The noise is deafening and, under the lights, the multihued cars almost glow as they circle the .416-mile track. The cars roar down 500 feet of straightaway before slowing down around the 15-degree banked turns, then roar again into high speed before hitting the next turn.

Nestled just off Highway 11 in Pulaski County, about 2 miles south of Radford, lies the Motor Mile Speedway and Dragway. On a typical Saturday night during the racing season, which stretches from April to October, about 3,000 to 4,000 fans file into the stands and VIP area of the Speedway to watch cars race at this NASCAR-sanctioned oval track.

Having only attended one race at the Speedway, which was a few years ago, I was eager to visit the track again, knowing that several improvements have been made. And this time, I was going to experience the full gamut of amenities rather than just hanging out all night in the general admission seats.

But starting with general admission, I have to mention the prices. The Speedway actually lowered its prices this year in an effort to make the facility a more family-friendly venue. General admission tickets are only $5 and just $1 for children 12 and under. And speaking of family friendly, the Speedway unveiled a new playground area for this season—a playground probably larger than any you’ll find in the New River Valley. Before or during the race, it’s a great opportunity for kids to burn off some energy.

Improvements have also been made in the VIP area, where Texas Road House caters a meal and theater-style seats make watching the race a more comfortable experience. With restrooms, drinks, food, sofas and other amenities right in the VIP area, it certainly has its perks, but the hard-core fans might find some of the atmosphere lacking in the VIP area.

If you love to stand and cheer and really interact with other race fans, and you love the vibrations from the thundering engines running through your body, then you’ll be happy with the grandstand seats. The atmosphere in the VIP area is much more subdued.

Whether you want racing to be somewhat secondary to your overall experience for the evening or you want racing to be front and center, you can have a great time at the Speedway for a relatively low price. It’s certainly less than taking the family to a movie and waaaay less than a day at a theme park.

On the night in June that I attended, the evening started out with a Mini Cup race—cars not much bigger than a go-cart. Actually, they are half-scale stock cars build just like the ones you will see later in the evening—or the ones you see on TV in the Nextel Cup series.

Then came the first of two Late Model Stock Car races where Philip Morris led from start to finish. Street Stock and Limited Sportsman races followed before the second Late Model Stock Car race finished the evening.

Most Saturday nights offer either several smaller races or one or two longer races, so you definitely get your money’s worth. The next event at the Speedway is the Hooters Pro Cup race, which is July 12 and should offer some stiff competition.

But the adjacent Dragway will see lots of action on this Independence Day weekend. On July 4 and 5, the second annual American Drag Racing League (ADRL) Independence Drags will be taking place.

The gates open at 9 a.m each day with qualifying and vehicle displays. After the racing ends each evening, fireworks displays will begin at 10:30 p.m. General admission parking is $10, VIP parking $20, motor homes are $150 (for the weekend).

Motor Mile Speedway and Dragway
Location: Route 11 between Radford and Dublin
Mailing Address: 6749 Lee Highway, Radford, VA 24141
Telephone: 540.639.1700
Fax: 540.731.4756

Tim W. Jackson is Editor of the New River Voice.