Grand Island Airport

The Grand Island Jaycees Timing Association ran drag races at the airport, starting with an NHRA-sanctioned race on April 28, 1957. Its first Midwest regional followed on June 22-23, 1957, drawing racers from eight states and 5,000 spectators for the Sunday finals. George Dahir had top speed at 120.80 in his B dragster, and Darrell Zimmerman of Julesburg, Colorado, won A Stock at 91.07 MPH. At the June 14-15, 1958 regional, Jack Moss of Amarillo took top eliminator and raised the track record from 130 to 149.50 MPH in his twin-engine dragster.

In 1959, with the Jaycees sponsoring for a second year, races ran April 19, May 17, June 13, July 12 and August 2. By 1961 the track, then called the Grand Island Jaycee Dragstrip, raced the third Sunday of each month from April through September, with a two-day event in June. At that year’s NHRA Midwest Regional, Don and Jack Moss of Omaha took top eliminator at 143.31 MPH. On August 4, 1963, 3,500 people watched 175 cars at the Midwest Regional, where Warren Meeks of Taylor won top eliminator in his B dragster. On May 23, 1965, the Ross & Keller Dodge won S/SA at 113.54 MPH. The field began as Grand Island Army Airfield, built in 1942 over an existing municipal airfield and deeded to the city after the war. It’s now Central Nebraska Regional Airport.