By Marty Gordon
The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience has found a new home at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford. Starting in April, the public can have first-hand experiences in Late-Model cars and dragsters.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like behind the wheel of a race car? Now, you have the chance at Motor Mile Speedway near Radford.
Late last year, Motor Mile Speedway entered into a landmark agreement with The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience. Under the agreement, which includes a multi-year lease, RWRE will assume control of venue operations with Motor Mile Speedway and Dragway becoming the home track of the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience and its companion companies. This includes the acclaimed Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience.
Mark Ebert, president and CEO of Rusty Wallace Racing Experience (RWRE), said The Experience can’t wait to combine the amazing facility at Motor Mile with a full slate of racing on the oval and dragstrip plus the interactive opportunities for the fans to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR style Late Model rear engine dragster or into one of the company’s racing go-karts.
RWRE is the largest racing school in the country, offering NASCAR-style driving experiences at over 80 tracks in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005, the North Carolina-based company boasts a diverse collection of driving schools.
“Our NASCAR style driving experience will be offered in a NASCAR style Late Model with the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience. Our dragster experience will be offered on the dragstrip with our Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience,” Ebert said.
Motor Mile Speedway celebrated its 31st anniversary as a NASCAR-sanctioned short track in 2020.
Ebert describes the racing experience at Motor Mile as amazing, giving race fans the chance to experience racing first-hand.
“Our Late Models run the same chassis, brakes and tires that they see our top teams running on Saturday night,” Ebert said. “It’s the chance to really see what it really feels like to turn laps at Motor Mile. On the Pure Speed side, it’s the magic of driving a real rear-engine dragster. There’s something special about a dragster, and behind the wheel of one of these awesome machines is where we will be putting drivers.”
The management group is adding a new cart track along the hillside of turn 4 of the oval track.
“We are repurposing part of the dragstrip parking lot for part of the karting track, and then we contracted with Norwood Development to build a new portion of additional kart track,” Ebert said. “It is cut into the hillside behind turn 4 of the oval track including one long banked corner that’s cut into the hillside and is just awesome.”
The karting track will have multiple lanes to allow for some great side-by-side racing and passing. The facility will have three different variations in size ranging from 1/8th mile to just shy of 1/2 mile.
“We will generally use the largest configuration but will use the smaller configurations depending upon other activities at the racetrack and the need for parking,” Ebert said.
Plans call for the expansion of the track’s concessions with new open-air seating overlooking the race track for the cost of a regular dinner.
“We will be working very hard to make both the dragstrip and the speedway interactive on race night with an active midway, show cars, food trucks and more, and the idea of adding karting to everything else provides more fun for the whole family,” Ebert said.
The racing experiences and karting track are scheduled to open the first week in April.
Ride-alongs start at $59, and driving experiences start at $99 for dragsters and circle track. Karting will start at $15 per race with multiple race packages available taking the price down to just $9 per race.
Additionally, the karting track will be open for “date night” starting on Thursdays and Fridays in April. Customers can buy a kart race along with dinner and a soft drink for just $48 for two.
Participants in the driving programs must be at least 18 years old. In the ride-along programs, riders must be at least 14 and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
For more information or to reserve a racing experience, go to www.motormilespeedway.com. To find out more information on other locations and availability go to www. racewithrusty.com.
