April 27th 2024 Walla Walla Drag Strip
April 27th 2024 turned out to be a bit of a wet day forcing the staff at Walla Walla Drag Strip to postpone some of the days racing action until the following day.
Category: Walla Walla Drag Strip
Borrowed from Drag Strip List. Drag races were held on an unused taxiway on the western edge of Walla Walla Airport prior to 1970. In 1970, a corporation, was formed and $30,000 was expended on improving the taxiway to conduct more professional events. News reports of the time state that the Bonanza operation was held on the “newly improved Middle Waitsburg Road drag strip.” The airport board gave approval to Bonanza because “proper controls were included in the plans.” The quarter-mile strip was sanctioned by NHRA. On Sunday, June 14, 1970, grudge races were held to open Bonanza Raceway’s drag racing program. The following Sunday, June 21, 1,300 spectators attended Bonanza Raceway’s first meet of class competition. Seventy-five entries raced on that day. Bob Verstag clocked the fastest time in his B dragster with 136 MPH. The grand opening of the track was held on June 28, 1970. The track record by August 1970 was 205 MPH and 7.19 ET. They had to halt racing after 1973 because they weren’t successful in getting a bank loan to continue racing. In 1999, Stuart Rowe spearheaded organizing a couple of drag races on the old airport strip and Bonanza Raceway was reborn. At the first race, there were 65 cars and 650 spectators. When word got out for the second race, there were 120 cars and 1200 fans. One-eighth mile races were done with a flag start and flag boys at the finish. Just like old times. But with the interest shown, a full slate of racing with timing equipment was installed for the 2000 season. The old track was off and running. New bleachers to seat 1,500 people were built. Racing was scheduled on a once-a-month basis from April through October. In July 2000, officials mandated that Bonanza be sanctioned by NHRA in order to continue racing. In 2009 the track’s name was changed to Walla Walla Drag Strip. Five local businessmen (Steve Kelty, Doug Luttrell, Doug Watts, Larry Thomason, and Lee Champ) purchased the track that year to keep the racing going as it was on the brink of being closed after the 2008 season. It continues to operate today as an NHRA-sanctioned 1/8th-mile track.