Four-State Dragway (Monett)

This quarter-mile airport strip held its first race August 1, 1965. It was at Monett Municipal Airport, five miles west of Monett and south of Pierce City, where Highways 60 and 97 meet, and it ran slightly uphill. On the resurfaced runway Fred Swanda of Tulsa ran 8.11 at 165 mph in his ‘Spoiler’ A/FD. On Sunday, August 22, John Brooks’ B gas dragster wiped out the timing lights on the first run, so the day went untimed, and Curt Norman of Springfield won top stock. Racing seems to have been every Sunday. The Morris-McClintock AA/GD from Tulsa set a track record of 8.50 and 183.50 mph on September 12, close to the fuel dragster record. A week later Don Cain drove Bob Sullivan’s ‘Pandemonium IV’ to a strip record of 8.09 and 186.32 mph. Ira McMacklin of Sedalia won top stock at 13.92 and 101.46 on September 26. On October 17, Gary Knost of Carthage won top eliminator at 10.40 and 164.20 in his A gas dragster, and Terry Ivey of Joplin set a sportsman record of 11.89 and 119.68 in his Hemi Dodge.

Bill Coatney managed the first season, which brought in big names. In 1967 he and his wife leased the track and cut back on star bookings to play it safer. They ran AHRA rules for cash prizes and NASCAR rules for trophies, both at every weekly race. Bob Adams of Wichita won competition eliminator at 9.95 and 125.27 mph on August 27, 1967. On August 11, 1968, Hollie’s ‘Back Up Pickup’ wheelstander was booked, and a drawing winner rode along on its last exhibition run. Jimmie Collier was track official in 1972, the last year any record of the track turns up. In late April 1972, Larrie, Jimmie and J. C. Collier put Friend Airport up for auction.