So when is the end? Well, I’m not sure, but I can tell you that it can’t be too long. Recent news is that Sunbelt Holdings will lead the project, which will include huge expansion at Wild Horse Pass, and according to the maps of the development there is no sign of the current Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. This is a 10 year plan, and we aren’t sure where it will be starting yet, but regardless it is not a good sign for the dragstrip, road course, or Bob Bondurant’s School. What’s curious about the whole situation is the fact that just a few days before this announcement the NHRA and Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park announced that the 2021 NHRA Arizona Nationals would NOT happen. They cited insinuating circumstances, including COVID-19 as the reason, which absolutely makes sense and is not in question. We are not trying to promote a conspiracy theory here, just wondering if there is any chance that there will be NHRA events there ever again, or if we have seen the last. I hope there are a couple more at least. We shall see.

Regardless, the area has become a very hot property and source of revenue so it is no surprise to us that this is happening. While we are sad for the folks in the Phoenix area who are going to lose a beloved dragstrip at some point, at least they continue to have Tucson Dragway not far away. And who knows, with all the other open land in Arizona, maybe someone will build a new one. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Here is an excerpt from Arizona Big Media’s announcement.

After a deliberative process, the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA) announced the selection of Scottsdale-based legacy developer Sunbelt Holdings to lead the development efforts for the property’s 3,300-acre project known as Wild Horse Pass. Located at the southwest corner of I-10 and the new Loop 202 freeway, new commercial development will provide new revenue streams to the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) by responding to current market demand. Sunbelt Holdings will provide master developer services for Phase 1 of the 10 million square-foot project.

The newly envisioned Wild Horse Pass master plan, developed by a project team consisting of CallisonRTKL, Kimley Horn, and Elliott D. Pollack & Company, was recently approved by the Gila River Indian Community. The site is planned for a large-scale sports and entertainment district including additional hotels, a wellness center, an event center, an outdoor amphitheater music entertainment venue, sports facilities, outdoor recreation and parks, restaurants, retail, and an office park.

“This expansion furthers our vision to provide additional economic development opportunities for Wild Horse Pass, GRIC, and the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix area,” said Donald Antone, Chairman of the WHPDA Board of Directors.A highly-respected leader in creating successful master planned residential communities and iconic commercial development properties in Arizona for over 40 years, Sunbelt Holdings will lead the master planned development effort, providing asset management, construction management, and marketing services for the master plan.

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