NHRA drag racing on a ¼ mile track is coming back to the state of Utah with an exciting project that broke ground on December 22nd on Blue Bench past the substation in Duchesne. Terry Henderson with Apex Racing Foundation welcomed the crowd that included local leaders, excited sponsors, and supportive racing enthusiasts to the groundbreaking. “This is something that is really powerful for the community, really powerful for the region, and really powerful for the whole state,” said Henderson. “It doesn’t matter how high or low we are elevation wise. It’s nice and flat with a beautiful view. I cannot wait to be racing here.” Following the successful groundbreaking event, Apex Racing Foundation advisory board member Shawn Taylor shared with Evans Family Media part of what makes Duchesne County a great location for this project. “Anytime you can hold a ground breaking like this and have all 3 county commissioners, incoming and outgoing mayor, and both house and senate representatives for the county, why would you not want to do it in that county?” says Taylor. “It’s safe to say this project is happening because it has broad support from our elected officials in Duchesne County.” The long term goal with the Duchesne facility is a ¼ mile drag strip, ⅜ mile asphalt oval or bigger, and a motocross track. “We are not looking to compete with Vernal,” shares Taylor. “We want to be a complimentary facility. A ¼ mile versus ⅛ mile attracts different racers. We don’t want to detract from anything that’s been built in Vernal.” Taylor also explains that Apex Racing Foundation is a community nonprofit that is working on funding and gathering support for the facility and that the master plan will take time. “Realistically, it will likely take 3 to 5 years to build the facility into something the Uintah Basin can be really proud of,” says Taylor. “In 10 years, however, we can have a really great facility that will bring in national events on a regular basis.” Still, racing will kick off this spring with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) bringing rally racing. To learn more about this project and the Apex Racing Foundation, visit Apex Racing Foundation on Facebook or apexracingfoundation.org.
