The end of Wild Horse Pass (Firebird) is here. (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

Chicago is back on the Lucas schedule this year and hopefully it will replace losing Houston next year. Isn't the Memphis track still there and being used? I think it's IHRA sanctioned, but I am sure a deal could be made if the desire to add a track is there.

What changed to bring it back to an active track?

 

[Pete]

Its sad that these staple tracks, such as "Firebird" will be meeting their demise, heck, we almost lost Epping this past year, but it just opens the door for other tracks...Tulsa, National Trail, maybe Chicago are possibilities. I heard a rumor that Bruton Smith is looking at building a track near Atlanta Motor Speedway, again...just a rumor. Two races at some tracks may be attractive also...Gainesville, Dallas and Norwalk seem to be candidates

Even though turnover sucks for those involved, it opens opportunities for others...

 

[Professional Fan]

Its sad that these staple tracks, such as "Firebird" will be meeting their demise, heck, we almost lost Epping this past year, but it just opens the door for other tracks...Tulsa, National Trail, maybe Chicago are possibilities. I heard a rumor that Bruton Smith is looking at building a track near Atlanta Motor Speedway, again...just a rumor. Two races at some tracks may be attractive also...Gainesville, Dallas and Norwalk seem to be candidates

Even though turnover sucks for those involved, it opens opportunities for others...

How about a second race at Indy. Would think that would appeal to the teams for cost and central location

 

[DanTheFan]

Second at Norwalk! Nice central location and great facility/show.

 

[mick]

casino gets new $180M tower complex. the casino complex is no further away from I-10 than the dragstrip.

https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/01/20/wild-horse-pass-opening-new-expansion.html

this is a rendering i found from a dragzine article from 01/2021........here's the 'new overpass'.
the only thing this 'new overpass' is accomplishing is an exit to a complete new urban development for the gila river complex.
here is another recent release. the article quotes, Wild Horse Pass Development Authority is excited to celebrate the final race of this storied racetrack, February 2023.
that could not be further from the truth. they can't wait to put shovels in the ground and erase the motorsports park. bring on the huge new tax free development.
the AZ dept. of transportation has NOTHING to do with the end of the motorsports park.

Sunbelt Holdings to Lead Expansion Plans at Wild Horse Pass

The Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA) announces the selection of Scottsdale-based legacy developer Sunbelt Holdings to lead the development efforts for the property’s 3,300-acre project known as Wild Horse Pass.

www.wildhorsepass.com

 

[mick]

and here it is again on the official wild horse pass development link.
you can see that the new interchange on I-10 will only serve new development on west side of hwy.
on the plan the east side of the interchange terminates for now, until future development on east side of I-10

Development

A New Chapter Begins! Wild Horse Pass Development Authority is embarking on a new journey with a new name: Gila River Development (GRD)! This change signifies our ongoing commitment to honoring the Gila River Indian Community and the vibrant history …

www.wildhorsepass.com

 

[Cliff]

I moved to AZ in 1981. The only track running was the old Tucson track, AHRA Winternats. then Firebird opened & old Tucson went away. Was sooooo happy Firebird opened, reminded me so much of OCIR. So, I guess we're full circle again. Tucson can handle a divisional race no problem but not a Nat'l event. Well I hope Tucson stays so at least we will have that track. Closest big track would be Vegas. I guess I'm like everyone else, disapointed Wild Horse is closing but not unexpected.

 

[tb]

Being from the Midwest and not living their to actually know what was happening, I was always under the Impression when the lease was not renewed with Charlie Allen and the name was changed, the track was on borrowed time and that the casino wanted the property for something else. That was what I got from just reading some articles that were posted about the facility. Was I reading that wrong, would like to hear from people that live in the area.

 

[tb]

What changed to bring it back to an active track?

If you are talking Route 66, that is kind of hard to explain, but here goes. The idiot promoters around NASCAR could not promote an event other than a Cup race if their life depended on it, with NASCAR shutting down Chicagoland Speedway they did not want to promote anything across the street, they own both Chicogoland and Route 66, I also heard they got into a pissing match with Joliet about rezoning part of the speedway. So they closed both properties down, their is a dirt oval at Route 66 that stayed open because they leased it out to a seperate party, I also heard they wanted to close it down but were threatened with a law suite over the rental agreement. The reason I say idiot NASCAR promotors is the Dover owned Gateway and basically closed it down because they did not get a Cup date, luckily Curtis bought it and kept it open. ( I told everyone in my racing group when Dover Motorsports goes out of business I will by lunch for all of them, and I kept my word. Dover sold out last Fall. Could not happen to a better bunch of A*****es) So really long story short is someone is leasing the drag strip for the division race. But also hearing some people are interest in purchasing Route 66.

 

[glofria]

Maybe they'll bring back Speedworld Raceway.

 

[jimbo]

Not that it’s a replacement for Wild Horse but National Trails has made a lot of improvements. They now have nice grandstands all the way down the pit side and are in the process of putting new stands down the spectator side.

The spectator stands were in bad shape when I started going there in the late 70’s. Way overdue but they have done a great job of bringing it back up to a top notch facility.

