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All things Drag Racing.
- Thread starter 500$k5
- Start date
After a 2026 season looked to be in the works for Jackson Dragway to save it from closing, news has posted that Jackson and River Road Raceway will close permanently!
Just over 3 months ago, we caught news of Tennessee-based tracks Jackson Dragway and River Road Raceway possibly closing after the 2025 season.
Then a couple weeks later, Jackson Dragway announced a 2026 season was in the works, with sanctioning from the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association).
Last Friday, both tracks announced that they would be closed permanently for 2026, and the foreseeable future.
There has been no explanation or further news of why the sudden change.
A lot of locals race there. Word is the owner/management is a hot head and got pissy about something. No one seems surprised/that upset.
IHRA / Cuttell Motorsports announces agreement to purchase Virginia Motorsports Park!
When the IHRA (International Hot Rod Association) announced plans in December 2025 to host a national event at Virginia Motorsports Park in April of their 2026 season, most figured it was just a matter of time before they would acquire the facility.
Those plans were finalized and announced today, as control of the 500 acre facility was passed from Tommy and Judy Franklin to the IHRA.
"Thank you to our employees, friends, family, media, sponsors and everyone that has helped pull off the events that we have had during our time here," said Tommy Franklin. "Lastly, just want to close with a huge thank you to every spectator, vendor and racer to ever support us along the journey and we hope to see that support only grow further.”
There are rumors of the IHRA bringing the former Atlanta Dragway back next, although nothing official has been announced yet. What do you think they will announce next?
Photos courtesy of the IHRA and Virginia Motorsports Park.
When the IHRA (International Hot Rod Association) announced plans in December 2025 to host a national event at Virginia Motorsports Park in April of their 2026 season, most figured it was just a matter of time before they would acquire the facility.
Those plans were finalized and announced today, as control of the 500 acre facility was passed from Tommy and Judy Franklin to the IHRA.
"Thank you to our employees, friends, family, media, sponsors and everyone that has helped pull off the events that we have had during our time here," said Tommy Franklin. "Lastly, just want to close with a huge thank you to every spectator, vendor and racer to ever support us along the journey and we hope to see that support only grow further.”
There are rumors of the IHRA bringing the former Atlanta Dragway back next, although nothing official has been announced yet. What do you think they will announce next?
Photos courtesy of the IHRA and Virginia Motorsports Park.
It's very possible, I can't rule out anything these days.
One thing I noticed in the interview he had was him constantly mentioning that only drag racing is not enough to sustain a business like this, you need to diversify, use the facilities for anything to generate money, he could also be thinking about using them for a year or 2 then switching to something different like data centers, I mean everything is going in that direction, which is not good for us
Stating that due to lack of racer participation and funding, the owners of Wilkesboro Dragway located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, has decided not to reopen for the 2026 season.
PC: Wilkesboro Dragway
PC: Wilkesboro Dragway
Are they planning data centers on the water tracks that IHRA are running their power boat series on?
Separate item. I hope it keeps going.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IHRA Surpasses 110 Sanctioned Tracks, Becoming Global Leader in Drag Racing Facility Sanctioning
Fairfield, OH — February 23, 2026 — We have officially reached 111 sanctioned drag racing facilities worldwide, marking the largest sanctioned track base in IHRA history and establishing IHRA as the global leader in drag racing facility sanctioning.
This milestone represents a 70 percent increase over last season and the most significant year-over-year growth our organization has ever recorded. Since December alone, 58 new tracks have chosen to join the IHRA family. This total does not include facilities recently acquired by IHRA.
The last time IHRA sanctioned 100 tracks was in 2012. Today, our sanctioned facilities span six countries, reflecting renewed global confidence in our leadership and long-term vision.
1320 was at the ice races again this year. We watched it last night, the ice was much softer. It's crazy watching them dig a 3-6" trench in one run.
I have not heard this before today.
Question: What were drag-racing cars called before they were known as “hot rods”?
Answer: In the 1920s and ‘30s, the pioneering prototypes of hot rod culture were called “gow jobs.” The first gow jobs were Ford Model Ts, but the more advanced Model A became the vehicle of choice in the late ’20s. “Gow” was a slang term for opium (among other things) in the crazy days of the Jazz Age, and at the time, the drug was believed to be used to hop up racehorses. Since the cars of the ’20s were only a generation removed from the horse as a means of transportation, “gow job” was an obviously cool name for modified high-speed cars. “Hot rod” was both a term and a notion still far in the future.
Question: What were drag-racing cars called before they were known as “hot rods”?
Answer: In the 1920s and ‘30s, the pioneering prototypes of hot rod culture were called “gow jobs.” The first gow jobs were Ford Model Ts, but the more advanced Model A became the vehicle of choice in the late ’20s. “Gow” was a slang term for opium (among other things) in the crazy days of the Jazz Age, and at the time, the drug was believed to be used to hop up racehorses. Since the cars of the ’20s were only a generation removed from the horse as a means of transportation, “gow job” was an obviously cool name for modified high-speed cars. “Hot rod” was both a term and a notion still far in the future.
You're reaching way back into your 30's to remember that Wade. Good to know you're not having memory issues!
That's what my Grandpa referred to his race car as. I think it was more of a dirt tracker than a hot rod but hey, it was before WWII and 30+ years before me so I never corrected him.
On Monday, The Kansas Motorsports Venue Protection Act passed with a vote of 120-0 and sent to Governor Laura Kelly to sign. It will become law immediately upon inclusion in the State Register.
The bill allows the 20 current tracks in the State of Kansas - both drag and circle - to have civil immunity against nuisance and property complaints by any property owner who has built a home or business within a five-mile radius after any track that has consecutively operated with no lapse in operations greater than four years.
The bill allows the 20 current tracks in the State of Kansas - both drag and circle - to have civil immunity against nuisance and property complaints by any property owner who has built a home or business within a five-mile radius after any track that has consecutively operated with no lapse in operations greater than four years.
Great news now only if more states would do that.
They need to do that for airports and shooting ranges too.
