Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has entered into a lease agreement for the Pulaski County Motorsports Park, the landmark venue long known to racers and fans as the Motor Mile Speedway, marking a major step in IHRA’s mission to revive grassroots motorsports and reinvest in legendary community tracks.
“This track is part of the racing fabric of Virginia — and the kind of place where generations of families have made memories,” said Darryl Cuttell, Owner of IHRA. “Leasing Pulaski County Motorsports Park allows us to put racing back where it belongs: in the community, accessible to local teams, and exciting for fans.”
The new announcement comes just a month after IHRA announced the launch of
the IHRA Stock Car Series, a bold new division built to restore the true essence of
grassroots stock car racing. The series emphasizes driver talent, balanced competition, and fair, cost-controlled rules—while delivering a national platform
The IHRA Stock Car Series marks a major expansion in the IHRA’s rapidly growing motorsports portfolio. With an unwavering commitment to accessible racing, the series will offer a simplified rules package, affordable participation, and transparent competition standards that put the focus back where it belongs: on skill, determination, and the spirit of American short-track racing.
The series will include two initial stops in our area at Pulaski Motorsports Park, formerly known as Motor Mile Speedway near Radford, on March 21 and July 25. With the lease, it is not known how much more expansion will take place.
Unlike many modern series, the IHRA Stock Car Series is intentionally engineered to avoid the “arms race” of high-cost builds and spending wars. Instead, it prioritizes: cost-effective structure, encouraging racers to out-think rather than out-spend their competition; fair rules that keep the field level; a welcoming entry point for new racers; a sustainable pathway for teams and tracks; and a robust, live broadcasting platform to help racers secure sponsorships.
The new Stock Car Series comes at a pivotal moment for IHRA, following major
expansions into powerboat/offshore racing, truck and tractor pulling, and additional motorsports disciplines. The Stock Car Series further strengthens IHRA’s commitment to family-first racing, grassroots competitors, and building a unified national motorsports ecosystem.
“This is just the beginning,” said Tim Horton, IHRA Stock Car Series Director. “We’re creating a modern motorsports organization with the heart of grassroots racing—and the Stock Car Series is a perfect reflection of what the new IHRA stands for. From the top down, we’re racers — not MBA grads. We understand the challenges today’s racers face, and every decision we make puts racers and fans ahead of profits.”
The county announced a name change to the facility, becoming known as the Pulaski County Motorsports Park. Names the facility had formerly been known as included Pulaski County Speedway, New River Valley Speedway, then Motor Mile Speedway.
In 1952, a dirt track originally opened on the former farm site between Radford and Dublin. In the 80’s, a paved 0.416-mile oval was built on the site. The track announced that it had cut all sanctions with NASCAR and discontinued its oval track racing in late 2017 but reopened under NASCAR sanctioning in 2019.It was purchased by Shelor Automotive Group in 2004 and was subsequently renamed Motor Mile Speedway. The track is most famous for hosting four NASCAR Busch Series events between 1989 and 1992, which included future NASCAR champions like Jeff Gordon.
Both the racetrack and dragway did not see regular action over the past two years and was recently part of a donation by the Shelor Motor Group to Pulaski County, who will now be leasee.
