Holiday Raceway (Woodstock)
ActiveActive Still racing today.
Also known as The Beach
A family-owned eighth-mile strip known as The Beach, on Highway 11 between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa since 1968. It runs weekly test and tune, bracket racing and occasional gasser and novelty events.
- Nicknamed "The Beach" for the swimming resort next door
- Regular headliners included David Rampy and Shannon Jenkins
- Raced
- 1968-present
- State
- Alabama
- Track
- 1/8 mile
- Address
- 20105 Highway 11, Woodstock, AL
- People
- Johnny Bateh, founder and owner (until 1991)
- Thurman West, founder and partner
- Chris Bateh, owner (1991-)
- Stephanie Bateh, owner (1991-)
- Jason Beams, owner (1991-)
- Barbara Beams, owner (1991-)
- Jerry Beams, owner (1991-)
- Sanction
- IHRA
- Elevation
- 567 ft (173 m)
- Coordinates
- 33.22291, -87.16514
- Contact
- holidayraceway.com (205) 938-2123
Big races
Southeast Gassers Association Bama Brawl
The first SEGA championship stop at the track and the series' first Alabama race in about five years.
Street Car Challenge
Holiday Raceway is one of three Alabama strips used by this street car drag-and-drive event.
Wreck the Halls Demolition Drag and Swap Meet
A December demolition drag race paired with a swap meet.
Thursday open track / test and tune
Weekly evening open track sessions plus bracket racing in Pro, Foot-Brake and Jr. Dragster classes.
History
Holiday Raceway, known as “The Beach,” started out with open class racing. Johnny Bateh and his business partner, Thurman West, founded it, according to current owner Chris Bateh. The nickname came from the swimming beach next to the track. In the 1950s Holiday Beach was a swimming resort with lakes, slides and a big dance floor, and people could play there all day and race at night. Regular headliners included David Rampy of Piedmont, Alabama, and Shannon Jenkins. After Johnny Bateh died in 1991, his son Chris and daughter Stephanie took over ownership along with Thurman’s heirs, Jason, Barbara and Jerry Beams. The track still races on Saturday nights, mostly bracket and heads-up racing with occasional pro mod events. Racer Don Kirkland remembered that the left lane sloped toward the outside edge, so a car lined up crooked would get straightened out by the slope.
Video
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