Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Found out today that Orlando Speed World, South Georgia Motorsports Park, Lakeland Dragway (FL) and Emerald Coast Dragway (FL) have switched to the NHRA. This is confirmed by NHRA.com. All of these tracks are owned by Ozzy Moya. What does he know that we don't? Thoughts? Jim


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Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Thoughts, ? The man owns 4 race tracks and would like to see more than 20 stockers and 15 Superstockers in his staging lanes. This is great news for the Snowbirds that enjoy the warm February weather in the south.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Used to love the snowbird races great reason to go to Florida in November December !!! Bring back an open in December !!!

Captain

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Wow that is good news I guess I will have to think about racing NHRA again.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Pretty much.

My guess is that the odds are good that Orlando and SGMP may get LODRS races next year.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I hope that doesn't mean Charlotte, Galot, and Rockingham lose their d-2 races! I guess time will tell.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Or Atlanta....

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Well, NHRA owns Atlanta.

The guy didn't come to NHRA with 4 tracks to not get some LODRS races. He'll probably get two.

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Alan is spot on. Not so sure GALOT would want another race after this years disaster. There are soooo few cars in D 2, they really depend on outside division racers to attract a decent car count.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

My bet is add Orlando and SGMP
Delete Galot and Atlanta will be a single

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I like SGMP, but I'd rather see a track other than Orlando get a race. Division 2 should really have a full schedule of LODRS races, at least 7, and maybe not so many in Florida. I don't have anything against Florida, but there are other states in Division 2 besides Florida and Georgia. Especially since, as my friend Mr. Derby City says, Division 2 needs cars outside the division to have a good count.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

YES ... now I don't have to move back to OHIO...lol

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If they can drop an open in Orlando and bundle it with the gville points meet and the gators, it works. They should have protected that schedule years ago instead of killing it.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I understand that was part of the deal. Jim


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Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I'm not going to lie I'm not exactly thrilled was just getting excited about some races closer to me. Those are 10 and 12 hour rides from here, oh well we'll see what happens.....

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

If they can't prep the starting line at Gainesville any better than they did this year, Orlando would be a welcome replacement!

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

We've spun more at Orlando than Gainesville, and we can hook in a car wash.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

The official announcement from Ozzy will be in the next couple of days. Orlando and SGMP will have points races in 2017. If you haven't been to Orlando in the last two years there are a lot of improvements waiting on you. All new burn out area and fresh concrete from wall to wall for 700 feet, new concrete walls, more track lighting, new paint everywhere etc. etc. This move by Ozzy and his company is great news for the sportsman racer! Alan I can promise you the track at Orlando is now one of the best hooking tracks anywhere!!! We were there yesterday testing a Pro Mod car on a Fun Day Sunday and went .961 60ft. 2.62 to the 330. SGMP was a nice track to start with but they have made improvements there also, you will not be disappointed racing at either of these tracks. The Emerald Coast Track is also getting a complete makeover and will be opening very soon. In todays world of tracks closing down we need to support the owners that are trying to keep this sport alive!!!!!

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Galot had a good race and one of the nicer racer tracks I have been to

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

our cobra jet hooks on either lane at orlando
Wade, Ozzy and the guys do a great job

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I have towed 8 hrs to Orlando this pass Feb. and tested there, if you spin there, you have a problem with your Sh@%, it is the smoothest track out there, glad they are getting a Div. there and SGMP, BUT one should be a OPEN, south needs one , Northeast has 5 of them. and all of them HOOK better the Charlotte this weekend, and that whole race was another story, Thanks Ozzy, later Brian

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I Agree as well, it. Our division is hurting bad for racers . it would be nice to have a races in areas besides FL....I know montgmery always comes and,goes every few years...I do wish it was a stable event!! I can't understand why we can't,have a div race at Huntsville like back in the late 90s-early2000s

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It cost the track owners alot of money to have a LODRS event. I would think some owners are not willing to risk it.

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Plus as Denny said if you add in the Alky cars (I know right now only Gainesville has them in D-2) then that adds onto the "rental" fee as the insurance goes up and I think the track actually pays the purse.

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I would like it if they do include SGMP and Orlando and GALLOT. I don't know why DIV2 packs the schedule so tight at the beginning of the season. (I know its to get the snowbirds that come down). I would like a little more consideration for people taking time off for races 3-4 weeks in a row. Space them out a little bit. I agree with having several if not ANY open's in the div. Our division has terrible marketing also. I say Orlando, then Gville, then the Gators, then SGMP then the rest of the schedule, Atlanta, AL, Reynolds, GALLOT, The Rock.

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Skip Gallot ...sorry, It's a nice place .... But they need to ad 1/8 mile of racetrack .

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A points meet on both sides of the Gators makes the trip from Minnesota worthwhile. Having the double at Atlanta was a real bonus. Hope Div. 2 does it again!

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Denny is right about the cost of a Divisional race to the track owner. When it takes nearly 400 cars as a break even point a lot of track owners will opt out for something more profitable. I'm not sure what NHRA charges a track for their Divisional program now, but before the Alky classes were turned to a regional series and made optional for track owners to run in conjunction with Divisional the Nut to crack was nearly 400 cars. It takes a lot of racer attendance for a track owner to pay NHRA and make money. NHRA may be listed as a 501C organization, but these events are definitely not for charity.

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Alan, You must not have been at Gainesville this year (2016) Both the points race and Nationals , the starting line had ZERO bite!! I did not race at Orlando this year, but I was there in 2014 and 2015 and the traction was GREAT!

