Video: 50 Years of Firebird Raceway – An Amazing Look At One of Drag Racing’s True Gems


Video: 50 Years of Firebird Raceway – An Amazing Look At One of Drag Racing’s True Gems

Operating a race track is one hell of a business. I tend to talk about it a fair amount here at BangShift but that’s because there are so many fallacies, myths, and misconceptions about it. People think that the track operators out there are swimming in pools of gold coins at night and do nothing more than collect the money at the gate. What a load of hooey that is. I bring this up because one of the most well run, well-respected, and well-loved tracks in the country turns 50 this year and because of that they have created a tribute video that looks back over the track’s first half century of being open. Firebird Raceway, you rule.

The New family is known for their racer and fan friendly approach, maintaining the place to a super high level, and doing all of those things that so many other tracks could learn from in their operation. No place is perfect, no track is perfect, but the tracks that have learned from their mistakes over the years are the ones still open and thriving.

When you watch this video and look at the footage along with the images contained therein, understand that the New family has not succeeded by accident. They have done it the old fashions way with their blood, sweat, and dedication to the place that they’ve cared for over the course of decades.

People spend lots of times bashing tracks, let’s take a moment and truly celebrate one. Do you know how many businesses last 50 years in the larger scope of things? Especially race tracks? The percentages are against you when you start anything like this but they worked them into their own favor.

Congrats Firebird Raceway, we salute you and your approach to doing business.

Press play for an amazing video celebrating 50 years of Firebird Raceway in Idaho


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3 thoughts on “Video: 50 Years of Firebird Raceway – An Amazing Look At One of Drag Racing’s True Gems

  1. 57 Phil

    Great article and tribute to tracks that \”Do it Right\” to the few really great track owner operators out there. We Big Buck Bracket Race in the South and their was never a more fan friendly and racer friendly owner operator than the late George Howard who leased/ran Huntsville and Montgomery Dragway for years AND Invented the Million Dollar Bracket Race. Right up there with George but on a little smaller scale is Dallas Jones and family at Beech Bend in Bowling Green KY.
    What made/makes these 2 guys great is 1) Their love of racers and race cars and treating them fair and THE SAME each week 2) Track surface prep, always excellent, 3) keeping the place clean and safe for families, 4) reasonably priced concessions. 5) Great show and 6) Good Payouts. It\’s pretty simple realy, but so many figure out how to screw it up. Not these nor Firebird, Congrats and Thanks for the great Video

  2. Michael Hohnstein

    Then there was the time in August 1984 where I came close to getting run over by Jim Dunn’s flopper, throttle stuck during a burnout in the staging lanes to be close to the bleachers. It’ wasn’t a good day @ Firebird.

  3. Gump

    Won and went late rounds several times at the Classic, Nightfire and Division finals. Very nice facility, and the New family are good people.

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