I would say with all the extra seating they must expect some big spectator events to be held there.

IMHO National Trail Raceway would be a long shot at best. Track was 2 short before their race moved to Norwalk, let alone now. Can't remember if they ever ran 1000 ft there or not, still wouldn't matter. Good for them though for improving their facility!

 

[ZWeinstein]

Being from the Midwest and not living their to actually know what was happening, I was always under the Impression when the lease was not renewed with Charlie Allen and the name was changed, the track was on borrowed time and that the casino wanted the property for something else. That was what I got from just reading some articles that were posted about the facility. Was I reading that wrong, would like to hear from people that live in the area.

Basically when Charlie Allen's lease was not renewed the tribe took over day to day operations of the facility. There was a rumor towards the end of the Charlie Allen days that he was going to take everything that was his and move it 10-15 miles down the I-10 but I dont think there was ever any substance to that rumor. There was always the whispers of the track closing but nothing ever seemed to have any traction until that development plan was leaked last year around the same time the 2021 nationals was cancelled that is when a lot of us figured the end was coming sooner rather than later.

It seemed like in later years the track's importance to the tribe kept falling further and further down the line. I worked for the tribe for two years in their casino and I can tell you first hand when going through orientation the president of the tribe came in and talked about the various attractions they had and not one word was spoken about the track. If you currently look at the tribe's website under enterprises the track is not listed. Im sure the decision to close the track and repurpose the land comes down to a strictly money move. Even if the track is still profitable and by all accounts it still seemed to be if they can make more money putting up a shopping center and commercial offices they were going to do it. I saw first hand in the casino nearly every major decision made with the bottom line being the first and foremost concern.

 

[drag racer]

I view this as role reversal of sorts. In the early 80s, there was hardly a pot to piss in on the reservation so to speak, and the racing facility was welcomed with open arms and basically put them on the map. The tide has turned since, as the tribe has made more and more money over the years from gambling and other entertainment, the motorsports has become a burden

 

[qualified17th]

GALOT Motorsports Park in NC have said that they have the room to expand to a quarter mile, and have considered it before. And if you've been there, you know that it's nicer than most tracks on the NHRA circuit, only thing preventing it from being on the Camping World circuit is it being an 1/8 mile track. With how fast the Raleigh area is growing, it'd be a good market to slip into

 

[Notch1320]

GALOT Motorsports Park in NC have said that they have the room to expand to a quarter mile, and have considered it before. And if you've been there, you know that it's nicer than most tracks on the NHRA circuit, only thing preventing it from being on the Camping World circuit is it being an 1/8 mile track. With how fast the Raleigh area is growing, it'd be a good market to slip into

I agree about Galot, beautiful track.

 

[Nunz]

Such a bummer to lose "Firebird" forever. Been to many events there over the years, from the national events to divisionals, FC shows, and the boat drags. I went to this year's Arizona Nationals and was thrilled to see the place pretty much packed all weekend. Myself, I don't love the idea of adding 2nd races to tracks like Gainesville or Indy. To me it dilutes the significance of those events, and it doesn't seem that you're likely to have packed stands twice in a season. JMO

 

[Rajunz]

Chicago is back on the Lucas schedule this year and hopefully it will replace losing Houston next year. Isn't the Memphis track still there and being used? I think it's IHRA sanctioned, but I am sure a deal could be made if the desire to add a track is there.

Alexis DeJoria stated recently that if Houston truly did go away, that they would proceed to build an NHRA National event track at COTA in Austin. That would be spectacular.

 

[mick]

I view this as role reversal of sorts. In the early 80s, there was hardly a pot to piss in on the reservation so to speak, and the racing facility was welcomed with open arms and basically put them on the map. The tide has turned since, as the tribe has made more and more money over the years from gambling and other entertainment, the motorsports has become a burden

the new found profits are not from just gambling and entertainment, it's called grant money.
also don't forget covid money (native gaming reaped huge rewards) all the while the counties lose taxable property, and the burden is on tax payers of the counties.........
the phoenix market is a tough one to lose. when you look at google earth and see just how far south the nhra track is, the last you think of is losing it, but low and behold
they are on reservation land and were from the beginning . time lapse on google earth shows the track with nothing around it until early 2000's the golf course was built,
and by 2009 the first casino was built. earlier post was rite on. not only way more money for urban development than operating a motorsports park, but the real story is
the uplifting of the quality of life for the band members of the gila river reservation. who do you think the new urban development is being built for?

 

[mick]

Alexis DeJoria stated recently that if Houston truly did go away, that they would proceed to build an NHRA National event track at COTA in Austin. That would be spectacular.

yes that would be spectacular. glad to see nascar and indy using cota as well. a truly world class motorsports facility. the addition of a nat. event dragstrip to cota
would be a crowning jewel for nhra.............back to phoenix. what about talking to nascar about the property that phoneix international raceway is on? or adjacent property
to compliment the oval facility? nascar could simply talk to bruton and ask him how he has fared with his dual venues in charlotte, bristol, vegas and sonoma.

 

[sammi]

Just another not so friendly reminder, in most cases (at least here in Southern California) that capitalism and pursuit of profit, not government overreach, kills race tracks.