Atlanta Dragway approved to return as racetrack, purchased by IHRA By Madelyn Marconi

The meeting, which took place in early February, was standing room only, drawing in over 300 attendees as well as hundreds of online viewers. There was overwhelming support from the public as 13 speakers addressed the Board in favor of the proposal. Also present for the hearing was the International Hot Rod Association’ s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer, Doug Foley Jr. Before the final vote of approval was cast, Commissioner Chris Ausburn said to the crowd,“ Drag racers, start your engines,” and an enormous round of applause filled the Chamber.

Originally owned by the National Hot Rod Association( NHRA), the historic facility operated from 1993 until its closure in 2021. Like other racetrack closures, the post-pandemic commerce“ boom” temporarily increased the value of the land, and it was sold for profit by the NHRA.

The facility was ultimately doomed for redevelopment after being sold to VPD / Terra Commerce Development who had plans to turn the facility into 1,193 single and multi-family residential units, along with 336,000 square feet of retail commercial space.

In early 2025, however, the Banks County Commission denied the developer’ s Planned Unit Development( PUD) request. The grounds of their denial centered on the developer needing to find sufficient water and sewer utilities capacities for the property. At the hearing, zoning officials

stated the plan did not meet the county’ s current service delivery strategy. In addition, they noted how the influx of residents would negatively impact traffic for schools and businesses.

While the iconic tower was demolished in late 2022, the racetrack has sat abandoned ever since with most of its basic infrastructure and the quarter-mile dragstrip still existing.

After months of circulating rumors and lots of speculation, just a few days after the County’ s approval was finalized, the International Hot Rod Association( IHRA) officially announced it

had acquired Atlanta Dragway. The announcement marked a long-awaited, highly anticipated return for one of the Southeast’ s most historic drag racing facilities.

“ With the county’ s support, we’ re proud to bring Atlanta Dragway into the IHRA family,” IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell said in the announcement.“ Our goal is to invest in historic tracks, support racers at every level, and build strong relationships with the communities around our facilities.”

Local residents Greg Jewell and William Reems echoed the same sentiment during the public hearing when they spoke on the direct economic impact the racetrack would have on the county.

They also highlighted the sales tax revenue, potential for job opportunities, and the positive effect the facility will have on the younger generations. From packed hotels and restaurants to providing a safe, structured environment for young drivers, the return of Atlanta Dragway will certainly be a net positive for the Banks County area.

“ Banks County understands the positive impact that motorsports can have on local businesses, tourism, and community pride,” said Commissioner Taylor Griffith.“ We look forward to working alongside IHRA to ensure Atlanta Dragway continues to be a destination that benefits our citizens while honoring the rich racing history that so many families here cherish. We are optimistic about this next chapter and the opportunities it brings for growth, partnership, and continued economic development in Banks County.”

Now that the approvals are in place and the acquisition has been completed, race fans are looking to IHRA on what comes next. In their statement, IHRA outlined their goal of immediately reestablishing the facility as a national destination as well as a key Southeastern hub for sportsman competition, national events, and community-focused programming.

The sanctioning body included the newly purchased facility on the 2026 IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series schedule as the venue to host the World Finals, scheduled for October 22-24. The racing community now eagerly anticipates the return of the historic facility, with renewed optimism that its comeback will secure its place in Georgia for generations to come. DI

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES AYTON