For the past few years, the news of racetracks closing became all too common. An epidemic of racetracks dying in droves was the result of sky-high land values and redevelopment plans to raze over historic racing facilities across the country. One of those racetracks set to close at the hands of developers was Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. In March of 2022, the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA) announced that a new overpass highway would barrel through the space occupied by the dragstrip, road courses, and boat racing lakes.

What was supposed to be the end of a 40-year run of racing events recently took a turn for the better for race fans. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park announced that the facility will officially stay open in 2024 and beyond, with support from the WHPDA and the Gila River Indian Community. Further, it has been renamed Firebird Motorsports Park, as an ode to its former glory days as Firebird International Raceway.

Photo courtesy of Firebird Motorsports Park

“Record-breaking attendance and unrelenting support for the facility from the motorsports community has led to an opportunity for the venue to continue operations for years to come,” the facility staff said in a press release.

Also announced was a restructured management team, with Casey Buckman taking on the role as Track Manager and Connie Bopp as Track Business Administrator. Combined, the team has over 50 years of motorsports industry experience and continues to hire track personnel for the facility that quite literally has a new lease on life. In addition, at the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis, NHRA officials along with the Gila River Indian Community announced the running of the annual NHRA Arizona Nationals will return to Firebird Motorsports Park on April 5-7, 2024 after what was supposed to be the final NHRA event in March of this year.

Racers and race fans alike were thrilled to find out the beloved raceway is set to stay open for years to come. For one well-known name in the industry, the famed facility is what forged a path and career as a professional announcer and FOX Sports broadcaster. NHRA’s very own Alan Reinhart has maintained a special connection with the racetrack since its inception, having been in attendance the day it opened.

Although many memories have stemmed from the racetrack, there is one pivotal memory that stands out for Reinhart. One Saturday night in the early 1980s, the usual racetrack announcer was a no-show for a sportsman bracket race event. One thing led to another, and it wasn’t long until Reinhart found his way into the tower, was handed a microphone, and told to ‘get talking’. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that Firebird International Raceway changed the direction of my life,” Reinhart said.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that Firebird International Raceway changed the direction of my life” – NHRA Announcer Alan Reinhart

From that point forward, a fill-in as a Saturday night announcer turned into an outstanding career for the NHRA announcer who also went on to state that he was very happy to hear that the facility was reopening. Although Reinhart’s focus has always been aimed towards drag racing, he reiterated that the facility houses four road courses, a huge drifting pad, and lakes for boat racing, all of which often takes place at the same time.

“This is a win for everyone, even if you don’t care about racing. It’s good for the local economy, small businesses, the amount of tourism dollars that come to town with bigger events. Plus, it gives the racers a place to go,” he said.

The return of this racetrack is without a doubt a win for the sport of drag racing. As Firebird Motorsports Park prepares to get back on track, a brand-new facility, the Flying H Dragstrip in Kansas, is also set to open in 2024. News also recently broke that the Kanawha Valley Raceway in West Virginia will reopen next year after a 7-year closure. Also, in Palm Beach County, Florida, government officials have taken the next step towards leasing 128 acres of land to build a motorsports complex. Perhaps the plague of racetrack closures is officially sun-setting and on the horizon, racers and race fans will see new facilities constructed or reopened in the coming years.