Missoula County Airport
ClosedClosed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there.
- About 1,800 people watched the first and apparently only race
- Raced
- 1957
- State
- Montana
- What's left
- A good length of the old track surface is still there, in poor to good condition.
- Raced on
- An airport runway
- First race
- April 28, 1957
- Last race
- April 28, 1957 (apparently the only race)
- Location
- Missoula County Airport, five miles northwest of Missoula
- People
- Block Busters Rod and Custom Club, organizer (1957)
- Elevation
- 3,190 ft (972 m)
- Coordinates
- 46.92271, -114.09250
The Block Busters Rod and Custom Club held a drag race at the airport, five miles northwest of Missoula, on April 28, 1957. The plan was to race every two weeks. About 1,800 people watched that first race, and Dick Morphy of the Duke’s Hot Rod Club in Spokane had the day’s top speed at 97 MPH. It seems to have been the only race. The Hell Gate Timing Association tried to bring racing back in 1958 but didn’t succeed.
Background
The field is now Missoula Montana Airport, owned by the Missoula County Airport Authority. It's a primary commercial service airport, went by Missoula International until a 2021 renaming, and opened a new terminal in 2022.
More in Montana
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- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Butte Airport 1957-62
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Conrad Airport 1961
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Copper City Road Angels drag strip (Butte) 1956
- Status unknown Closed, but nobody has checked how much of the site survives, or the exact spot was never found. Electric City Dragway/Great Falls Dragway 1969-71
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Gallatin Field (Belgrade) 1958-60
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Glasgow Air Force Base (St. Marie) 1969
- Active Still racing today. Hi-Line Dragstrip (Malta) ca. 2008-present
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Hustler's Dragway (Glendive) 1969-82
- Active Still racing today. Lewistown Raceway/King Cam Dragway 1957-present
- Closed No longer racing, but some of the track is still there. Malmstrom Air Force Base 1955