New/old Drag Strip Opening Near Me

The Old Paducah drag strip is reopening this spring . It's been closed for years and was used as an air strip. The surface was ground and 2000' of asphalt put down, there is 150' of concrete at the starting line. It is my understanding this will be 1/8 mile racing. There is a informational meeting this Saturday at the track. If anyone is interested and needs phone numbers please let me know. I am not affiliated in any way with the track.

Keith Murt is one of the developers, some of you may have seen Keith attempting to qualify in top fuel dragster at several NHRA events last year. They qualified at one event and IIRC won one round.

The track is about 20 miles from me, so no more two hour drive to race .

Nice! Glad to hear of a track opening instead of closing.

Saw that Keith Murt ( top fuel racer) is one of the owners. His operations are always first class. Have some in-laws in Paducah area. Where in Paducah is the track? Might have to haul the car down this summer for a few races.

It's not too far off of I-24 at exit 11, the address is 4460 Shemwell Lane Paducah KY. If a person is looking for the drag strip and see signs for PIR, Paducah International Raceway (dirt track) follow them, the drag strip is next to it. They're calling it Beacon Drag Strip.

The first I ever went to a drag strip was there in 1968 to see the Little Red Wagon. It was big stuff for a 7 year old. I'm going to try and drive out there tomorrow and look around and maybe snap a few photos.

Thats great that old track is reopening, it's sure been a long time since it has, I grew up in that area and was at the track many times, cant remember but think it closed in 73 or 74? Do you know Justin? There and the old Halls Tenn track were the first drag strips I ever attended. I was back home in that area a couple of moths ago and I was told that a new track was opening in Paducah, but had no idea it was that track reopening. Cool Deal

I'm thinking 75 or 76, my brother had a 73 Z28 and my cousin had a 70 340 Cuda and there was always smack talk. We went to the strip and settled it, the Cuda put it on the Z everytime they ran .
I'll have to ask my brother when he had the Z.

I called Byron Edwards and he said it was sold and closed in 77.

It will definately be 1/8 mile and pit stall rentals will be $150-200 per year depending on if they have electricity or not.

Sounds good. Keep me posted on classes / races, etc. Saw on the web that they will be racing on Saturdays on a limited basis. I guess I'll have to come try it out some weekend or two. Thanks.