Thursday, September 28, 2000

Checkered Flag
Abilene Shootout continues expansion
By Mark Wilson

The Big One continues to get bigger.

The Abilene Shootout drag race — the country’s largest two-day bracket race — is expected to expand again this year.

When the racing commences Friday morning, organizers are expecting to have at least 550 entries logged in, compared to last year’s 527. And by the time the last racers roar down the temporary track at Abilene Regional Airport, an estimated 30,000 fans will have been on hand to witness the action over the two-day period.

“This is our eighth annual race, and we’ve seen it grow every year,’’ said Gary Glenn, the president of Abilene Motor Sports, who said that 23,500 people passed through the gates a year ago. “This is our eighth annual race and we’ve seen it grow every year. Being that this is the largest two-day bracket race in the nation, that in itself brings in a lot of people. We could easily hit 600 cars.’’

Glenn noted that a drag race scheduled this weekend in San Antonio has been canceled, which should lure even more drivers to compete in Abilene.

Glenn said that visibility — and interest — for the event may have been sparked over the last few months by the media coverage of the search for a suitable location to build the Star of Texas Raceway Park. That facility, when completed, will serve as the permanent home for both the Abilene Shootout and Abilene’s other popular annual racing event, the Sunburn Grand Prix. Final plans are still yet to be announced for the location of the new track. But this weekend will almost certainly mark the end of drag racing at the airport, according to organizers.

The total purse this year is also up (now $20,000) thanks to the major sponsor — Reeder’s Auto Supply — along with lane sponsors Hanner Chrysler-Dodge and Abilene Dragway Park.

“The thing that makes us the happiest is that this thing started from a Rotary Club project, and all the money made goes to charity,’’ Glenn said, noting that approximately 50 local charities have shared benefits of $260,000 from both the drag race and the Sunburn Grand Prix over the years.

The racing also brings a positive economic benefit to Abilene each year.

“The economic impact over the years has been in excess of $70 million, so these races do a lot of good for Abilene,’’ Glenn said. “They bring a lot of business into Abilene.’’

Tickets

Races will begin at 7:30 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be available at the gate. Prices will be $10 for Saturday and $12 for Sunday, and an additional $3 will secure a pit pass. A two-day pass (including a pit pass) will be available for $20.

Contact assistant sports editor Mark Wilson at 676-6775 or wilsonm@abinews.com. We are on the Web at sports.texnews.com.