No Drag Racing in NYC – But Check out Other Cities

New York City is clearly not the place for those of you who are interested in drag racing. Sadly, the big apple just isn’t the place to to race your speedy vehicle. but some of the cities below might be good options.

It’s not a well known fact, but before Phoenix International Raceway Dragstrip (PIR) was even born, Mel Larson, and a few of his racing buddies, including the author of this article, opened Beeline Dragstrip out on Beeline highway (AZ-87) which was the only way up the hill to Payton, AZ. Beeline was about 18 miles northeast of Scottsdale, AZ, and anyone old enough to recall the trip; it was a partially graded two-lane highway offering the only access to the races. Back in 1966 that didn’t deter racing die-hards like early Funny Car names such as Gas Rhonda, Dandy Dick Landy, Doug’s Headers, Randy Walls, and Dick Harrell, and many more race stars of the day to attend and enjoy a jam-packed house at the 1963 AHRA Winter Nationals. Actually, the attendance was so large; it caused a traffic jam all the way back to McDowell Road. The old Beeline raceway was the spot for AHRA’s winter programs in the warm climate of Arizona that continued on from 1964 to 1974.

Today, Mel Larson’s original raceway (great for cars with performance parts) is located at Wittman, Arizona, now dubbed “Speedworld Dragway” by present owner Bernie Longjohn, and has the “claim to fame” as the oldest, surviving strip in the State of Arizona. However, big-time racing was still on the radar for several racing visionaries who cut a nice deal with Leo Radkey and Bob Huff, to operate some 1/8th mile races at a place in the western part of what is now metro Phoenix, calling it PIR; yes folks, the same Phoenix International Raceway of NASCAR fame we know today. Even though it looked like a good deal, the two entrepreneurs had to overcome dirt, cactus, and weather conundrums in the nearby Salt and Gila rivers. PIR is now one of the favorite stops for racing.