Drag racing is a sport that each and every one of us have come to love and hold dear to our hearts and our free time. At times, we take for granted that the facilities that house our weekly events are businesses and they have to show a profit to keep the gates open and expenses paid. And even then, outside factors can and have played a part in shuttering many a strip.

Scenes like this are hard to see, especially in today’s market with drag racing flourishing in some markets yet struggling in others.

For the Speedworld Dragstrip in Surprise, Arizona, that dreaded day came three years ago when the gates were permanently closed on the historic dragstrip near Sun City after the local government pulled its permit for the facility pending facility upgrades that the owner simply could not justify.

As you can see in the above video, Mother Nature has been hard on the concrete and asphalt surfaces in that short time, with grass seen growing up in all of the cracks and throughout the pit area. Concrete barriers were placed along the drag strip to keep illegal racing from occurring at the facility since it is no longer a place of business. Windows have been busted out of the timing tower and other buildings, as well.

Many may recall the Speedworld Dragstrip from the hailed PINKS episodes from around ten years ago, which among other episodes, was the filming site for the show featuring future Street Outlaws’ stars Justin ‘Big Chief’ Shearer and David ‘Daddy Dave’ Comstock.

This story is a sad one, nonetheless. It is always hard to see a racing facility close up for the racers and fans within the area, forcing them to drive an even further distance to enjoy their favorite sport of drag racing. Many ask, what can be done to keep this from happening? Support your local racing facility and even help them come up with new and exciting programs that may get more people through the gates and keep your local tracks surviving and in business for all to see, enjoy, and learn more about this great sport.