Firebird Lake hosts drag boat races on an annual basis. Know how to stay safe and informed during your Utah trip and who is helping when you get into trouble. Previous Group
Friday Night Run What You Brung open drags have been a staple of the Arizona racing community for over 25 years. Many were shocked when back on March 25 NHRA dropped the bomb that Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is set to close down for good next year. "They posted this thing about this place closing, it's just like, why don't you just rip my heart out?" Avoid taking this trip during bad weather, and make sure you're prepared with plenty of gas, water and a spare tire. The natural forces that carved slot canyons are still at work, and even light, distant rainfall can render slot canyons extremely dangerous including flash floods. This study is important because I-10 supports significant commercial and economic growth for the region, state and nation, and is considered a Key Commerce Corridor. In the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park, youll find a scenic wonderland with an adventure for everyone. The NHRA Arizona Nationals have provided NHRA fans countless memories for many years, and our race teams, partners, and NHRA officials look forward to celebrating the track in 2023 as we close out this chapter in NHRA history., RELATED STORY - ATLANTA DRAGWAY TO HOST FINAL EVENT IN 2021. A public meeting summary report is available on the Study Resources page. 5 Ways to See Wild Horses in Utah | Visit Utah Over the last decade, ADOT has been expanding the capacity of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson in segments. Highway construction will close Wild Horse Pass Motorsports The Wild Horse Pass Development Authority just made the announcement, saying a new overpass for the I-10 extension will replace the track. The public hearings were held on the following dates: The formal public comment period was open from Aug. 19 through Oct. 9, 2022. Check the specific event for more detailed information on Spectator Info. Heres how to navigate Utah's backcountry safely. Apparently, beyond 2023 is another story. Refer to the 2023 NHRA Rulebook for complete tech requirements and competition rules. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park to close In 2023, become highway overpass By Andrew Wolf | Dragzine Little more than a year ago, information came to light regarding proposed redevelopment plans by the The Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHGPDA) for the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix, Arizona. A new overpass that is planned for the widening of several miles of Interstate 10 will take the space that currently occupies part of the facility, according to a Wild Horse Pass release. Seating Chart. WebBooking at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park for your track event gives your group access to an amazing facility with multiple options and an experienced, friendly staff. We want to thank Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and the Gila River community for their dedicated commitment to drag racing, NHRA president Glen Cromwell said. As cities continue expanding and developers get dollar signs in their eyes, they find ways to gobble up the ever-more-valuable land occupied by these facilities. The construction project is slated to cost nearly $140 million. The 2023 race date has yet to be released. Its not going anywhere, Young responded to CompetitionPlus.com in a January 23, 2021 article. RELATED STORY - HOUSTON RACEWAY PARK CLOSING AFTER 2022 NHRA EVENT, WILD HORSE BECOMES THIRD NHRA NATIONAL EVENT TRACK CLOSING SINCE 2021. We know this final race will be a celebration that NHRA fans are famous for., We want to thank Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and the Gila River community for their dedicated commitment to drag racing, NHRA President Glen Cromwell said. Improving interchanges and crossroads for enhanced capacity and safety, and multimodal (bike and pedestrian) crossings, as well as addressing age/condition issues. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The public hearings and associated public comment period were the last public events for this study. The I-10 bridges over the Gila River are part of a separate ADOT project that is excluded from this study but closely coordinated with the Community. Both would widen I-10 from two lanes to three lanes in each direction, the difference being whether this widening is accomplished in the median of I-10, or to the outside of I-10. The facility, which opened as Firebird International Raceway in 1983, is shuttering to make room for a new overpass and roadway for an Interstate 10 highway extension. Seeing wild horses is like taking a trip right back to the Old West, when these herds were much more common. Thats not true of all enthusiasts, but to ignore the problem by only focusing on part of the group would be dishonest. The improvements for this 26-mile corridor are about $990 million (including the Gila River Bridge replacement project). Highway Construction To Close Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park After Nearly Four Decade NHRA Run March 31, 2022 Cronkite News The Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler is set to run its final NHRA event in 2023. In collaboration with the Gila River Indian Community, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Design Concept Report (DCR) for the Interstate 10 (I-10) Study: Loop 202 to State Route 387 (SR 387). Replacing the aging and narrow Gila River Bridges as a part of a separate study. As a host of the NHRA Nationals, the track gets hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Arizonans use this route to commute to and from Phoenix daily from rural communities. Our focus remains on making the NHRA an incredible experience to our fans, race teams, and partners, and we are working on several new destinations, Cromwell said. ADOT documents reveal that a general public lane and a HOV lane will be added in each direction. Events at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park vary and so do the particulars surrounding each event. A drag racing tradition in Chandlers Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park that dates back to the 1980s is set to come to an end. WebSat 29 April 29 Club Day Presented By Go Fast It's Club Day Presented By Go Fast at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park on January 30th! Anyone can participate! NHRA officials say that the series will look at venues not currently on the NHRA schedule to fill the void, starting in 2024. Adding a new general purpose lane in the median in both the east- and westbound directions for the entire 26-mile corridor. WebLIKELY TO SELL OUT*. GoFast Entertainment From narrow slot canyons to grand sweeping vistas, sandstone plateaus to meandering rivers, San Rafael Country and the San Rafael Swell are home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Utah. For more Utah fun, take these 7 Utah treetop adventures. Fan Info. This is an 8 race series. Developing an I-10 vision and strategy to meet future needs. The rumor is its been sold to a non-racing party or in other words its most likely a goner. WebContact Us Contact Info Address Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park 20000 S Maricopa Rd Chandler, AZ 85226 Phone (520) 796-5601 Email contact Utahs National Ability Center is known for changing lives through its adaptive recreation programs. Featuring Arizona Drag Racing Association (ADRA), Outlaw Pontiac Racers West, Super Comp, Super Gas & Super Street! This segment of I-10 is critical for Arizonas economy, as it links the states largest metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson while also providing a key link for the national and international movement of freight. MAG has been working closely with GRIC to advance plans for additional access to the Wild Horse Pass area and any future improvements will follow the required state, federal, and GRIC review and approval processes, the association said in a statement. From that first year until 1989, the event took place in October and was known as the Fallnationals. Documents the mitigations necessary to offset identified impacts associated with the preferred alternative. All Rights Reserved. Yet everyone cares about illegal street racing, which seem to be growing in popularity once more, and understandably so since its incredibly dangerous. If I were to try listing off all the tracks which have been shut down to make way for new developments, Id definitely miss at least a few, there are so many. American racetracks are dying in droves and nobody in government at the city, county, or state level seems to care. Web1. WebThe NHRA Summit ET Series is the largest drag racing series in the country with over 80,000 racers participating nationwide within 7 Divisions. Home - Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Right now, theres no official plan to open a comparable motorsports park in the Phoenix area. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Some locals of Boulder, Utah, call this slot canyon on the Burr Trail, Singing Canyon. When you go, you know exactly why. The exact dates for the final edition of the NHRA Arizona Nationals at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park next year are yet to be determined. If one of these build alternatives is selected and built, I-10 would then provide three continuous lanes in each direction between Phoenix and Tucson. It is important to note that the completion of this engineering and environmental study is required for any improvements to be eligible for federal funding. The same information was presented at each hearing. