About
When you drive by this wooded place located between Hudson Krohn Rd and Old MS 67, just outside Woolmarket, you never would know that at one time it was the place to be for car fanatics. It was a happenin' place at the time when drag racing was evolving. Dragstrips were popping up all over the country for this hot sport know as the NHRA. Near by locations such as Houma, Laplace, and Dauphin Island all built dragways to get in the popular hot rod movement that was taking place. This place is Biloxi Dragway, where the action is! Racers from all over would travel far just to taste the glory of winning on the quartermile strip. Each track would have it's own fan favorte drivers. You had your cast of characters too. People such as Emmit "The Snake" Austin, a rowdy guy from Phenix City, AL would blow a cow horn every now and then to the crowd's ongoing encourgement. Some racers even drank alcoholic beverages before they ran. Biloxi Dragway had a fairly safe track record when it came to wrecks. One common site in the day was the layout of dragstrips. Most of the time these places didn't have walls to keep a vehicle from the spectators and some had little stopping room. At the time Biloxi was up to date as any other dragstrip such as electronic timing that was introduced in the early 60s and night events would take place when needed. The amount of vehicles that would show up for these events were at times were staggering. Most Gasser meets each year would see over 200+ entries. From 1957 to 1967 Biloxi had the biggest name racers at the time. Most now are hall of famers. People such as Art Arfons, Bill Golden, Bunky Bobo, Don Garlits, E.J. Potter, and Tommy Ivo, just to name a few. You had your fan favorite local guys too such as Paul Vanderly and Joe Teuton, guys who would win often. Through the eleven years that Biloxi Dragway was around it made moments that will always be remembered to the crowds that were there. A time when when drag racing changed. From Buddy Holly to The Beatles, images that live forever.
Inspired by ten photos from a friend named Mike, nearly forty years later I created a tribute site to Biloxi Dragway. The last five years it has grown into something bigger then I ever would have thought! If you know someone that has information, photos, or film, it can be put on the website. Spread the word!
- Sincerely, Cory Evans (Website Creator)
Biloxi Dragway Staff (1957-1967)
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Hometown: Grenta, LA
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Hometown: Grenta, LA
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Hometown: Pascagoula, MS
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Hometown: Biloxi, MS
Strip Facts
First Event: Sep. 1st, 1957
Last Event: July 1st, 1957
Held Events Sanctioned By AHRA, NASCAR, and NHRA
Track Width 60ft
Quarter Mile Drag Strip with Lights
Quarter Mile Shut Off Area with Lights
Quarter Mile Shut Off Area with Sand Trap
Christmas Tree Starting System (Added mid 60s)
Grandstand Seating Capacity Over 800
Chrondek Timing
