History
South Georgia Motorsports Park was opened in April 2004 as a multi-purpose racing venue. [1] The facility includes a dragstrip and a 0.5-mile oval. [2] In its early years, SGMP hosted local and regional events, establishing itself as a key motorsports destination in the southeastern United States. [3]
In August 2014, South Georgia Motorsports Park faced significant financial and legal challenges due to unpaid taxes. The Georgia Department of Revenue reported that the property owners owed at least $90,000 in state taxes. [4] A search warrant was served for the track's financial records. [5] Co-owner Kimberly Wood was charged with theft by taking for sales and theft by taking withholding, and she turned herself in to authorities. [6] Despite the investigation, the track remained open and hosted scheduled racing events. These issues contributed to the eventual sale of the facility. [7]
In early 2015, the park was purchased by Ozzy Moya, an Orlando-based entrepreneur who also owned other drag racing facilities. [7] Under Moya's ownership, SGMP signed a multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) in 2015, allowing it to host IHRA-sanctioned events. [8] Notable events added during this period included the "Lights Out" radial tire racing series, which drew national attention to the track. [9] However, with the financial situation of the IHRA, owned by a private equity firm, the sanctioning body ended up in a series of issues that caused Moya to flip the tracks back to the NHRA as a Division 2 track on September 20, 2016. [10]
On January 22, 2017, South Georgia Motorsports Park sustained heavy damage from a tornado that struck around 4:30 a.m. amid a series of severe storms across southern Georgia. [11] [12] The damage included the complete destruction of the hospitality and media suites atop the grandstands, as well as harm to fencing and other structures. [12] Debris such as barrels, signs, insulation, and garbage was scattered across the property. [13] Cleanup efforts began immediately, with community support aiding recovery, and the track proceeded with planned events like the Lights Out 8 radial racing competition in February 2017. [12]
The facility experienced a change in ownership in 2023 when it was sold to Raul and Jennifer Torres. [14] SGMP reopened under the new management in October 2023, with plans to expand offerings such as weekly racing events, monster truck shows, and the addition of a mud bogging area. [15] The Torreses focused on revitalizing the track, investing in improvements to support grassroots racing and attract larger audiences. [15]
Following the sale of National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio, which had held the Jeg's NHRA SPORTSnationals, to a rival sanctioning body, South Georgia Motorsports Park announced in April 2025 as part of a multi-year extension with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) that the Jeg's NHRA SPORTSnationals will move to the track, marking its growing involvement with national-level competitions. [16] Later that year, on August 28, 2025, the NHRA announced that SGMP would join its Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule starting in 2026. [17] The track will host the NHRA Southern Nationals from May 1–3, 2026, reviving a historic event previously held at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia until its closure in 2021. [17] This multi-year agreement brings professional drag racing categories such as Top Fuel and Funny Car to the venue. [18]
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