Auto racing: New Penwell owners hope to rekindle old memories

If you are a drag racer and under the age of 40, you might not recognize the Penwell Knights Raceway drag strip on Saturday.

New owners Gary Gardenhire and Jerrod Gardenhire are counting on that.

However, if you are one of the many local drivers who headed west on Interstate 20 each weekend to match timing slips against drivers from all over the area, walking through the gates will be like walking back in time.

Formerly West Texas Raceway Park, the drag strip has new owners, a new name, new lanes, new bleachers and pits, and most importantly, a look back into the past. The grand opening is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, with qualifying beginning at 5 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show, both at 1/8-mile and quarter-mile distances.

"This track first opened in 1966," said Jerrod Gardenhire, now living in Dallas. "I remember coming out here with my brothers and my family and watching a lot of great racers.

"We decided that when we bought the track, that we were going to restore everything to the way it looked when it was opened the first time. So we built all new buildings, restrooms, concessions, everything. It looks great and we hope that everyone that comes out on Saturday has a great time."

Owning a track wasn't something that either Gary or Jerrod had in mind until the former owner of the track, Jack Nance, called Gary, a local Odessa businessman, and asked if he was interested in purchasing the facility.

Gary, who had driven at the facility growing up, wasn't quite sure, but Nance then had the bank that owned the property give him a call and negotiations began. Then, once the facility was purchased, it was a matter of when it would reopen after having only one event in 2007.

"We didn't expect to have a race in 2008," Gary Gardenhire said. "But I was approached by several people to do a special race, so we set up this weekend's event."

After Saturday's event, the track likely will not be open for racing until 2009, but both Gardenhires say they expect to run a full schedule of events and have been talking with several sanctioning bodies about holding races at the track.

Both remember the days when between 200 and 300 cars would show up to see who is best, including NHRA world champions John Force and Don Garlits, who created the first rear-engine dragster.

"This is going to be an event you can bring the entire family to," Jerrod Gardenhire said. "People will be able to use the walkover bridge to go from the grandstands to the pits to take a look at the cars. We're looking for a turnout of 150 to 200 cars and I think it's going to be an exciting night for everyone."