Tucson Dragway

On May 22, 1962, the board of supervisors approved M. M. Sundt Construction Company’s application to build a drag strip at the northeast corner of Houghton and Valencia roads, on land leased from the state. Stockholders financed it: Fred Fisher (52 percent), Lyle Fisher (4 percent), W. Shelley Richey (4 percent), William E. Naumann (4 percent) and M. M. Sundt Construction (10 percent). It opened under AHRA sanction with its first race on April 12, 1964. The grand opening on April 19 drew 6,000 people, and Jimmy Nix set a world record of 135.33 mph in his S/FX Dodge Charger. Lyle Fisher and Red Greth took top fuel eliminator at 193.66 mph on April 26, 1964. Newspaper editorials and letters criticized the strip’s 1964 application for a liquor license to sell beer, and the strip withdrew it that May. Fred Fisher said the track never meant to sell beer and had applied only to keep anyone from opening a tavern nearby. The strip reportedly closed after hosting the 1985 AHRA Winternationals because drug smugglers were landing planes on it. Remnants still show in aerial photos.