Firebird Raceway

[fatgump]

I received the email today, Firebird Raceway will close at the end of March. That's the end of NHRA in Phoenix.

[hotrod 80]

We are loosing an IHRA track to the east of Houston . They will only be running a select few races that are leased to outside promoters . Sad to hear your loosing sportsmen racing .

[Street Smart]

Terrible, we lost just lost Island Dragway in north Jeresy. Atco in south Jeresy just changed owners, hopefully it stays strong with the new people.

[Marv D]

Gump don't be too sure there. Charlie Allen owns the name 'firebird raceway' but the tribe is already in negotations with NHRA for a 2014 national event. They have a managment team in place to set up and run the track or install new managment. (they are very closed mouth about it obviously) Forrest Lucas (Lucas oil) has the drag boat venue (lake and stands) and also the new offroad facilities under renewed lease,,, and Boundarunt just signed a new multi-year lease with the tribe. It appears on the surface that the tribe is just looking to oust Charlie Allen. I say GOOD RIDDANCE. Allen forgort about grass roots racing and racers a decade ago. Treats us like the proverbial red-headed stepchild. You know I live in Casa Grande,, just 25 minutes from Firebird,, but I haul right PAST firebird another 80 miles to Speedworld in Surprise to race.

Wow,,, sorry to get off on a rant there just Firebird 'closing' and re-opening as Gila River Raceway or whatever they want to call it, is going to be a GREAT thing IMO. Might take them a few months or a year to bring the facility up the the standards NHRA told Allen to do 5 years ago (which he didnt so was about to loose the national event anyways) But I really expect this to be a GOOD THING!!! There is those that have the position that the tribe is incapable of managing the place. Ha,, look across the street at that new 1/2 a billion dollar casino and mall facility and don't think for a minute that they use Chief 'sit-on-the-curb-and-drink-beer' to manage these venues. I turely expect the same calibure of managment to take over the drag strip. That 'could' be a money maker if ran right. But Allen was charging $90 for a 11" piece of the pitside bleachers at a NHRA event. And the bathrooms were so disgusting my wife refused to enter and used the porta-pottys. You run OFF spectators and $'s when you treat the racers and spectators like that. A facility full of top NHRA racers with no spectators is a money loosing proposition!!!

Racers were used and abused, the facility was in dis-repair so bad that NHRA was pulling the event.. I think the Tribe made a good move in getting rid of Charlie Allen.

Wow,, again.. sorry for the rant

[bk2life]

i almost shed a tear when i saw firebird closing, but then i read the post from marv..

i too agree firebird has been givin to us in the pooper for many years! id love to be able to take my family and see top fuel everytime they come, but at 250 for my family, without refreshements or beer, its ridiculous pricing!!

bring on the changes..

but at the same time, i still enjoy headin out to speedworld, been going there since the original owner used the s1/4 as a landing strip for his plane..

[Bishops Trucks]

Old Dominion Speedway In Manassas, Va. ran their last season in 2012. From what I understand, the guy's that sold it are looking to build a triple treat (drag, circle and road course) somewhere in Va.

[fatgump]

Marv,

That is good to here. Thanks for the info.
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[hotrod 80]

Well , reorganization may be a good thing , loosing one forever sucks .