[1]Image Credit: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
Back in January, we reported [2] that Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Arizona would be closing, as the Gila River Indian Community decided not to renew the lease with former track operator Charlie Allen at that time. Well, we’re back to report that the track is now set to re-open shortly as the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, with new management and a new lease on life. Former Daytona Motor Speedway VP Dick Hahne is on board as the executive to oversee the operation with former midwest track operator Bill Schneider on board as the track manager.
[3]Image credit: Firebird Int’l Raceway on Wikipedia
Currently there’s remodeling work scheduled along with repairs that need to take place over the summer (when it’s too hot to race in Arizona anyway), and the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is scheduled to have a grand-opening event over the weekend of October 12th, 2013. In addition, since the facility has a huge man-made lake on the premises, the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Series has already come on board, rescheduling their former San Diego event in September to Wild Horse Pass, which will run September 13-15, 2013.
There are a number of different motorsports venues on the property including the dragstrip, lake, Bondurant road course, two test tracks, and a number of skidpads. The Gila River Indian Community has a solid base in the area thanks to their super-successful casino, and we doubt they’d be laying the investment back into this facility without a solid plan for growth in the future. That’s great news for anyone who’s a motorsports fan in the Phoenix area.