Memphis motorsports park

[bigsixman]

Does that leave Memphis without a local dragstrip? I know that there is 1/4 mile oval dirt track in W. Memphis AR. The Memphis area has been a good source for high performance parts mfg for many years. It's a shame for the area and racing in general to lose that quality facility.

[Chevy454]

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Does that leave Memphis without a local dragstrip? I know that there is 1/4 mile oval dirt track in W. Memphis AR. The Memphis area has been a good source for high performance parts mfg for many years. It's a shame for the area and racing in general to lose that quality facility.

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Yessir...there are 1/8 mile strips in Holley Springs, MS (about an 1? hour away), Newport, AR (hour or so?), there's that I57 strip up in the IL/KY/MO corner which would probably be a couple hours away, George Ray's hole in the wall in Paragould...but a decent 1/4 mile track is few & far between in this part of the world I believe? I mean, MMP has had "the big show" there with the NHRA Mid-South Nationals for a while now, and it always looked like it drew really well...MMP is on par with some of the nicest facilities I've ever raced at...and I can see why the railroad is interested, because it's nothing but industrial/ghetto around the track, which means the neighborhood SUCKS. You don't wanna stop for fuel until you've put some miles down...we had our truck/trailer shot with a bb gun by some "locals" after leaving the track one time...

[markjohnson]

Man Rob, that BB gun story really sucks, but I know the neighborhood you're talking about. I've seen you often mention Memphis before and I kinda assumed that was your "home" 1/4 mile strip. I feel for 'ya. Although Gateway is the closest track to my house, it's far from my list of favorites and I've become pretty fond of the little 1/8 mile dragstrips, even it means 2-3 hours on the road. Although I haven't been there in a few years, I love Ozark Drag in Rogersville, Sikeston Drag, I-57 Drag in Benton, Ill, Mo-Kan Drag outside of Joplin (now there's a 1/4 mile!) and there's also an 1/8 mile track in Benton, MO. that I've never been too. There was a pretty strong rumor of a "super" track opening in Columbia, MO. 'bout a year ago but I haven't heard anything in a while.

[bigsixman]

I agree with Rob and Mark on the neighborhood being pretty tough. I was there in 1995-97 for some of the classic NMCA shows. It's just such a shame to lose a facility of that quality as they're seldom replaced. It is nice to hear that there are at least some other tracks for fans and racers.

[BUIZILLA]

I thought NHRA owned that track?

[Chevy454]

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I thought NHRA owned that track?

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Nope, Dover Motorsports...they also own Gateway, Nashville, and of course Dover.

Ozark is "ok", but they desperately need to dump some money into that place, and it goes through owners on a regular basis...that same *bump* that tries to force you to change lanes right @ the line is still there, the pits are still horribly arranged and drit/gravel, and they've been forced to dial almost all of their 1/4 stuff back to 1000' or 1/8 mile. I've been hearing for about a year now that the Lucas folks are looking to possibly build a track on their complex over in Wheatland (north of Springfield, about 1 hour from Ozark)...they already have a crazy nize dirt track, and are in the process of building a HUGE several acre lake, which everyone is assuming is for boat racing? But, they haven't committed to a drag strip yet, and it would be another long haul for us...I do know they bought the HUGE national Labor Day race from our local circle track, which means without a big money draw their plans for a drag strip evaporated! Needless to say, I was crossing my fingers on that one...30 minutes from a drag strip would be like crack-cocaine to me, but...

[8500RPM]

I've heard that Nashville Super Speedway is going to complete the 1/4 mile strip on their property.