NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Ardmore Dragway, located in Ardmore, Oklahoma, has joined Division 4, the NHRA South Central Division as a NHRA member track. 

Ardmore Dragway was originally built as the Ardmore Municipal Airport. After the Ardmore Municipal Airport moved locations, the Ardmore Timing Association was created and together with the Slowpokes’ Car Club, the land was leased to be redesigned into a racetrack. 

In 1954, the first race was conducted at Ardmore Dragway. The track changed ownership several times but in 2007 the next generation of Carrells took over ownership and operations when long time racers Rick and Brenda Carrell purchased the track. They are now on the fourth generation of Carrells to be involved in Ardmore Dragway since Rick’s father, Joe Carrell, was one of the original co-owners & founders of Ardmore Dragway in 1954. 

“We are very excited to be a newly sanctioned NHRA member track and look forward to a great year of drag racing,” said Rick Carrell. “We are dedicated to making Ardmore Dragway a place that others would consider to be a great place to race and we appreciate all of the racers & fans that have supported us over the last 64 years. We hope they too will share in our excitement of taking Ardmore Dragway to the next level.”

The dragstrip has been through major renovations since 2007 including a complete resurfacing of the track, asphalt of pit roads, new grandstands, renovated tower, new concession stand, new concrete bathrooms which are also safe rooms, a spectator entry gate, concrete barrier walls, new fuel building and digital scoreboards. 

“Ardmore Dragway has a rich history in the region and is well known for the family approach they take in running the facility,” said Trey Capps, Division 4 director. “We welcome them into the member track family and look forward to the start of the busy race season.”

Ardmore Dragway will host one of their key events, the 46th consecutive Cowpasture Nationals, in October of this year. The name comes from the fact that Ardmore Dragway used to be a cow pasture where cattle grazed and roamed the land. Many still remember Ardmore Dragway as the dragstrip in the middle of the pasture. 

As an NHRA-sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the track has the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the NHRA All Access Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge, where racers compete for the coveted Wally trophy.

NHRA’s Division 4, the South Central Division, features tracks from Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Division 4 facilities host NHRA-sanctioned competitions throughout the year. For more information including schedules, point standings and more, go to the Division 4 website: www.nhradiv4.com.