We all knew it was coming, but witnessing the loss of a place, of a destination and a familiar landscape, that meant so much to so many in the sport, doesn’t make it any easier.

This week, the three-story Atlanta Dragway timing tower, the largest and most identifying feature of the once-proud Commerce, Georgia facility since its addition in 1991, came down, the latest and most significant step to date in the razing of the former NHRA national event dragstrip. After sitting dormant since the its closure last year, the development firm that acquired the property permitted a local fire department to perform training exercises inside the tower last month, after which the demolition was scheduled to commence.

The developer, along with photographer and longtime track employee James “Possum” Key, were kind enough to allow us to republish these images showcasing some of the final views both inside and outside of the dragway tower, as we all say goodbye to an old friend.