Deer Valley Dragway (Phoenix)

This strip ran on the runway of Deer Valley Airport, at the end of 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road north of Phoenix’s North Mountain. The airport is still there. In July 1959 newspapers reported that the runway was being extended, its last three-quarters of a mile smooth-surfaced, with grandstands going up and lights going in for night racing. When finished, the 75-foot-wide track had 5,000 feet of asphalt-concrete surface and 1,500 feet of smoothed dirt overrun. When it first ran isn’t known, but on June 5, 1960, Raymond Ferry, 23, was badly hurt there when his dragster spun out at 182 mph. Night racing was going by July 30, 1960, with weekly Saturday races. Drag racer Jack Schnepf promoted the NHRA-sanctioned strip. Better lighting was ready for the August 20, 1960 race, and the spectator area was moved closer to the strip. Fuel cars had to carry a parachute and stay under 150 mph, with penalties for going over. That limit seems to have been dropped by October 16, 1960, when dragsters were trying to beat the Arizona speed mark of 182 mph, and Sunday racing had been added. O. H. Bender, who had promoted drag racing in Las Vegas and Pomona, took over in 1961. Sunday racing started March 19 with a $100 bond for top eliminator. Gary Cagle’s 175 mph fuel dragster was entered on April 2, and the Fisher-Greth Speed Sport Special made runs on April 30, possibly the last drag race at the airport. Competition from the Phoenix Drag Strip northwest of Peoria, also open in 1961, probably killed racing at Deer Valley.