Racing returns to Phoenix, AZ

[hizoot]

Firebird Raceway to be named Wild Horse Motorsports Park & will include both Lucas Oil boat & land drags including NHRA Mellow Yellow Pro event. The info. below is from NHRA.com.

NHRA has entered into a multiyear agreement with Sun Valley Marina Corp., a corporation of the Gila River Indian Community, to bring an NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event to newly named Wild Horse Motorsports Park outside Phoenix beginning in 2014

The track is scheduled to open in September and will begin running NHRA’s racing programs in October.
“We are extremely excited to announce today that the excitement of NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is here to stay in Phoenix,” said NHRA President Tom Compton. “Working together with the Sun Valley Marina Corp., the new management team, and the Gila River Indian Community, we look forward to staging NHRA Drag Racing at all levels of competition at the track well into the future.”
NHRA will announce the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule soon, but NHRA fans can anticipate the Phoenix event being held in its traditional place at the beginning of the season. The facility also will continue to host an NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series divisional event.

[Fuelish Spectator]

Hey Now...
Sure glad that the track did not go to waste... Is there any mentioned that Charlie Allen still involved with the track? Also
;D WOO HOO for the DRAG BOATS ;D ........................................................................................................... ;D WOO HOO for the DRAG BOATS ;D

[56150]

Any word on if maybe they will run Pro-mods there?

[hizoot]

Hi Fuelish,

I read a great article on bang shift.com about the transfer of the raceway but they took it down. However if I recall correctly Charlie Allen is not part of the new "Sun Valley Group" still that doesn't mean he's not involved in the park's competition & promotional duties (sorry for the vague answer). The real gray area is weather or not the Bob Bonderant school will still function as a part of the park..?

The good news for drag boat fans is that while the Gila Indian Nation can tear out a drag strip, what do you do with Firebird lake..? As a former member of the Firebird Boat & Ski Club, I can tell you that lake was built for just 2 activities #1 drag boat racing #2 tournament water skiing & that's it..! The new contract states that there is "no current limit" to the number of events that can be held at the lake (think about that) !!!

Hizoot

[hizoot]

Let's not forget pro-mods,

While there's nothing mentioned about pro-mods as a separate event, you must remember that they just signed the lease agreement for the park & the Lucas Oil/NHRA deals (the ink isn't even dry yet)..! The new agreement is between 3-5 years currently with options for more.

However in the meantime, let's not forget that the pro-mod class is growing like a wildfire in the Santa Ana winds. This year saw several pro-mods allowed at outlaw street events as the main feature..! Tulsa, OK & St. Louis, MO just held these successful events & the newly re-opened Island Speedway in NJ will host pro-mod racing in their pending street events.

My point is that like it or not, I believe pro-mods are here to stay..! While there's more of these events back east, both Phoenix & Las Vegas are prime markets for a pro-mod event as they're not as drunk on nitromethane like us Californian's (myself included). So just like Paul Revier, I don't where & when but the pro-mods are coming..!

Hizoot

[56150]

Well, I for one hope they do bring them. As much as I do enjoy the other classes, I would really enjoy watching the pro-mods. I hear all kinds of reasons why they aren't planning on bringing them to Pomona so I'd make a weekend out of it to go to Phoenix to watch them run.

[hizoot]

You're right 56150,

Don't expect to see any pro-mods at Pomona anytime soon for a number of reasons..!

In fact the biggest problem I see in pro-mod is a lack of organization which can make it harder to promote them at times. But before I ramble on about a subject I'm not fully qualified to speak on, I'll simply suggest that you keep an eye on the Vegas Strip Raceway & Sacramento Raceway web sites, I think that's your best bet...

Hizoot