PHOTOGRAPHS BY VAN ABERNETHY

. S . 60 Dragway in Hardinsburg , Kentucky , is undergoing a massive renovation project from new owners Chris and Shelby Mattingly ever since the husband-and-wife team bought the vintage eighth-mile facility in April 2023 . Chris has fond memories of first visiting this folksy dragstrip probably 20 years ago . “ I actually came here to test my first dragster mid-week . J . D . Snead owned the track back then , and he told me to open the gate and come on in !”

Chris swung open the gate as if he owned the place , and now he finds himself doing the same thing , because he indeed does . “ I contemplated buying the track for a little while , but not nearly long enough !” he laughs . He and Shelby are completely hands-on owners , present on race day probably 95 % of the time , along with track manager Tyler Bohannon . “ Racers like to see the owners present , and we like seeing them too !” Chris says . “ We meet new people every week .”

After closing the deal to buy the track early in 2023 , the Mattinglys decided to operate the track just as it was , so they ’ d get a feel for the whole process of being track owners , but after they shut down for the winter , the renovations began in full force . Tearing down the old concession stand was the first order of business , electing to rebuild

U . S . 60 Dragway owners Chris and Shelby Mattingly

it in a different location . Brand-new restrooms and shower houses were also constructed . Next came brand-new LED lights and an upgraded PA system . “ The lights were a mess here , and the new LEDs are much improved . We ’ ve probably quadrupled the amount of light from what we previously had ,” says Chris .

The track was also in need of a massive cleanup effort , which included clearing several acres

of woods on the property . Afterwards , brand-new asphalt was laid in the pits , then on January 6 of this year , the massive restoration to the racing surface commenced . “ Instead of digging up the old surface , we decided to use it as a base ,” says Chris . The entire eighth-mile surface consists of brand-new concrete , and now measures 53 feet wide , which is six feet wider than before . New poured concrete walls were also installed to replace the old metal guardrails , and the lengthened shutdown area was also a welcomed improvement .

The track surface renovation was no small undertaking , and was finished in the nick of time , since a big race was on the schedule , with tons of racers committed to attending . “ We were out here all of April – rain or shine – beginning at daylight and staying until sometimes 4 o ’ clock in the morning ,” says Shelby . It all came together , though , and the big race happened as planned .

Special touches for a family-friendly atmosphere were placed in the pits , such as the giant bounce house for kids of all ages , and it ’ s open for use every weekend .

U . S . 60 Dragway is for certain in the best shape of its entire 60-year history , but Chris and Shelby concur that this is only the beginning of what they ’ d like to accomplish here . “ In addition to

September / October 2024

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