Dahio Airport Drag Strip (Dayton)
ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.
- Closed for good after its timing equipment was stolen in 1960
- George Montgomery raced here periodically
- Raced
- 1956-60
- State
- Ohio
- What's left
- A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
- On the site today
- Dahio Trotwood Airport
- Raced on
- An airport runway
- Last race
- 1960
- Track
- 1/4 mile
- Location
- Private airport seven miles west of downtown Dayton
- People
- Montgomery County Timing Association, race organizer (1956-60)
- Sanction
- NHRA
- Elevation
- 924 ft (282 m)
- Coordinates
- 39.76589, -84.34387
The Montgomery County Timing Association held Sunday drag races on this private airport strip seven miles west of downtown Dayton. Neighbors sued to stop the racing in July 1956 but lost. Races usually drew close to a thousand spectators, and in 1957 the strip was treated to keep the dust down for them. On August 17, 1957, Tom Heeter of Dayton was killed when his Corvette skidded and rolled repeatedly after being clocked at 107 mph. The strip was NHRA sanctioned by 1957. A March of Dimes benefit quarter-mile race on April 5, 1959, raised over $250, and Tom Fatherree of Liberty won top eliminator in his A/SA 1959 Impala. George Montgomery raced there from time to time. The strip closed for good after its timing equipment was stolen in 1960. The field is now Dahio Trotwood Airport.
Background
Dahio Trotwood Airport, also called Dayton-New Lebanon Airport, is still open for public use between Trotwood and New Lebanon. It's privately owned by Gary Ridell.
More in Ohio
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