Atlanta Dragway Reportedly Sells, Expected To Close
While not officially a closed sale, NHRA reported recently that the upcoming Southern Nationals will be “the last”. The Atlanta Dragway is reportedly undercontract. Assuming the deal closes as expected, it is not expected to be purchased by a motorsports operator. The expectation and word from the NHRA is that the track will operate through the end of the year.
“This year’s NHRA Southern Nationals is the capstone on four decades of racing at this track,” said Kasey Coler, NHRA Vice President of Track Management & Operations. “We know that our 40th will be a celebration of the track’s renowned drag racing history and will be an event fans won’t want to miss.”
Regardless of when the doors officially close on the track, NHRA has already made it official at the event from NHRA premiere series will not be returning to Atlanta. Instead officials say they will invest in other tracks.
While this isn’t surprising, it’s still disappointing. Atlanta Dragway has been a fixture in the Atlanta car racing scene for decades. The Southern Nationals will be celebrating their 40th event this year.
When the track was listed for sale while they noted they tried to find an operator, it was also positioned as a “redevelopment opportunity” by JLL, the firm handling the listing. With a multi-billion dollar factory being built nearby and growth accelerating in the Commerce area it became increasingly likely the track would close.
Once Atlanta Dragway closes it will leave Silver Dollar Motorsports Park, a handful of 1/8 mile tracks and Atlanta Motor Speedways informal drag strip as the only Atlanta area drag strips.
