Billings Municipal Airport

The Valley Rodders got permission to run quarter-mile drags on the north-south runway of Billings Airport (Logan Field). Their first NHRA-sanctioned race, August 21, 1955, gave trophies to 31 class winners, and they expected more than 100 entries for the season finale on October 30 on the new runway. With the Montana Timing Association supervising, the June 3, 1956 opener drew nearly 1,000 spectators for 51 entries in eleven classes, and the club kept NHRA sanction for the rest of the year. An NHRA regional championship ran there September 16, 1956. The first 1957 race, run by the Billings Timing Association with the backing of the Billings Zonta Club, a women’s group, was rained out on June 16 and held June 30. Snow postponed the April 27, 1958 opener. At the May 1958 race, 500 people watched more than 43 entries, and Doc Koch of Billings won top eliminator at 14.80 and 105 mph in his B gasser. On August 3, 1958, 51 cars ran at the west end of Logan Field on timing gear borrowed from the Bozeman Timing Association, and Bill Keene won top eliminator at 13.10 and 107.27 mph in his A dragster.