Esler Field (Pineville)
ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.
- Russ Riegal won top eliminator over 100 cars in a 1957 Pontiac Chieftain
- Raced
- 1956-57
- State
- Louisiana
- What's left
- A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
- On the site today
- Alexandria Esler Regional Airport
- Raced on
- A military airfield
- Location
- Old World War II airfield between Pineville and Libuse
- People
- Cenla Gents car club, ran races (1956)
- Cenla Rod and Custom Club, sponsor (1957)
- Sanction
- NHRA
- Elevation
- 88 ft (27 m)
- Coordinates
- 31.39671, -92.29683
According to Max Williamson, the Cenla Gents car club of Alexandria ran races on a runway of the old World War II airfield between Pineville and Libuse, now Alexandria Esler Regional Airport. A race on September 9, 1956 offered $160 in trophies. The Cenla Rod and Custom Club sponsored the 1957 races, which were monthly and NHRA-sanctioned by then. On April 14, 1957, Russ Riegal took top eliminator over 100 cars in his 1957 Pontiac Chieftain, with more than 1,000 people watching. On July 14, Frank D. Wright of Port Arthur, Texas, had top speed of the day at 101.12 mph in his B/Altered.
More in Louisiana
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- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. De Soto Airport (Mansfield) 1954-62
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- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Hilltop Raceway (Haughton) 1964-67
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