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I was under the impression that Rich Schaefer was trying to pull in new racers that live in the d-2 area's outside of Fla. and Georgia. There are lots of IHRA racers that have started going to NHRA races because of having a few divisionals closer to the Carolina's. Look at stock and super stock this weekend at Charlotte. CJ McDonald was the winner and it was his first NHRA national...he couldn't have entered if he hadn't been to a couple of divisionals. Lynwood Daughtery made it to the semi's and this is the first year I can remember him ever running NHRA. (I'm sure he has at some point in the past) The car count at the Charlotte divisional was really good this year and I think Galot will be better within a couple of years because Mr. Wells will make it his mission for this race to be a success. The Rock should have a good turnout this year because of the timing of the event, it should be very fast! I just hope the division doesn't take steps backwards just because the track owner decides to come back to NHRA w/ all of his tracks.

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Ya Tracey, it should be fast at the Rock, until you are 1.000 under then it will hurt you, thats why Open's will help, for people wanting to go fast, i towed 1600 miles this summer for a open to set a record, ended up with 1950' of air, still went 1.20 under for the record, that is why i go to many open's i can now. be nice to have CLT again in the spring for div.race , then they will have 3 races on that track a year, could use again 50 more a year, then the traction might be better??????

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

So Tracy a guy buys four tracks spends millions of dollars on improvements, hires the right people to get the job done. Makes the tracks work, and you would rather race on a lessor track because its close to you. I just don't get it I have raced all over the east coast I remember some of northern D2 tracks that were a spin fest. I would rather travel 4 to 6 extra hours that has a two lane race track that the winners were not decided by the coin flip. I have skipped the Gainesville points race and the open there more than once because of track conditions. If drives me crazy when we as racers spend what we do, to go to a race and not have a level playing field.

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No I'm not saying that Denny. He deserves to get a race at one of the tracks but not all. And by the way I doubt he spent more than Bruton Smith at Charlotte or Mr. Wells at Galot as they spent millions also and believe me, these aren't "lesser" tracks and I have raced on both w/ no problems hooking. This is more about trying to increase car count in the division and bring in new racers. Rockingham on the other hand probably hasn't had a dime spent on it in years!

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Stephen,
Is Alabama International Raceway in Gadsden still operating?

JimR

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

I say pick one track run all 6 races in a week be done with it and save on fuel and time!

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I love that idea but even two races same track one weekend works well.
Your idea would probably put more money in NHRA pocket quickly.

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Yep the 2 at Gainesville and Atlanta worked good and saved a lot of racers money and some other races had a div race then a natl so you could just leave your stuff but that might be tooooooo easy

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Yes......

Re: Several Southern IHRA Tracks Switch To NHRA
 

Orlando Speed World Dragway, Lakeland Drag Strip, Emerald Coast Dragway and South Georgia Motorsports Park Join NHRA Member Track Network
9/20/2016

Four tracks owned by racing businessman Ozzy Moya, have joined the NHRA Member Track Network and all the facilities will be part of Division 2. Orlando Speed World Dragway in Orlando, Fla., Lakeland Drag Strip in Lakeland, Fla., South Georgia Motorsports Park in Cecil, Ga., and Emerald Coast Dragway in Holt, Fla., will join the Southeast division.

Orlando Speed World Dragway and The Lakeland Dragstrip are proud to announce their return the NHRA family. As two of the oldest continuously operating dragstrips in the state of Florida, the return will reignite a 50 year partnership for both facilities with the NHRA.

Orlando Speed World Dragway opened as Central Florida Dragway in February of 1966 and the Lakeland Dragstrip opened for business in April of 1970. Over their 50 years of existence, both tracks have seen some of the greatest racers in drag racing and have etched their history in the minds, hearts and communities in which they were born. They have seen world records, the triumphs and tribulations that are a part of racing, and created a new genre of street legal racing that has stormed the world. Generation after generation have come to watch, race and witness the awesome spectacle that is NHRA Drag Racing.

Emerald Coast Dragway is located 15 minutes west of Crestview, FL, and 35 minutes north of Ft. Walton Beach and Destin. The facility closed in November of 2011 and was purchased by Ozzy Moya and Bob Brown in 2016. The track is well known as a family friendly facility and has a loyal following of competitors. The track has been resurfaced, concrete guard walls installed, new lighting and PA system, new timing system, scoreboards and refurbishment of the popular electric plug-ins for the pits. Also the control tower has been rebuilt and modernized. A full schedule will be announced soon.

South Georgia Motorsports Park, a 350 acre facility, located north of Valdosta, Georgia, has long featured a full schedule of events for area racers. The multipurpose facility features a quarter-mile drag strip and a half-mile dirt oval. The track has played host to countless events including NHRA division meets, NHRA bracket finals, major drag radial events, SCCA road course events, multiple big money bracket races and car shows. The track is the home of NHRA Division 2 Summit Racing Series final champions five years in a row from 2009-2013.

“The sister tracks of the Lakeland Dragstrip and Orlando Speed World Dragway are happy to be back in the NHRA family as well as Emerald Coast Dragway and South Georgia Motorsports Park,” Moya said. “The past 50 years of history are only a gateway to the next 50 years of fulfilling the dreams that Wally Parks started and that every racer who has followed since have shared. It is good to be home again.”

“We happily welcome these four tracks into the NHRA Member Track Network,” said Rich Schaefer, Division 2 Director. “The passion and determination that Ozzy and his group brings to the NHRA and his family of tracks is second to none. We are excited to work with them going forward.”

As an NHRA-sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the track has the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge, where racers compete for the coveted Wally trophy.