Promoter Tim Baldridge is always glad to see a large turnout at the Owingsville, Ky, track which recently renewed its International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) sanctioning agreement. However, the most enjoyable weekends are the weekly shows with around 100 cars when he can interact with his fellow racers.
“If you have a bunch of cars, you make more money, but you can’t get around and talk to everybody,” he said. “You can’t give everybody the personal touch they deserve.”
With 45 years of racing experience, Baldridge has done his best to provide that personal touch since taking over the former Bluegrass Raceway in 2012. He has upgraded the Eastern Kentucky facility in many ways, recently with a new sound and public address system and applying plenty of paint.
Beyond the racing, he’s promoted a great atmosphere with bonfires and other family-friendly activities which regularly draw those from Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.
However, the reputation of the quality racing at I-64 Motorplex, the home of defending IHRA Summit SuperSeries No Box champion Mason Hatton, is another reason drivers want to test their mettle at the 1/8-mile drag strip.
“It’s tough competition. We have people coming from different places, different tracks to race here,” Baldridge said. “They come here and say, ‘Man, these guys are out for blood.’ Everybody gets along here, but when you’re in those staging lanes, it’s serious business.”
Some of the tough competition include track champions Joey Heck (Top), Hatton (Mod), Laine Blackburn (Sportsman) and Zack Holstion (Junior Dragster), who were I-64 representatives at the 2020 IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals at Memphis International Raceway.
Hatton credited some of the wins and tough losses he experienced at I-64 Motorplex as big factors in him becoming a world champion.
“When I first started racing, my dad would have me race against the best racers at the track,” Hatton said. “While I may have lost some races, I am a competitive person and it taught me how to work hard to achieve wins. It amounts to becoming a better racer on track and a better person on track.”
Showing the heart of the I-64 racers, the Holstion family offered their car as a backup for Hatton when he was having issues with his black 1964 Chevy Nova the weekend of the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.
Baldridge does his best to promote that closeness and bringing everyone together for a great experience. He is currently in talks with the property owner to purchase the land on which the facility sits. Once that transaction is completed, Baldridge has plans to make the track even better.
“I have some people that will help me with more upgrades once we buy the property,” he said. “They want to step up and help us.”
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