NHRA Sells National Trail Raceway To Ownership Group That Operates Heartland Park Topeka


NHRA Sells National Trail Raceway To Ownership Group That Operates Heartland Park Topeka

The National Hot Rod Association has sold one of the tracks that they own. National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio was sold to Shelby Development, the group that bought and now operates Heartland Park Topeka. The announcement comes as somewhat of a surprise as NHRA has owned the property for decades and while there were rumors that they were shopping it around, nothing had really bubbled up until the announcement was made. The track played host to the NHRA Spring Nationals for many years and hosts events like a huge Goodguys show, the Mopar Nationals, and NMRA event and other competitions each year.

National Trail’s fortunes took a turn toward obscurity when Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park became part of the national event tour. The track did still host events like Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series races but the big spotlight was off the facility. Hot Rod Magazine Drag Week used the facility as the anchor point of the event last year with mixed reviews.

One of the defining points about National Trail is not really the track so much as it is Refugee rd. This street runs across the back of the shutdown area and has limited the length of the facility for many years. Famously, the NHRA bought a hunk of a farmer’s land across the street, installed a swinging gate, and made the sane trap for fast cars across the road. That trap is still there although the gate is gone and there’s been alternative devices placed at the end of the property to keep cars inside.

We hope this group does as good a job with National Trail as they have been doing with Heartland Park Topeka. Frankly, the track could use some work and some fresh eyes on it. Here’s to hoping that the long running facility is around for years to come.

NHRA and Shelby Development, LLC Announce Acquisition of National Trail Raceway

 

KANSAS CITY, MO – February 23, 2017 – Shelby Development, LLC and its affiliated company Monopoly Acquisitions, LLC., CEO Chris Payne, and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), announced today that the Companies have entered an agreement for Shelby to acquire National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio.

The acquisition of the historic National Trail Raceway adds to the existing stable of motorsports assets owned by Shelby Development, LLC., which also includes Heartland Park Topeka, Topeka, Kansas. That property was purchased in December 2015.

“The opportunity to add an additional property allows us to accelerate our growth plans within the industry. We have been aggressive with acquisitions in the past couple of years,” notes Payne. “The plan is to continue to improve Heartland Park Topeka while completing the acquisition of National Trail Raceway by identifying and completing specific areas for facility improvements and introducing new event and racing content.”

“We’re excited that historic National Trail Raceway will be in the hands of an experienced track group committed to continuing to invest in the facility,” says Peter Clifford, NHRA president. “Chris Payne and his team have done a great job at Heartland Park and we’re looking forward to what they will do at National Trail Raceway, which they’ll operate as an NHRA Member Track.”

Scott Gardner, President of Heartland Park Topeka will expand his role as the Chief Operating Officer and will oversee the operational staffs of both facilities. “It’s important that we approach this opportunity to learn as much as we can about National Trail Raceway, it’s staff, racers and sponsors and build a plan to improve on what we have.” says Gardner.

National Trail Raceway is situated on 245 acres east of Columbus, Ohio and opened in 1964. The facility has a rich history in drag racing and has featured some of the biggest names in the sport, including Shirley Muldowney, Don Prudomme, Bob Glidden, Tony Schumacher and many more. In 1972 the facility began hosting the NHRA Spring Nationals which continued through 2006.

An aggressive schedule of events continues in 2017 with such events that include but not limited to; the Spectacle of Speed, NMRA Ford Super Nationals, McLaughlin Oil Night of Thunder, Super Chevy Show, Mopar Nationals, the Buckeye Fuel Wars NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Chrysler Power Classic and many more.

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3 thoughts on “NHRA Sells National Trail Raceway To Ownership Group That Operates Heartland Park Topeka

  1. Koolkat57

    Trails has been going down hill for years under the NHRA flag, let’s hope that the new owners put a few bucks and some thought into improving the facility.
    As the track closest to me, it would be a treat to see some new events at Trails and some better use of the facility.
    Time will tell!
    KK

  2. Dave Dusterberg

    Hopefully this is a sign that the NHRA is beginning to realize they shouldn’t be in the track ownership and operation business. They have done a very poor job of managing National Trails and an even worse job of running Indianapolis Raceway Park. I’m hoping that IRP (Lucas Oil Raceway) is next to get sold to a concern that will actually care for and promote all that facility can offer.

  3. greg

    I don’t know the whole story,but hopefully the city of Columbus doesn’t want to build a park like Kansas City did and still hasn’t even started.Cause Chris was part owner of K.C.I.R. dragstrip when they sold it to the city a few years ago,but like i said I don’t know the whole story.So good luck to the racers around Columbus!

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