Track manager Cody Cherry explained the IHRA programs have benefited Beacon greatly.
“We’ve had a lot of good support this year and a lot of new members,” Cherry said. “We were able to have new members who were proud to support IHRA and Beacon.”
Wesley Lockhart is just one of the great racers, who call Beacon Dragway a home track. His brother, Charlie Lockhart, was the Mod (No Box) representative at the 2023 IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals presented by Strange Engineering. Isaac Fulcher was the representative in the Top (Box) class. Other representatives were: Keaton Overstreet (Sportsman) and Addi Fulcher (Junior Dragster).
“Wesley going and being the world champion is something we’re very proud of,” Cherry said. “The Lockharts, the Fulchers and Walkers are some of the big families that race here. You have other big family events and big groups of people which help make it a special place.”
Cherry praises track owner Keith Murt for his support of the local racing. Murt recently retired from driving a Top Fuel dragster, but his passion for the sport and the track remains strong.
The 1/8-mile drag strip features Accutime system, which was recently calibrated, and one of the longest shutdown areas of any track East of the Mississippi. They’ve continued to create more parking areas with a goal of hosting an IHRA Summit Team Finals in the future.
Beacon Dragway is the first track announced on the 2024 IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Moser Engineering and FuelTech schedule. The rest of the 2024 schedule will be announced soon. Cherry talked about what hosting a Sportsman Spectacular means as well as their success with the IHRA Ironman Classic races.
“It’s going to be great to have a Sportsman Spectacular,” Cherry said. “We capitalized on the Ironman program in the 2023 season with a spring and fall race. That was an awesome opportunity to give the racers two chances to win the Ironman, which is such an iconic piece. To be able to give them two chances at it, that was huge.”
Working well with local sponsors, other major events planned for 2024 include some Street Car and No Prep races. The majority of the schedule will be focused on the bracket racing which is so strong in the area.
Beyond the on-track competition, the folks at Beacon keep the racers and fans in mind with a ton of fun activities. Visitors can make passes on a 570-feet dirt drag strip or laps on a short dirt oval and a dirt road course nicknamed “Beacon’s Wonderland.” A motocross track is still in the works.
Click here to check out the Beacon Dragway Facebook page and keep up to date with all the exciting events happening at this great facility.
