The revival of Chandler's iconic raceway has hit the gas with a new multiyear deal. Formerly known as Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, the venue is gearing up for a comeback under its new name, Firebird Motorsports Park, ahead of the 39th annual National Hot Rod Association Arizona Nationals, scheduled from April 5-7. "This is a multiyear deal to reinvest, rebrand and rebuild this facility in order to truly make it the beacon for motorsports that it should be throughout the country," Firebird Motorsports Park Track Manager Casey Buckman said, as reported by ABC15.
In what was almost the end for the 40-year-old racetrack, due to the expansion of the I-10 threatening its existence, it's now set for a grand return with the crucial assistance, of the Gila River Indian Community and Wild Horse Pass Development Authority. These entities helped by rerouting a planned freeway overpass that was poised to slice through the property. According to a Business Journal report, reviving the track has been "a multimillion-dollar endeavor."
Underlining the financial heft the endeavor demands, Buckman was cited pointing out, "Just with the expenses for TV and having the police department's involvement with road closures and presence at the event, along with others, these quickly become six-figure expenses," in a Business Journal interview. Despite these costs, Buckman remains confident in the track’s legacy and its ability to draw crowds, "It's what makes it a challenge on either the venue or series side, but fortunately, we're such a storied venue that we'll have no problem drawing the stands."
The threat of closure is not unique to Firebird Motorsports Park, with several drag strips across the nation recently winding down operations amidst rising land values. Buckman highlighted the broader trend affecting race tracks, saying, "The fact that when you look around the country right now, there's a lot of drag strips that end up closing their doors because land is so valuable right now," as told to the Business Journal. However, the joint efforts with the NHRA to maintain a market presence and drive through a rebranding initiative appear to have given the Chandler track a new lease on life.
