PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Pine Bluff is feeling a sudden need for speed. With growth in the city planned, something new and different could make its home in the city, too, an auto drag racing track.
City leaders discussed it at a meeting Wednesday, March 21 and as many believe it would add to the economic development that will come along with the casino.
As the owner of Southern Transmission in Pine Bluff, it's pretty clear Bill Dowdy knows about cars.
"Been doing it since I was about 14," Dowdy said.
When you walk into his shop you’ll realize he doesn’t just know how to fix them, Dowdy has countless pictures and awards of drag racing on his walls.
“It’s all a lot of fun," Dowdy said.
Dowdy has been drag racing on a strip since the 80’s and as president of the Arkansas Drag Racing Association, he's working closely with Pine Bluff city leaders on the possibility of bringing a drag racing strip to the city.
“There’s a lot of drag racers in this community," Dowdy said.
Right now he has to drive 2 to 3 hours to a track in Prescott, Russellville, or Newport.
"They’re kind of scattered," Dowdy said.
As of now it’s still just an idea. According to Pine Bluff city council member Ivan Whitfield, the city did a study in the early 2000’s on a proposal for a Motorsports park. They're going to look into that study and see what else it would take to bring a track to the city.
“With the casino coming in, it’s an opportunity for them to branch out and get more interest in more things," Dowdy said.
Whitfield would like to see the track within a few miles of the casino coming to town. There's even discussion about adding a go cart track along with it.
"You could just go an hour before the races start and be there. It would be a dream come true," Dowdy said.
This is still just in the talking stage and Whitfield wants to look into the laws regarding a drag racing track and figure out where the funding would come from before they move forward.