Firebird Raceway

Firebird Raceway is a motorsport racing venue in the western United States, near Eagle, Idaho, in the Boise metropolitan area. The raceway opened 53 years ago in 1968 under management of racing enthusiasts Bill and Ellanor New, and it has remained under ownership of the New family.

Not to be confused with Firebird International Raceway.
Firebird Raceway
Firebird Raceway in 2019
Location8551 Hwy 16, Eagle, Idaho
Coordinates43.767°N 116.469°W / 43.767; -116.469 (Firebird Raceway)
Area60 acres
Built1968 (1968)
Built byBill New
NRHP reference No.100003243[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 24, 2018

A longstanding member track of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), the raceway has been named NHRA Track of the Year three times.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, the first dragstrip to be included on the register.[3]

Just west of Highway 16 between Star and Emmett, the elevation is approximately 2,700 feet (825 m) above sea level.

History

Firebird Raceway was incorporated on May 11, 1968, by Ronald Ashley, J.S. Chapman, and J.W. Korn.[4] Bob Riggle and his Hurst Hemi Under Glass were featured on opening day, July 28, 1968.[5]

In 1969, the raceway hosted one of six Northwest Regional World Championship drag meets.[6] Later that year the raceway hosted the first annual Nitromethane Invitational Championship, a Top Fuel event.[7]

The annual NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor competition began in 1971,[8] and the Pepsi Nightfire Nationals began in 1972.[9]

Director Don Almeido's documentary, Firebird Raceway 35th Annual Pepsi Nightfire Nationals, was released in 2007.[10]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "Firebird Raceway founder dies at 79". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. February 13, 2014.
  3. The NRHP nomination form had not been digitized as of April 2019. A copy is on file at Idaho State Archives. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Firebird Raceway". National Park Service. Retrieved April 21, 2019. With accompanying pictures
  4. "Two Companies Enter Papers to Incorporate". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. May 11, 1968. p. 32.
  5. "Firebird Raceway to Open Today". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. July 28, 1968. p. 13.
  6. Ray Giffin (May 11, 1969). "Dragsters Open Action with Qualifying Runs at Firebird Raceway". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 30.
  7. "Firebird Plays Host for Top Fuel Drags". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. August 29, 1969. p. 23.
  8. Rachel Roberts (April 29, 2010). "Still Burning - Firebird Raceway's Ignitor is steeped in history". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho.
  9. "Major Dates Set for 2019 Season". Firebird Raceway. December 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  10. Chad Dryden (May 22, 2007). "Firebird Raceway fuels focus for new movie - Documentary weaves history with action-packed footage of 35th annual Nightfire Nationals". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 14.

Further reading


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