Central U. S. Dragway (Pierre)
ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.
- The city rented the runway for $100 for the rest of 1962 and $200 for 1963
- Raced
- 1962-65
- State
- South Dakota
- What's left
- A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
- On the site today
- Abandoned runway (as of 1969)
- Raced on
- An airport runway
- First race
- September 2, 1962
- Surface
- Runway
- Location
- Runway at the Pierre airport
- Sanction
- NHRA
- Elevation
- 1,719 ft (524 m)
- Coordinates
- 44.38215, -100.28787
In June 1962 the Pierre city council approved an application to use an airport runway as a drag strip. The conditions were FAA approval, insurance, a release of city liability, no refreshment stands, and cleanup and policing of events by the organizers. Final approval came in July, with rent of $100 for the rest of the year and $200 for 1963, renewable each year. The first race was on September 2, 1962. Hot Rod’s August 1963 list of NHRA tracks showed races set for July 21, August 11, August 25, September 8, September 22, October 6 and October 20. Racer Tom Cain recalled that getting to the strip was an adventure, since the way in went through a farmer’s yard. In 1969 the Mid-Continent Raceway Association tried and failed to lease the abandoned runway, which it hoped to improve and call Dakota Great Lakes Dragway.
