Atlanta Dragway - Wikipedia

Racing facility in Banks County, Georgia Darana Dragway Commerce

Atlanta Dragway in 2001
Location	Banks County, near Commerce, Georgia, United States
Coordinates	34°15′50.06″N 83°28′21.93″W / 34.2639056°N 83.4727583°W / 34.2639056; -83.4727583
Owner	International Hot Rod Association
Address	500 E. Ridgeway Road
Opened	1976
Closed	2021
Major events	NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing SeriesNHRA Southern Nationals (1981–2021)
Website	http://www.atlantadragway.com
Drag Strip
Surface	Concrete
Length	0.125 mi (.201 km)

Darana Dragway Commerce is a proposed drag racing facility located in Banks County, Georgia, just north of Commerce, Georgia. Originally Atlanta Dragway from 1976 to its 2021 closure, the track hosted From 1981 until 2021, it hosted the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series Southern Nationals.

History

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Atlanta Dragway was built in 1975 by Gene Bennett and originally had been graded out for an airport. The original airport tower served as the original timing tower, and the track direction was the same as the airport without asphalt, just Georgia red clay. In 1980, the track was sold to Norman Pearah and became an NHRA-sanctioned track. Back then, the track was only opened twice a year for major events.

The track was purchased in 1987 by Pro Stock driver Gary Brown and partners J.D. Stevens and Rudy Bowen. The track underwent major reconstruction to put in new aluminum grandstand seating, permanent restrooms and rebuilt concession buildings. In 1989, the thirteen-year-old track was resurfaced with a concrete launching pad and a new timing system. In addition to the track modification, a reconditioned VIP tower complete with a timing deck, press center and corporate suites was built in 1990.

NHRA purchased the track in 1993. They resurfaced the track and added an updated timing system in 1999. The tower restrooms were remodeled and all concession, tower and ticket buildings were rewired. In 2003, the track's FM radio and public address system were both upgraded. In 2008 NHRA history was made at the track when Ashley Force Hood became the first female driver to win a Funny Car event. NHRA has announced intentions to sell the property after the 2021 meet.[1]

NHRA announced that the "2021 NHRA Southern Nationals would be the final major NHRA national event to be held at historic Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA."[2]

The property was sold to Terra Commerce for demolition of the tower (which was completed) and grandstands, but not the drag strip itself. On February 4, 2025, Banks County Planning Commission rejected Terra Commerce's plans to redevelop the venue as a mixed-use unit of over 1,200 homes and 300,000 square feet of commercial development in a unanimous vote, 5-0, after considerable objections by local residents.[3]

Later in 2025, many drag racing insiders told Bobby Bennett's Competition Plus site that the International Hot Rod Association was considering purchasing the facility as part of expanding the 2026 schedule. A working draft of the IHRA's 2026 schedule speculates that the property could be acquired by the organisation, which would host 1/8 mile drag races as a late-autumn round after rebuilding, as the IHRA has committed itself in 2026 to exclusively participating in 1/8 mile drag racing. The announcement was posted in December 2025 for the sanctioning body's Drag Review magazine as a contracted track. The IHRA, however, was unable to formally announce the event during the December 11-14 Performance Racing Industry trade show in Indianapolis. The schedule announcement did, however, keep the proposed October date for the track open while the IHRA finishes negotiations with Banks County and contractors for the rebuilding that would include grandstands and a timing tower.[4]

Winners

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Year	Top Fuel	Funny Car	Pro Stock
1990	Lori Johns	Ed McCulloch	Larry Morgan
1991	Kenny Bernstein	Del Worsham	Bob Glidden
1992	Don Prudhomme	John Force	Don Beverley
1993	Eddie Hill	John Force	Warren Johnson
1994	Connie Kalitta	John Force	"Scott Geoffrion"
1995	Cory McClenathan	John Force	Mark Osborne
1996	Larry Dixon	Tony Pedregon	Kurt Johnson
1997	Kenny Bernstein	Randy Anderson	Jim Yates
1998	Cory McClenathan	Cruz Pedregon	Mark Osborne
1999	Gary Scelzi	John Force	Warren Johnson
2000	Gary Scelzi	John Force	Jeg Coughlin
2001	Mike Dunn	Frank Pedregon	Jim Yates
2002	Larry Dixon	Whit Bazemore	Allen Johnson
2003	Larry Dixon	Tony Pedregon	Warren Johnson
2004	Cory McClenathan	Whit Bazemore	Greg Anderson
2005	Doug Kalitta	John Force	Greg Anderson
2006	Doug Kalitta	Tony Pedregon	Dave Connolly
2007	Brandon Bernstein	Robert Hight	Greg Anderson
2008	Antron Brown	Ashley Force	Mike Edwards
2009	Morgan Lucas	Jack Beckman	Mike Edwards
2010	Larry Dixon	Robert Hight	Jeg Coughlin

References

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1. ^ After 40 years, Atlanta Dragway will say goodbye to NHRA racing in 2021, possibly closing its doors - Phillip Thomas, Hagerty, 23 March 2021
2. ^ "Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals*". NHRA. 2020-10-06. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
3. ^ "Banks County Commission Meeting - February 4, 2025" (PDF). Banks County. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
4. ^ "Rumor Mill: IHRA Eyes Shocking Returns for Commerce and Memphis". Competition Plus. Retrieved 2025-11-20.

External links

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• Official website

v t e NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series dragstrips
Current (2026)	Adel Gainesville Chandler Pomona Las Vegas Concord Joliet Mechanicsville Epping Bristol Norwalk Kent Sonoma Brainerd Indianapolis Rockingham Madison Ennis
Former	Baytown Commerce Englishtown Irvine Fremont Kirkersville Lewisville Millington Mohnton Morrison Ontario Petersburg Riverside Saint-Pie Topeka

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