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In May 2025, I told you about my son’s new obsession with cars and provided you with A Car Lover’s Guide to Arkansas that highlighted all the places to look at cool cars around the state. Well, George’s interest has shifted from just looking at cars to watching them move, and we have officially delved into the world of racing.
I’ll be honest, I never imagined myself sitting at the top of a set of bleachers watching the sun set on a sweltering summer night as cars do burnouts mere feet away. Yet here we are! The things we do for our kids.
Until the other night, I knew nothing about drag racing, so I did some research and put together this guide to drag racing in Arkansas.
Newport Raceway
The Newport Raceway, our local track, is built behind ASU-Newport on the grounds of the former World War II Newport Airfield. While much of the airfield is but a distant memory, the dragstrip has a racing history that stretches back to the 1950s. My husband recalls attending races when he was a kid, watching everything from street cars to funny cars take their shot at being the fastest down the strip.
Photo courtesy of Scott Cooper.
Through the years, the track has changed hands several times, but its new owner has transformed the venue. Scott Cooper, a Newport native who grew up racing here himself, and his wife Belinda were inspired to bring new life to the drag after he worked behind the scenes filming major events for Discovery Channel’s Street Outlaws: Memphis at Newport. Spectator stands, a fully stocked concession stand, and the “fancy” portable toilets with running water make the raceway inviting and family-friendly.
In recent seasons, the track has gained attention for hosting big-payout races, popular Saturday night street events and family-friendly bracket racing on Sundays. Like all four of Arkansas’s dragstrips, Newport Raceway thrives thanks to a loyal local community of drivers, families, and race fans who keep the excitement alive each weekend.
How Drag Racing Works
Simply put, drag racing is a straight-line, side-by-side sprint to the finish line. There are no turns, so the race is just raw speed and skill. Two cars line up at the starting line and launch down a straight strip (usually 1/8 or 1/4 mile long) as fast as possible. The first one to cross the finish line wins.
The drivers begin with a loud, smoky burnout, which gets the crowd pumped up, but also serves to warm up the tires, improving grip and traction. They pull up to the start line to wait for the green light. Reaction time is crucial, but so is how quickly their car covers the distance. If you jump the light too early, you “red-light” and lose.
At most tracks, including Newport Raceway, races are held in elimination rounds. If you win, you advance; if you lose, you’re out. The last racer standing wins the class.
Race Terminology
Drag racing has its own lingo, and it can be confusing. I’m new to the game myself, but I picked out a few of the most common street car race terms and classes to break them down for you.
- Christmas Tree:
The light stand that signals the start of the race to the drivers. - Burnout Box:
The space designated for racers to perform a burnout before the race. - Street Car:
Street legal cars that can drive on public roadways but may be modified for race performance. - Small Tire:
These cars run on smaller-width rear tires (typically 28 inches or less). That makes them more challenging to control but exciting to watch, because they still have tons of horsepower and spin those smaller tires like crazy. - Outlaw Daily:
Basically, a street-legal car that’s had the rules opened up — you can do some wild modifications but still drive it on the road. It looks (mostly) like a daily driver but is allowed to be borderline insane under the hood. - Hard Tire:
These cars use “hard” street-style tires instead of softer, sticky racing slicks. Hard tires don’t grip as well, which means drivers need to be really good at launching without spinning out. - Pure Street:
These are the most factory-looking cars, with minimal changes from what you might drive to work. Think bolt-ons, mild tuning and pump gas — not a full-blown race car. - No Box:
Racers are not allowed to use a delay box or similar device that can control their reaction time at the starting line. - Sportsman:
A race class that includes a variety of vehicle types. - Junior Dragster:
This racing class is for kids ages 5 through 17. Racers drive scaled-down vehicles, and it’s a fun way to get kids involved in the sport.
Points and Winners
At a track like Newport Raceway, there are usually two kinds of point systems working:
- IHRA Points (International Hot Rod Association):
If the track is sanctioned by the IHRA (many Arkansas tracks are), you can earn points toward a national IHRA championship. You get points for winning rounds, showing up, and qualifying. The more rounds you win, the more points you rack up. - NHRA Points (National Hot Rod Association):
Some tracks are associated with NHRA, which works similarly to IHRA. The NHRA is a larger organization, but both are well respected in the industry.
Each local track (like Newport Raceway) usually has its own track points system for its season championship. Racers accumulate points across multiple events. If you’re consistent all year, even without winning every race, you could still be the season champ.
In each class, racers compete in rounds until there’s only one driver left who hasn’t been beaten. That driver wins the class for the night and takes home a payout, trophy, or both. Points from that win then roll into their season totals.
Find a Track
Spending a night at the races was so much fun, especially getting to see the excitement in George’s eyes as he watched the cars launch down the track. When it was done, he asked if I would come back. I believe I will!
- Centerville Dragway – Centerville, AR
- Prescott Raceway – Prescott, AR
- George Ray’s Wildcat Dragstrip – Paragould, AR
- Newport Raceway – Newport, AR
- Holly Springs Motorsports – technically in MS, but popular with Arkansas racers
- Ozark Raceway Park – Springfield, MO
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