National Dragster: 2004 Member Track Profile: Barona Dragstrip

Barona Dragstrip

El Cajon, Calif.

Track managers

Mike Goodwin and Tony Kotasek

Shipping address

1750 Barona Road

Lakeside, CA 92040

Phone

(619) 445-3559

Website

www.baronadragstrip.com

Location

Barona Dragstrip is located on the Barona Valley Indian Reservation just past the Barona Valley Ranch Casino. From San Diego, take Interstate 8 to Highway 67N.

Classes

Electronics, No Electronic, Street, Motorcycle, and Jr. Dragster

Weekly schedule

Barona Dragstrip hosts racing events on select Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year with competition in the Barona Summit Series, Saturday Gamblers, and Jr. Dragster.

Special events

* Run What Ya Brung Motorcycle Drag Racing, Oct. 2-3

* Thunder on the Mountain, Oct. 9

* Antiques Drags, Oct. 24

Track history

Barona Dragstrip, the first dragstrip to be built in Southern California in the last 37 years, hosted its first race in June 2003, with racer and spectator attendance steadily increasing. The track's 2004 schedule includes competition in the NHRA Summit Racing Series, which will allow its racers to represent Barona Dragstrip at the Division 7 NHRA Summit Racing Series Finals with the chance to earn a berth into the NHRA Summit Racing Series National Championships at Pomona Raceway in November. Track officials regularly make presentations to San Diego high schools and related auto-shop programs to continue Barona Dragstrip's commitment to providing a safe alternative to street racing.

Recent/planned improvements

Barona Dragstrip invests its revenue back into facility improvements that were unattainable prior to its first race and others deemed necessary based on feedback from racers and fans. Such improvements include a 300-foot track extension, scoreboards, enlargement of the pit area, and RC car racing.

Track tidbits

* eighth-mile

* year-round schedule

* 100-acre facility with state-of-the-art concrete/asphalt surface and the latest timing and electronic operating systems

* more than 250,000 square feet of asphalt paving, including pit areas

* fully lighted

* concessions provided throughout the facility

* motorhome parking available

* seating for up to 3,000

High-profile regulars

2003 King of the Track Tom Axorn, Tom Britton, Jay Cason, Pete and Priscilla Cogswell, Tracy Ferez, RJ Simcock, Mike Bolden, Juan Salas, Donavan Deal, Tony Huff, Todd Fergeson, Barb and Ken Becker, Bob Chagnon, Brian Medenhall, Bruce McDowell, Dave Sumek, Jerry Lacy, Joe Glenwinkle, Keith King, Pete Wrieden, Chris Wrieden, Shane Crostini, Bill Ketterman, and Don, Harold, and Mike Meziere