[MR DERBY CITY]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

Remember the comments from NHRA as stated in Dragzine. I hope they really meant this. I fear that they had no intentions to preserve racing in the area. We know that the upper echelon at NHRA has zero interest or understanding of sportsman racers. Follow the money,

Remember the laughable statement NHRA made when they changed the Atlanta date? They said it was done to consider the loyal fan base in the Atlanta area. None of this adds up.

This appears to be a sale with an accountant’s view and not one of an organization that has a responsibility to be stewards for the community and the sport.




“We are a sanctioning body, and we have a responsibility to preserve and protect the sport, and so our intention is to sell the property as a drag racing facility and to keep the Southern Nationals there, as well,” states NHRA VP of Marketing and Communications Jeffrey Young. “We need to invest in the Lucas Oil Raceway, in Gainesville Raceway, and in Pomona (which the NHRA leases) — drainage updates and upgrades to the facilities that we want to do on those three tracks. So we will use some of the proceeds of this sale to re-invest back into those tracks.”

As part of its initiative to ensure a continuation of drag racing operations at the facility, Young says the NHRA and its real estate partner fully intend to vet interested parties; at this time Young says it has not fielded any offers. A 2021 event schedule has already been released, and until a buyer can be found, Young says the Atlanta Dragway will continue to operate business as usual — including the Southern Nationals — until a transition to new ownership can take place.

“We want to keep racing in that area,” Young says matter-of-factly.

The NHRA likewise intends to maintain Atlanta Dragway staff in other positions within the sanctioning body and its properties upon its sale, or help facilitate a transition of that staff to the new ownership.

Atlanta Dragway was the home track for Coca-Cola, which served as the NHRA’s title marketing partner for 19 years before parting in late 2020.

Good point Jim, ...just like the PHOENIX track,...the WRITING is on the wall...even RAY CHARLES saw this coming....$$$$$$ always wins ....