Trends In Our Sport

[Gary Smith]

Bret, some of those in Cali are closed, or closing. Irwindale land just got sold, and the smart money says the new owners have already greased the pockets of local government to have it rezoned by late next year for major retail development. In 2011 at the March Meet, Richey Pauly had a long conversation about the fate of Pomona, and a similar land/lease arrangement with NHRA that could have the Winters and the WF relocated to Famoso. All eyes are on Fontana now as we wait the fate of Irwindale.

But the real trigger of my thinking wasn't just SoCal, but drive-in movie closings across America, and racing in Florida. In the 20 some years I lived there, 2 new tracks opened while 4 closed, one re-opened (Lakeland). I took a look at the Miami Hollywood Dragway tribute page on FB and saw so many familiar names that have left the sport, or parked their cars for various reasons, including economics.

Another point has been the decline in weekly bracket participation as that of divisional and national events (I would attribute to the current economic climate).

I must admit I was dumbfounded to discover Samoa and Redding were still operating as of this year, although Redding hangs in the balance as well.....http://reddingdragstrip.info/wordpre...3/11/RFP-1.jpg

It appears the "super track" era is on the decline...with no new facilities replacing those that have closed. But again, I wished I knew of compiled info.

[Bret Kepner]

I, too, didn't want to refer to any particular state. However, using the posted example, the fact remains California has twelve operating dragstrips as of November 23, 2013. As for the future, more will close and more will be built. The ratio can only be determined after the fact.

Florida also currently has twelve operating tracks with the addition of a new one just six weeks ago.

In most areas of the country, 2013 bracket racing attendance was higher than in the past eight years. The midwest had a banner season and not too many track operators are disappointed. The majority of suffering tracks are in areas of high competition among facilities. A track at which I regularly compete is one of nine dragstrips within a one hundred-mile radius, (eight are within a seventy mile radius!), but it, (and all but two of its competitors), did exceptionally well this season.

I'm not sure of your definition of a "supertrack" but there are now more National Event-style facilities, (seating capacity over 10,000), than there EVER were in the past.

Drive-ins, however, are not my forte.

Originally Posted by k.pascoe

...there are areas in the country where drag racing scene isn't doing well. Such as KCIR a major city with out now a operating drag strip.

Sure, KCIR closed. However, Kansas City still has two operating dragstrips within sixty miles. It could be two tracks worse.

[randy wilson]

Be real interesting to see how many spectators today, compared to the 70's, and 80's.