Kansas International Dragway received some devastating damage to its facility in last weeks violent thunderstorms that rolled across the midwestern region. The NHRA member track, located just northwest of Wichita in Maize, Kan., suffered damage consistent with that of a tornado, though the National Weather Service has yet to determine if there was a tornado or severe straight-line winds. Regardless of the specific weather phenomenon that caused it, the impact is readily apparent, as you can see in the accompanying photos. Several sets of grandstand were mangled, some tossed onto the track itself, the time slip booth was overturned, and most of the signage was damaged or lost in the storm.

Working quickly, KID spread the word about the damage via Facebook and the track website. The staff planned a work day this weekend to begin the rebuilding process, and thanks to the quick spread of the news, an army of over 100 volunteers and racers turned out to assist. Of course, this is no surprise to those in the drag racing community, known for its selflessness and willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need. The volunteers tackled all tasks at hand, from pressure washing mud and debris from the track surface and structures that withstood the storm, to breaking down and removing the gnarled grandstands from the track surface, as well as resurrecting the track’s roadside sign, an act that carried as much symbolism as it did practicality.

The KID staff and management again took to Facebook and their website to profusely thank those who turned out to help, posting the following message: Words can not describe the overwhelming amount of gratitude everyone has for each and every person that came to offer their time and support today! We accomplished a lot in just one day with the support of our racing community! Everything is coming together right on time and we will continue to build our local drag strip bigger and better. Thank you for everything!

Thanks to the overwhelming turnout, KID is planning to move forward with its No Prep Race this weekend. Without the awesome support from the tight-knit drag racing community, the facility may have been facing weeks, if not months, of cleanup. For more information, check out www.KansasDragway.com.