Western Colorado Dragway racing season coming to close

Western Colorado Dragway has been holding races for more than 50 years. It started as a dirt strip, but has since been updated to a flat, black top, strip.

While the season is coming to an end on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26, Tammy Bailey, track manager, encourages folks to come out to enjoy an entertaining night. The dragway is located at 115 32 Road.

The races start on Friday night with street-legal cars, at 7 p.m. Entrance fees cost $5 for adults, children under 12 are free. A concession stand is open serving hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos and drinks.

“We hope to get the street racers off the street and onto the track to race each other in a safe environment,” Bailey said.

More than 800 spectators enjoy more than 100 street-legal cars racing each other down a quarter-mile strip. The racers hope to become one of the “fast eight,” which are the fastest eight cars on the Western Slope.

Saturday starts the day at around 10 a.m. with the junior class racers. Junior races are between ages 8-16. Adults and larger cars begin at 2 p.m. Entrance fees cost $10 for adults, and free for children 12 and under.

“Once you get drag racing in your heart, it’s something that you just can’t get away from,” Bailey said. “Most people are in it for the speed; they love to go fast.”

In the quarter-mile stretch, Bailey explained in the professional division races, they can get to speeds up to 200 miles per hour. They can complete the quarter mile in just under six or seven seconds.

“It’s fun to watch how fast these cars can go,” she added.

Beginner divisions race at about 100 miles per hour.

Racing fees range from $40-$85 depending on race type.

Races on Saturdays draw around 500 spectators and 80-100 race cars.

The drag strip is land rented from Mesa County. The entrance fees and sponsorship monies are used to pay towards the year expenses and to improve the facility.

For more information, visit http://www.wcdra.com.