Southern Tracks Affected By Deadly Storms And Record Flooding

The unprecedented severe storms and tornadoes that ravaged the southern United States last week took a record number of lives – nearly 350 at last count – and destroyed hundreds of homes as the deadly twisters tore swaths through through both urban and rural parts of multiple states. And while the loss of life is certainly more important than any replaceable structure, we’d be remiss as drag racing fans to not concern ourselves with the racers and tracks in the area.

The city of Huntsville, Alabama, located about 150 miles north of the hard-hit town of Tuscaloosa, took a particularly rough hit of it’s own. In the path of what is believed to have been several major twisters was the renowned Huntsville Dragway, which appears to have taken a possible direct hit in an east to west direction across the track and on through the facility, causing some significant damage.

The twister took the roof from the timing tower and crippled part of the structure, destroyed sections of both sets of grandstands,twisted and mangled the finish line scoreboards, speaker posts, and utility poles, and overturned various items and equipment kept at the track.

Meanwhile, a couple hundreds miles north, millions of residents are being affected by floodwaters stemming from days on end of record rainfall levels as rivers swell beyond their banks. Among the affected regions is the city of Louisville, Kentucky and surrounding areas, where the Ohio Valley Raceway in West Point, Kentucky has become a virtual river in itself, thanks to devastating flood from the nearby Ohio River. The extent of the damage at Ohio Valley and other tracks around the midwest and the south won’t be fully known until the waters recede, but it’s not a good thing no matter how you slice it.

Our hearts go out to those affected by last weeks storms, and to those who continue to cope with the destruction and flooding.