New Vado Speedway Park opens its gates on Father's Day weekend
Grand opening slated for July 6
- Takes the place of former speedway parks in El Paso and outside Las Cruces
- 3,400 seat arena will welcome up to 9 classes of auto racing
- Year-round events to include boxing and mixed martial arts
VADO - A new auto racing park will open its gate to the public for the first time this weekend in southern Doña Ana County.
Although the grand opening is not until July 6, and construction of some of its facilities were still underway on Thursday, the dirt track is ready and the Vado Speedway, built on leased state trust land right next to Interstate 10, will host "sneak previews" Friday and Saturday evening.
Thereafter, the gates will open every weekend at 5 p.m., with races running from 7:45 p.m. until 10:30 or 11 p.m.
Work crews were busy Thursday afternoon with construction on four luxury suites that will eventually offer private seating with rooftop vistas, and testing of the sound system was underway.
Owner Royal Jones anticipates the 3,400-seat venue will draw far more visitors annually than at his previous tracks, the Southern New Mexico Speedway at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds outside Las Cruces and the El Paso Speedway Park.
(Full disclosure: Jones is also the owner of the building where the Las Cruces Sun-News is located. Editorial decisions rest solely with Sun-News editors).
The concept, Jones told the Sun-News, emerged during the years he and his general manager, Rue Stone, commuted between the two parks. "We should make one track between the two cities, for the two cities," he recalled thinking.
In plain sight of interstate travelers, the new speedway has taken shape with the 3/8-mile dirt track and bleachers seeming to rise from the desert floor immediately next to the highway.
The park is host to nine classes of auto races, and Stone said the venue would welcome events throughout the year, including boxing and mixed martial arts matches. Auto races will also continue throughout the year, with Stone telling the Sun-News the World of Outlaws sprint car tour will come to Vado next winter.
"Everybody around here is anxious to race," Jones said.
In May, his son, Bumper Jones, posted a video to Twitter of cars getting acquainted with the new track:
The track was designed to mitigate noise and protect visitors from the residual heat of the afternoon sun. The track is in a bowl and cars will be required to use 95-decibel mufflers.
The wind has presented some challenges, as well. Billboards paid for by sponsors of the new speedway will need to be reinstalled after gusts stripped them from the perimeter of the track.
With plans to reward motorists for carpooling to the park, Jones said he hopes to broaden the park's appeal and "put Vado on the map."
Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonActor on Twitter.
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If you go
What: Vado Speedway Park
Where: Stern Drive, immediately off of Interstate 10 at exit 155, Vado, NM
When: Friday and Saturday, gates open at 5 p.m., racing at 7:45 p.m.
Admission:
- $12 general admission, $10 seniors/military, $5 for ages 6-11.
- Free for children under 5 years old
Information: www.VadoSpeedwayPark.com
Contact: 575-524-7913