Pearson and Sherry Murrell accepting Harold Murrell's Hall of Fame plaque. [Photo: Provided by Cheryl Pearson] AMA Pro Racing is saddened to learn of the passing of longtime track builder and flat track supporter Dennis Pearson. Born September 10, 1954, in Indian River, Michigan, Pearson was part of a family deeply rooted in racing.
His brothers Scott, Paul, and Gordon were all involved in competition, continuing a family tradition that spanned generations. After moving to California as a teenager, Pearson began working under renowned track builder Harold Murrell, at the age of 17, learning the craft of building and preparing race surfaces. Over the course of his career, he contributed to a wide range of racing disciplines, including flat track, Supercross, and NASCAR Sprint car events, helping construct and maintain tracks such as the San Jose Mile.
Pearson later worked within the Progressive AFT paddock for several seasons, where he earned a reputation for his dedication to the sport and its competitors. Known affectionately as "Dr. Dirt," he took great pride in delivering well-prepared, consistent racing surfaces, always with the riders' best interests in mind.