TOP GUN RACEWAY
Top Gun Raceway has become one
of Fallons tourism anchors and is now
in its 11th season. The racing season
will see the track host one of its biggest
races yet when the NHRA Division 7 Summit ET
Series Finals take place Oct. 10th through
the 13th. Top Gun Raceway has also been designated
as ESPNs featured track in Division 7
and will be spotlighted in one of this years
national races the network will televise.
The motor sports complex is located
15 miles east of Fallon on U.S. Hwy 95. The
drag strip will spend nearly $100,000 to upgrade
and improve its facilities this year. It is
quickly becoming one of the NHRA Division 7's
best quarter-mile drag strips. In fact, the
surface is considered by many seasoned racers
to be the best on the West coast.
The drag strip is equipped with
state-of-the-art computerized staging and timing
equipment, seating for 3,000 spectators, and
a staging area for 500 racers. There is also
a concession area, rest rooms, and lights for
night racing. Improvements to the pit area,
paving, and score boards have won rave reviews
from racers and spectators alike. A bridge
walkway over the track to the grandstand area
(donated to the track when the Reno Grand Prix
folded in 1998) is another outstanding improvement.
The track is owned and operated
by Motor Sports Safety, Inc.
The racing season includes NHRA junior dragsters,
Super Groups, jet dragsters, funny cars, points,
circuit, amateur and pro drags. Some major
races of the year include Jets, Funny Cars,
and Diesel Trucks on June 15, NHRA Junior Dragster
Series on July 27-28, and the $20,000 Turkey
Nationals Aug. 31-Sept.1.
Top Gun Raceway draws racers
from all over the country and Canada. spectators
come from the nearby urban areas of Reno, Sparks,
Carson City, Lake Tahoe and northern California.
For information on the races call (775) 423-0223
or 1-800-874-0903 or check out the website
at www.topgunraceway.com.
The newly formed American Drag Racing Association is expected to produce another nostalgia race at Top Gun featuring hot rods (similar to the hot rods "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and Shirley Muldowney raced in the early 1970's) competing for over $50,000 in prize money.
