By Marty Gordon
Rusty Wallace, who won the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup championship and has been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, this past week announced a strategic multi-year agreement to assume control of operations at Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway near Radford.
In a joint press release with the current ownership at the track, the facility was called a “prime venue for future growth and entertainment offerings.” Wallace said Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway is one of the finest grassroots motorsports facilities in the nation and his group is excited to confirm a full schedule of racing.
“We could not have picked a better home track for The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience (RWRE) and Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience,” said Wallace. “The opportunity to call this amazing short track home for our more advanced programs has us primed for 2021 today. I can’t wait to get up there in the spring.”
Wallace had 55 NASCAR Cup wins, tied for 8th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list. He got his start in racing at small local tracks like Motor Mile and retired from driving in 2004. Most recently he has served as a racing commentator and team owner.
“This is an exciting time for the future of Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway,” said David Hagan, the facility’s owner. “The vision offered by RWRE ensures that the venue will continue to build on its rich past and remain a leading motorsports destination for years to come.”
Mark Ebert, President and CEO of RWRE, added, “We want to thank David Hagan and the staff of Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway for welcoming us with open arms. From the traditional events already in place to the entertainment opportunities only RWRE can provide, we believe there is tremendous potential for growth here and we are ready for action this spring.
“We can’t wait to combine the amazing facility at Motor Mile with a full slate of racing on the oval and dragstrip plus the interactive opportunities for the fans to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR style Late Model, rear engine dragster or into one of our racing go-karts,” Ebert said. “Motor Mile will truly be a one-of-a-kind motorsports facility.”
RWRE is the largest racing school in the country, offering NASCAR-style driving experiences at more than 80 tracks in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005, the North Carolina-based company boasts a diverse collection of driving schools. The group operates a similar driving experience at South Boston Speedway, but Motor Mile will be its official home track.
Motor Mile Speedway is celebrating its 31st anniversary as a NASCAR-sanctioned short track in 2020. In 31 seasons, Motor Mile Speedway has crowned 15 different NASCAR Late Model track champions, and has been the home track of two NASCAR Home Tracks national champions on six different occasions: Philip Morris (2006, ’08, ’09) and Lee Pulliam (2012, ’13, ‘15).
Motor Mile Dragway has showcased high-speed drag racing action since 2004. In its brief history Motor Mile Dragway has spawned several successful careers, most notably that of 2011-14 NHRA Funny Car World Champion Matt Hagan. The 1/8-mile dragway hosts a variety of seasonal motorsports events, including its wildly popular “Friday Night Fury” program.