Drag Strip Time Machine: Vintage Photos From Montgomery Dragway/Capitol City Dragway – Montgomery, Alabama


Drag Strip Time Machine: Vintage Photos From Montgomery Dragway/Capitol City Dragway – Montgomery, Alabama

(Words and photos by Doug Gregory) – I have looked and looked for more history on this track and have found almost none.  Most of what I know about it is from the time I was stationed at Maxwell, AFB and visited the track regularly to spectate and bracket race.  There are near 200 photos I’ve gathered into galleries of happenings at the track which now lies dormant off Booth Rd near Montgomery, Alabama adjacent to the recently re-opened Montgomery Speedway.

The history of the track I do have is from conversations with racers back in that time and is not considered to be definitive at all.  I learned the track was like most others and originated as an air strip built during or just after WWII.  A few folks told me it became a drag strip sometime in the 60s and was eventually sanctioned by the AHRA.  A few stories spoke of AA fuel cars running there and even the Swamp Rat was rumored to have made an appearance or two for match races.

The track is super-narrow by today’s gauge with low guard rails and a spectator fence that was never far from the racing surface.  The bleach box is a hard left turn from the staging lanes and the pits only featured a paved loop connected to the curvy return road.  The shutdown area was very short.  My only experience with just how short it came at the wheel of a friend’s S/Pro Mustang leaving off the ‘brake and, although that car was fairly light, I was on the brakes hard after the stripe.  It did not seem to me like you could go much quicker without going off the end, but apparently folks could run 4s and get it shut down.

Let us know if you like this kind of thing and we always appreciate constructive criticism.


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7 thoughts on “Drag Strip Time Machine: Vintage Photos From Montgomery Dragway/Capitol City Dragway – Montgomery, Alabama

  1. Kevin Tolliver

    I am in one of those shots. I raced there every Friday night back in the early 90’s. Love the article.

  2. John Speake

    Loved the pics. Don did race their along with Cha, Cha, The Jade Gerade, And many others. Also Rocket & Jet cars ran their .

  3. Tracy Foshee

    I raced there from ’86 til it closed for good. I remember many of the cars but forgot some names. Steve Grace is the Chevy II wagon, RIP Stevie! Kenny Gray is the blue dragster. James Woodham is the Malibu wagon. Lonnie Rushing is the Red thunderbird. LOVE the pics!

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