It’s not every day that the world of politics collides with drag racing, but for the residents in Palm Beach County, there’s one Commissioner who is working hard to preserve the community’s rich motorsports heritage.

After the closure of Palm Beach International Raceway in 2022, the South Florida racing community was displaced. However, a group of persistent residents, thrill-seekers, and racers alike attended public hearing after public hearing in an attempt to prove to the elected officials that motorsports deserve a place in the County. Commissioner Sara Baxter, who comes from a motorsports background herself directed staff this past May to consider a 128-acre parcel of land as a potential new location for a racetrack venue. Fast forward six months, this dedicated Commissioner has taken big steps to provide a path towards the construction of a new racetrack on county-owned property.

Racers will soon hear an update on the project from the Commissioner, who has clearly stated that this will be a “public-private partnership” between the county and any investors interested in constructing and operating a racetrack. A second Town Hall meeting has been scheduled for Monday, October 16, 2023 in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. The previous Town Hall meeting Baxter hosted brought in a crowd of over 250 people, with many more watching online. All of them expressed a great deal of support and gratitude towards the Commissioner for her efforts.

The plans have even grabbed the attention of one of the most renowned sanctioning bodies in motorsports– the National Hot Rod Association.

“The NHRA is looking forward to participating in the project update from Commissioner Baxter at the Town Hall meeting,” says NHRA Southeast Division Director Cody Savage. “A modern racing facility will bring civic and economic benefit to the area in a variety of ways, from providing employment through development, construction and operations, to drawing people in from all over the country and world for local and national events.”

Savage will be in attendance during Monday’s meeting and is looking forward to meeting both the Commissioner and the rest of the racing community.

“The NHRA is grateful for Palm Beach County’s efforts and is excited to see this project cross the finish line,” Savage says.

Not only does Baxter hope to continue the legacy of motorsports through a public-private partnership, she is also looking for a temporary solution that will give racers a place to attend legal, sanctioned events in the interim, an idea brought to her by longtime motorsports racer and enthusiast, Steve Calamusa. Calamusa has visited racetracks across the country and has witnessed first-hand many airports successfully utilizing runways to hold racing events.

Right now, there is a huge need in the racing community, and this is something they would be very interested in. – Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter

With that in mind, Baxter’s sights are set on Palm Beach County Glades Airport, located in Pahokee, Florida, which houses a runway that sees very little air traffic. To achieve this, the County will have to seek approval from the FAA, which would require the airport to be closed completely while events are held.

“Right now, there is a huge need in the racing community, and this is something they would be very interested in,” said Baxter.

When the news broke of the plans for the temporary dragstrip, one social media post reached over 300 shares, with the vast majority of comments praising the Commissioner for her relentless efforts to continue motorsports in one of the fastest growing areas in the southeast. The plans to use the airport to hold events would benefit the residents and, in addition, keep innocent drivers safe from the dangerous illegal street racing activity that has flared up throughout the County even more since the closure of Palm Beach International Raceway.

“Right now, we have a lot of street racing. And they need, I believe, a safe place to go. Ultimately, this will provide the people who want a safe, legal place to race and get off the streets until we have the 20-mile bend project potentially done,” Baxter said.

What started off as a sad beginning through the closure of a landmark motorsports destination now has a silver lining. There is hope for a motorsports facility to one day return to southeast Florida. The residents of Palm Beach County could not have asked for a more dedicated leader who is even taking it one step further by exploring a temporary solution for racers to participate safely in the sport of drag racing once again.

Racers across the country who are feeling the effects of their local racetrack closing should take notes. With a little creativity, and a lot of persistence, there are endless possibilities that can get motorsports back on track in a displaced community. It may not be easy, but the results could certainly make it well worth it. Like the old saying goes, “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”