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S.R.C.A. Dragstrip

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Track Shape:

Drag Strip

Track Legnth:

1/4 mi

Surface Type:

Asphalt

Address:
Great Bend, KS 67530, Kansas, USA 67530
Description:

City of Great Bend acquired the B29 Army Air Force Base from the military after it was declared surplus in 1946.

The first race was held May 12, 1953. Sunflower Rod and Custom Association (SRCA) was formed January 19, 1954, and joined NHRA in April 1955.

The Great Bend Chamber of Commerce on behalf of SRCA wrote a letter to Wally Parks requesting that Great Bend, KS be the site for the FIRST National Event. NHRA said YES and this race would establish the official acceleration records for stand and start quarter mile racing.

The first nationals started with 219 cars and 15,000 spectators. Art Chrisman ran 146.16 MPH and Lloyd Scott set a new speed record for American drag racing at 151 MPH. In 1956, the one year old AHRA said they would like to have their first National event at Great Bend on the 8000 foot long track and did so until 1959.

Don Garlits won his first National title in 1958 driving Swamp Rat and Chris Karamesines won over Eddie Hill in 1959. In 1960 the President of AHRA moved the event to Kansas City International Raceway.

The club ran races after that and as time went on they slowly fell away from running the track and disbanded. In 1993 the club reorganized and went back to the original name of Sunflower Rod and Custom Association. They did this to help in maintaining the track. It was pursued to have it recognized as a Kansas Historical Site and in 1994 was successful. At the same time the track went back to its original name of SRCA Dragstrip, for which it is registered. The facility is now eligible to be registered nationally. In 2000 the track was resurfaced with a grant from KDOT. In 2003 a new Compu-Link timing system was installed with new timing scoreboards. That same year a new concession stand with showers was also built. In 2010 a new tower with a meeting room was constructed and 1320 GO LIVE TIMING installed. In 2011 we are finishing up our concrete barriers past the quarter mile to the crossover road for the SAFETY of our racers.

The club tries to do updates to the track every year. In 2015 the club constructed a new ET shack with new scale monitors. Now in 2016 the club has added another new set of Scoreboards located at the 330′ mark.

Contact Information
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