Renamed Firebird Motorsports Park Back in Business

For the past few years, the news of racetracks closing became all too common. An epidemic of racetracks dying in droves was the result of sky-high land values and redevelopment plans to raze over historic racing facilities across the country. One of those racetracks set to close at the hands of developers was Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. In March of 2022, the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority (WHPDA) announced that a new overpass highway would barrel through the space occupied by the dragstrip, road courses, and boat racing lakes.

What was supposed to be the end of a 40-year run of racing events recently took a turn for the better for race fans. Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park announced that the facility will officially stay open in 2024 and beyond, with support from the WHPDA and the Gila River Indian Community. Further, it has been renamed Firebird Motorsports Park, as an ode to its former glory days as Firebird International Raceway.

“Record-breaking attendance and unrelenting support for the facility from the motorsports community has led to an opportunity for the venue to continue operations for years to come,” the facility staff said in a press release.

Also announced was a restructured management team, with Casey Buckman taking on the role as Track Manager and Connie Bopp as Track Business Administrator. Combined, the team has over 50 years of motorsports industry experience and continues to hire track personnel for the facility that quite literally has a new lease on life. In addition, at the Performance Racing Industry show in Indianapolis, NHRA officials along with the Gila River Indian Community announced the running of the annual NHRA Arizona Nationals will return to Firebird Motorsports Park on April 5-7, 2024 after what was supposed to be the final NHRA event in March of this year.

Racers and race fans alike were thrilled to find out the beloved raceway is set to stay open for years to come. For one well-known name in the industry, the famed facility is what forged a path and career as a professional announcer and FOX Sports broadcaster. NHRA’s very own Alan Reinhart has maintained a special connection with the racetrack since its inception, having been in attendance the day it opened.

Although many memories have stemmed from the racetrack, there is one pivotal memory that stands out for Reinhart. One Saturday night in the early 1980s, the usual racetrack announcer was a no-show…