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Know Your Herd. When canyoneering through the Robbers Roost area, the power of nature is on full display in its slot canyons, landscapes and lingering traces of ancient inhabitants. Take I-80 West to the Tooele exit, then drive on Highway 36 through Rush Valley. Please don't approach the animals; view them from a distance. We plan on being back there in 2022.. With interest from multiple NHRA member tracks within each region across the country, we are excited about the possibilities for a future NHRA national event.. All of the funding for this project, according to ADOTs tentative five-year plan, will come from the Regional Area Road Fund. Tucson Dragway has been rumored as another venue. Highway construction to close Wild Horse Pass The Final EA and DCR are expected to be complete and available in early 2023. from. In the summer of 2019, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and partner agencies took the essential first step toward studying ways to increase the capacity of a 26mile section of Interstate 10 (I-10) south of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Apr 2, 2022 A drag racing tradition in Chandlers Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park that dates back to the 1980s is set to come to an end. Why NHRA Is Leaving Phoenix After Four Decades of The Wild Horse Slot canyons are narrow gorges in soft rocks like Utahs layered sedimentary deposits. So much so, that National Hot Rod Association | Online Ticket Office | Seating Charts Make sure you read up on wild horse herds and learn all you can about them before you hit the road to get the most of your Highway Construction To Close Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. By Andrew Wolf January 22, 2021 Last week, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park officials, in cooperation with the NHRA, announced the cancellation of this seasons running of the Arizona Nationals, citing what the former called many circumstances Get more stories delivered right to your email. WebAuto Club Raceway at Pomona [ Close Window]Close Window] Arizonas stop in the NHRA schedule was moved to its current February slot in 1990. WebRawhide Western Town & Event Center and Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park take our guests and our associates safety as our highest priority. The master plan showed a blueprint to develop the area where the drag race track and Firebird Lake is now, with additional hotels, corporate offices, mixed-use commercial buildings and new restaurants. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park - Wikipedia In this part of Utah, you can almost forget that 1.5 million people live in the valley just west of the mountains. People are not going to stop," says Fritz. Want to visit the awesome Antelope Canyon? Take advantage of the variety of climbing available to enjoy this scenic winter climbing destination. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Call the bilingual study line: 602-522-7777, Email: i10wildhorsepasscorridor@hdrinc.com, USPS Mail:I-10 Wild Horse Pass Corridor Study Team c/o HDR, Inc.20 E. Thomas Road, Suite 2500Phoenix, AZ 85012, Enter an email or phone above if you'd like to be contacted, began on October 21 and ended December 4, 2020. Wild horse herds are elusive. The road is typically accessible to most vehicles as long as it's not muddy. ADOT said in a statement that the funding for the project is allocated by the Maricopa Association of Governments. Multiple reports had circulated the web hinting the track would be demolished to make way for hotels, a concert venue, and office buildings, among other things. (Photo by Susan Wong/Cronkite News). If youre interested in viewing more of Utahs wild horse herds, visit WildHorseTourist.com. This study is focused on the 26-mile section of I-10 between the Loop 202 interchange south of Phoenix to just south of the State Route (SR) 387 interchange near Casa Grande. We have taken numerous steps for added cleaning, sanitation, and physical distancing. Unless you know where to look, your mustang-viewing adventure could turn up fruitless. Please use the contact form or the methods listed below to send questions, comments, and feedback to the project team. The '23 Toyota Corolla Hatch Is Normcore on Wheels, What We Learned in Red Bulls Domination In Baku, Prock, Hight Add Wins to John Force Racing Legacy, When NHRA King John Force Is On a Roll, Stand Back, Garlits Outlives NHRA Founder, but Not Their Feud, Video: Gator Chomps NHRA Driver's Radio Boat, NHRA 4-Wide Charlotte Final Qualifying Results, Jasmine Salinas Continues Torwards NHRA Top Fuel, DeJoria Powers to Front at NHRA Four-Wides, NHRA Leaving Bandimere Speedway after 2023, NHRA Rivals Not Happy with Josh Hart's Tactics, NHRA Results, Updated Standings from Las Vegas, Tony Stewart Is Now an NHRA Winning Driver, NHRA Vegas Qualifying Results, Sunday Pairings, Why NHRA Is Leaving Phoenix After Four Decades of Drag Racing. If there isnt a financial incentive to establish or keep open racetracks, some people will turn to illegal street races. Slot Canyons in Utah - Top Slot Canyons | Visit Utah Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park also has two asphalt road courses which can be used for drifting events in addition to normal track days and races. After the 2023 NHRA Camping World event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports park next winter, the facility will no longer exist. In this years penultimate race at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park February 25-27, Matt Hagan reset the Funny Car track record in his Tony Stewart Racing Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, running 3.823-seconds at 333.41mph, while Brittany Forces 2020 Top Fuel record is at 3.643-sec and 3378.92 mph. That leaves the 26 miles of I-10 across the Gila River Indian Community