Electric City Dragway/Great Falls Dragway

Richard A. Garner filed incorporation papers for Electric City Dragway on August 15, 1969, and the eighth-mile strip held its first race August 31 before more than 2,400 spectators. A clipping from the History Museum at Great Falls fills in the rest. Jim and Pat Kraus built the strip on their land about four miles south of Great Falls on River Road, on a bluff above Donovan Park, using an airstrip built for private planes. Barry Hardill, Wayne Selden and Dick Garner leased it the first year. The Krauses ran it themselves in 1970 as Great Falls Dragway, holding more than a half dozen races, but turnout from fans and racers was disappointing. In 1971 they leased it to a group of young men, including their son David, who was elected president of the Great Falls Dragway Club. The group worked on improvements to get NHRA sanction. The strip had bleachers, a timing tower and a concession stand. It seems not to have lasted past 1971.