Maple Grove- IHRA

[65 Goatboy]

My first Nhra national event in the early 90's, the Goody's Midwest Nationals. I believe Gateway in St. Louis was not a Nhra national event track yet.

 

[z28]

I'm surprised there would be anything left of that track for IHRA to buy. It's been quite a few years since the last NHRA national event there.

Clay did a video there awhile back. It looks like not much changed

 

[tb]

My first Nhra national event in the early 90's, the Goody's Midwest Nationals. I believe Gateway in St. Louis was not a Nhra national event track yet.

Gateway was is AHRA track up until new owners in 1985, then went to IHRA. It became an NHRA track when Chris Pook rebuilt the whole facility in 1997, and has been since then. It is now owned by Curtis Francois.

 

[Joe]

Clay did a video there awhile back. It looks like not much changed

Clay was there when I rode with Larry Dixon in April of 21. An added bonus. His sister also.

 

[jgrigz]

From the videos I’ve seen recently it doesn’t look like anything is salvageable from the past. It’s going to probably be like Dragway 42 and US 131 and rebuilt from the ground up. It will be the same for Atlanta if that deal goes through.

 

[yoda]

The nice part is it's only 4hrs from Indy, so the teams for once will be saving $$$. On travel expenses

Meanwhile, the NJ/NY/PA market is now entirely chopped out of the schedule... LV is one race (which may not be a bad thing). No CO.
A serious question: Where does NHRA want to have its strongest market representation? In the past, TX, NE and PA have had truly done well as far as attendance. If GA was a winner, any smart organization would have been making moves to never lose the market.

Back to back to back races in the Rust Belt Midwest are ballsy; it'll be interesting to watch especially as the IHRA core location is in the same region as well as the SE.
BRING ON 2026, and let the gladiators get in the arena- only the strong survive.

 

[Jim]

IHRA runs on profits from a business with 10 years already funded

Is there any proof of this, or is it just an unfounded claim?

 

[Jim]

couldn't have said it better. the money was right to sell, but what could have prevented it?

Nothing.

 

[mick]

anybody know if MG was offered to nhra before the actual sale to ihra took place?
what other nat. event tracks might be in the same situation? i would think most,
including the rock, which has it's oval right across the street that might be for sale too?

boom! the rockingham oval sold to IHRA

 

[Mike]

This appears to be the oval, not the dragstrip, correct? In light of the recent NASCAR trial, if Cuttell starts buying speedways, that could foster an interesting NASCAR response. The announcement didn't mention the dragstrip that I saw.

IHRA Rockingham

 

[Ponyhntr]

This appears to be the oval, not the dragstrip, correct? In light of the recent NASCAR trial, if Cuttell starts buying speedways, that could foster an interesting NASCAR response. The announcement didn't mention the dragstrip that I saw.

IHRA Rockingham

Not the Dragstrip. Separate owners.

 

[Mike]

Kentucky Speedway
To add to the prior post, the above was posted on Reddit earlier today. A zoning change for KY Speedway, 1.5 mile track that hosted Cup races thru COVID.

The scanned letter does not mention IHRA, but I have to think if the facility gets sold, they could be a player.

 

[Rocket Man]

he's buying everything else. I am excited about IHRA for next year but this buying spree is almost unbelievable. A little bit scary. I hope he has the human resources to manage all these properties and orgs (drag boats, tractor pulling, stock car racing and some tie in with the PBR), not to mention the drag racing.

 

[ch streetcars]

he's buying everything else. I am excited about IHRA for next year but this buying spree is almost unbelievable. A little bit scary. I hope he has the human resources to manage all these properties and orgs (drag boats, tractor pulling, stock car racing and some tie in with the PBR), not to mention the drag racing.

I sure agree, at first it was just exciting , now it seems almost out of control. It's terrific to have these vacant drag strips being bought , but Drag Racing alone, is going to be a full plate.

 

[mgty3whlr]

he's buying everything else. I am excited about IHRA for next year but this buying spree is almost unbelievable. A little bit scary. I hope he has the human resources to manage all these properties and orgs (drag boats, tractor pulling, stock car racing and some tie in with the PBR), not to mention the drag racing.

I'm pretty sure he has all of his ducks in a row.

 

[Jim]

I sure agree, at first it was just exciting , now it seems almost out of control. It's terrific to have these vacant drag strips being bought , but Drag Racing alone, is going to be a full plate.

I still think it is all going to come crashing down. Buying too much too quickly usually leads to trouble.

 

[mgty3whlr]

I still think it is all going to come crashing down. Buying too much too quickly usually leads to trouble.

Again, Another one jumping to conclusions. Bet you don't know his financial portfolio. There are people that go on various forums, bitch and complain about how an organization or organizations are run and suggest how it would be better if they did this or that because they suck! Well, Maybe this has been a long time coming with Darryl, Sitting back patiently saving his money until he could make an impact on not just drag racing but all motorsports. Do you know how much money he has in his bank acct. right now? I sure as hell don't but it has to be a ****-ton more than you have.

 

[Jim]

Again, Another one jumping to conclusions. Bet you don't know his financial portfolio. There are people that go on various forums, bitch and complain about how an organization or organizations are run and suggest how it would be better if they did this or that because they suck! Well, Maybe this has been a long time coming with Darryl, Sitting back patiently saving his money until he could make an impact on not just drag racing but all motorsports. Do you know how much money he has in his bank acct. right now? I sure as hell don't but it has to be a ****-ton more than you have.

You are right. I do not know IHRA's finances. Neither do you. That's why I am skeptical. Let's remember that his personal wealth and IHRA finan es are not the same thing. Unless he has personally guaranteed any debt, he can walk away unscathed if IHRA were to go under. There have been a lot of acquisitions in a short time. We don't know the prices paid, the financing, etc. It's not as if there are no examples of businesses that expanded to quickly and went into too much debt to survive. He also to renovate and operate the properties, in addition to paying any debt on them.

There is too much happening too quickly to not be skeptical.

 

[mgty3whlr]

IMO, I would imagine he takes the renovation of the properties into consideration when purchasing them.

Think of this. Did everyone question every financial investment that Elon Musk has done with the response of this guy has stupid spending decisions and he's gonna fail or go bankrupt?

 

[ironpony]

IMO, I would imagine he takes the renovation of the properties into consideration when purchasing them.

Think of this. Did everyone question every financial investment that Elon Musk has done with the response of this guy has stupid spending decisions and he's gonna fail or go bankrupt?

Or Forrest Lucas no one ever doubted him spending money.............
Camping World
Any one stepping up for NHRA good, IHRA bad.
NHRA runs on handouts IHRA runs on business profits. Which is more sustainable in the long run ?? charity or hard work.