Estherwood Airport
ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.
- A crash into the crowd on April 7, 1957 led the parish to ban racing at the airport
- Later the site of Crowley Drag Strip
- Raced
- 1955, 1957
- 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
- Le Gros Memorial Airport
- Raced on
- An airport runway
- First race
- June 5, 1955
- Last race
- April 7, 1957
- Location
- Estherwood Airport
- People
- Lafayette Rod and Custom Club, sponsor (1955)
- Sanction
- NHRA
- Elevation
- 12 ft (4 m)
- Coordinates
- 30.16215, -92.48410
The Lafayette Rod and Custom Club held NHRA-sanctioned drag races at Estherwood Airport, now Le Gros Memorial Airport, on June 5, August 7, October 2 and November 6, 1955, with trophies for class winners. Before the August 7 race the strip records stood at 119.20 mph and 11.8 seconds. On April 7, 1957, Gerald Jones lost control of his dragster and plowed into spectators along the side, killing one and injuring four. The Acadia Parish Police Jury then banned drag racing at the airport. The same site later became Crowley Drag Strip.
More in Louisiana
- Nothing left No longer racing, and nothing of the track remains. Babin Landing Strip (Prairieville) 1980s
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Baton Rouge Dragway/State Capital Dragway (Erwinville) 1969-2025
- Active Still racing today. Bob Harmon Raceway/Twin City Dragway (Monroe) 1965-present
- Nothing left No longer racing, and nothing of the track remains. Cenla Raceway (Forest Hill) 1969-ca. 1977
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Crowley Drag Strip (Estherwood) 1964-67
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. D'Arbonne Dragway (Farmerville) 1965-66
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. De Soto Airport (Mansfield) 1954-62
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Esler Field (Pineville) 1956-57
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Hammond Airport 1957-64
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Haynesville Dragway 1969-79
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Hilltop Raceway (Haughton) 1964-67
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Jonesboro Municipal Airport 1965-66