as the only remaining stretch with two lanes in each direction. Following our public hearings and comment period, the study team will review and evaluate all input from the Gila River Indian Community, partner agencies and the public, and select a final alternative. If successful, the combination of state, local and federal funds will allow project construction to begin as quickly as possible without budgetary constraint delays, Note: All values above expressed in Fiscal Year 2024 dollars. While racetracks generate revenue, for the space they take up theyre not highly profitable. and last updated 9:44 PM, Mar 27, 2022 CHANDLER One of only two racetracks left in Arizona, is set to close. Matt Hagan set the track record in Funny Car at this years event in February, going 3.823-seconds at 333.41, while Brittany Force went 3.643 at 337.92 to set the Top Fuel track records in 2020. Utah offers all kinds of adventurous day trips for visitors start planning your getaway today. The only other racetrack in Arizona is in Tucson. Learn more about this unforgettable attraction and plan a visit. Rawhide Western Town & Event Center and Wild Horse Pass While we love writing about amazing opportunities like this, we hope that none of our readers will bring harm to these beautiful horses. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler has been a legal option for racers over the past four decades. Installing freeway management technology to allow for the installation of sensors, cameras, variable message signs and other highway safety-related technology. Wild Horse Pass In Phoenix Reveals Commercial Redevelopment CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Point standings (top 10) following the 38th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the second of 21 events in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series - Three in-person and one virtual public hearing were held to provide an overview of the draft EA and DCR, share ADOTs preliminary recommendation and accept public comment. Just over a year ago, there was a proposed plan to redevelop the increasingly valuable land Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park now occupies. Though they might look like domesticated horses, they're far from it. There are multiple parking lots on property, all equipped with handicapped parking. "It's going to promote street activities that I think are dangerous," says another driver. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler has been a legal option for racers over the past four decades. Little Wild Horse Canyon - Tripadvisor As NHRA looks toward the future, it will focus on venues not currently on the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series circuit to fill the spot of the Phoenix event starting in the 2024 season. Closing So much so, that we have been Next Group, You dont have to be Spider-Man to explore some of the best slot canyons Utah has to offer. Autoweek participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. WebWILD HORSE BECOMES THIRD NHRA NATIONAL EVENT TRACK CLOSING SINCE 2021 by Bobby Bennett Sat, 2022-03-26 17:15 RELATED ARTICLE - UPDATED: NHRA STANDS FIRM, ARIZONA NATIONALS RETURNING TO WILD HORSE PASS MOTORSPORTS PARK IN 2022 This will leave racers with fewer options. says one driver. NHRA Phoenix Gone After 2023, Plus Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes in the Pits On a typical Friday night you can expect to see everything from a mini van to an occasional jet car testing! NHRA has featured an ET drag racing series since the mid-1970s. Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. For ET Finals information, see the "2023 NHRA SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT ET GUIDELINES" document near the bottom of this page. This redevelopment plan was supposed to be put into action several years down the road, maybe as far into the future as a decade. The Final EA will provide responses to all comments received during the public review and comment period. The tracks and other facilities in the park are doomed thanks to an expansion project for Interstate 10 in Recommended. "Honestly, we're probably going to move after the track leaves. Federal laws protect these wild horses. Theres truly no sight in the world like that of wild horses running free. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Bring your car or truck down! This one hits close to home. The future additions to Interstate 10 may not be the only thing that is forcing the end of drag racing at the Chandler venue, though. We have racing on the drag strip and hot lap drifting. The NHRA Arizona Nationals have provided NHRA fans countless memories for many years, and our race teams, partners, and NHRA officials look forward to celebrating the track in 2023 as we close out this chapter in NHRA history, NHRA President Glen Cromwell said in a statement on Friday. Wild Horse Motorsports Pass joins Atlanta Dragway and Houston Raceway Park as tracks NHRA has lost to non-racing development since the pandemic hit in 2020. By Engine Builder. ADOT, MAG, BIA, FHWA and the Gila River Indian Community continue to partner to deliver this important project, including efforts to secure the necessary funding.