NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

(photo courtesy of Brian Wagner/Dragzine)

Dallas Jones, longtime owner of Beech Bend Raceway and other Division 3 tracks, died Feb. 25. He was 82.

Before they owned the track. Jones and wife Alfreda spent a lot of time at Beech Bend Park from 1959 to 1970. Jones was a racer, and he raced his daily driver '56 Chevy until he traded for a '62 Chevy. In 1963, Dallas purchased his first real race car, a '63 Plymouth. He continued to race for the next several years with various race cars, competing most Sundays at Beech Bend. After the races, the family would head to the amusement park to play for a little while before making the one-hour drive home.

In 1974, the Joneses leased the Hardinsburg, Ky., dragstrip and ran it for one season while continuing to work their regular jobs. After one season in Hardinsburg, Dallas seized the opportunity to lease the Owensboro, Ky., dragstrip and made many improvements over the years. The track grew tremendously under Dallas' direction. They operated the track through the 1987 season.

In 1984, the Joneses purchased Beech Bend Raceway and Dallas retired from his job at a wholesale grocery company. They started making improvements at Beech Bend, racing on Sundays, and continued to run Owensboro Raceway Park on Saturday nights through 1987. Dallas also purchased and ran Whitesville, Ky.'s stock car track for one season after purchasing Beech Bend.

Under the guidance of Dallas, Alfreda, and son Clay, Beech Bend Raceway grew into a nationally renowned racing facility and host to several major events, including the Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion, the NMRA World Finals, Holley LSFest, NHRA Hot Rod Reunion, Street Outlaws, the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, Tri-Five Nationals, Import Alliance, and several diesel, Corvette, and Harley events. Beech Bend Raceway has been selected as the NHRA Division 3 Track of the Year as well as the NHRA Track of the Year several times. Grandson Broc Porter became general manager of Beech Bend Raceway after the passing of Clay in 2014.

In 1989, the Jonses partnered with daughter Charlotte and her husband, Rick, to purchase Music City Raceway in Goodlettsville, Tenn. Under Dallas' direction, many improvements were made to that racetrack, and they continue to run Music City Raceway today.

In 1987, the Jonses purchased the remaining property at Beech Bend, which included the campground and amusement park land. By this time, the Park was in need of a major overhaul.

The Jones family began to rebuild Beech Bend Park. The campground was renovated, and Jones began to add a few new rides each year and made many facility improvements. Dallas served as president of both Beech Bend Raceway and Beech Bend Park. 

Jonrd is survived by his wife of 63 years, Alfreda Cottrell Jones, daughter Charlotte Gonzalez (Rick), daughter Dana Porter (Jonathan), and daughter-in-law Stephanie Jones; brothers David Jones, Charlie Jones (Linda), and Mike Jones; sisters Faye Blair, Hilda Quisenberry (Jim), and Betty Conkright; grandchildren Broc Porter (Rebecca), Brianne Fortney (Jacob), Reed Gonzalez (Danielle), Rachel Gonzalez, Grant Gonzalez, and Clacey Jones; great grandchildren Raelyn and Adalyn Fortney and Anna Grace and Hayden Porter. Dallas is survived by several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 11 a.m. at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel in Bowling Green, Ky., with burial to follow in Bowling Green Gardens.