Page 14 - NMFall_2019

as historic Texas Raceway in that had the racing community
Kennedale owned by Cindi & buzzing. Just over a year later, in
Dave McMillan, the daughter of April of 2018, the gates officially
Bill “Mr. Bardahl” Heilscher, was opened for the first event in the
in a legal battle with the city and history of Xtreme Raceway Park
developers who put their final foot and the pits were packed with eager
down and the track was forced to participants ready to put down the
close at the end of the 2016 season. first layers of rubber. This was the
With a huge piece of the heart of start of an impressive debut season
drag racing in the DFW area now of racing where the track hosted
gone, the Scott’s and Smith’s got to a wide range of events including
work and after the dust had settled the 2018 IHRA Division 4 Bracket
with Texas Raceway’s closing, the Finals. It was a strong debut year
excitement of a new track on the for the XRP team whose dedication Gaylen Smith enjoys his time at Xtreme
Raceway Park, both as a racer and track
south side of town had the eyes and was made clear as 110% effort was manager.
ears of thousands of racers and fans being put into all aspects of the
perked up in anticipation. facility both on and off the track. “The best part of all this is that it’s
a labor of love. We’re drag racers,
By March of 2017, the first official When asked about the pros and we love the sport and the people
posts were hitting social media cons in their first year and a half of and to be able to go drag racing
confirming the new facility was racing to this point at XRP, Smith three or four days a week is what’s
indeed a reality and dirt work was explained his take on the pressures really cool about it. The hours may
underway proven by teaser photos of being in a management position. be long sometimes and the weather

14 Nitro Madness Magazine Fall 2019