Kearney Raceway Park

About Kearney Raceway Park

Kearney Raceway Park is a quarter mile concrete drag strip at 4860 Imperial Avenue in Kearney, Nebraska, and it is billed as the only drag strip in the state. Known as KRP, it runs a full event calendar from April through November, races on weekends, and welcomes anyone who wants to make a pass rather than just watch. It is NHRA sanctioned, so the points and trophies earned here count in the national program.

Nebraska’s Drag Racing Home

A state the size of Nebraska with one operating quarter mile means KRP carries the whole sport. Racers from across the state, and from Kansas, Colorado and the Dakotas, run here rather than at a track closer to home, because there is no closer option.

The surface is concrete rather than asphalt, which holds up better under repeated launches and gives consistent traction as the day heats up. For bracket racers chasing a dial in, consistency is worth more than raw grip, and a concrete launch pad delivers it.

The track sits in Buffalo County on I-80, which puts it within reach of nearly the entire state along the interstate corridor.

How a Race Weekend Runs

Most weekends follow a familiar shape. Saturday opens with gates in the early afternoon, then test and tune in the mid afternoon, then gamblers racing in the evening. Sunday is the points race.

That structure is the reason KRP works for both regulars and first timers. Test and tune sessions let anyone with a street car and a helmet get down the track and learn the procedure without entering competition. Gamblers races put a small entry fee against a winner takes all payout with no points implications. By Sunday, the serious bracket racers are chasing the season championship.

Special events fill out the calendar. The track hosts NHRA National Open weekends, Wally races where the classic NHRA trophy is on the line, the MCR Fall Classic, the Nebraska Diesel Show, and funny car open testing nights that pack the property. Car shows appear alongside the racing on several weekends.

Racing or Watching

KRP makes a point of the fact that you can enter the race yourself or come as a spectator. That is not marketing language at a drag strip. Unlike an oval, where getting on track requires a purpose built car and a licence, a bracket program takes street cars, trucks, motorcycles in some classes and whatever else rolls through tech.

Spectator admission is modest, with reduced pricing for children and free entry for the youngest, which makes a Saturday here one of the cheaper family motorsports outings in central Nebraska.

Getting There and What to Know

From Kearney, go about three miles east on US Highway 30, then north on Thunder Road to Imperial Avenue.

The track line is 308-750-2049 and email goes to . Schedules, rain calls and event formats are posted on the KRP website and its Facebook page, and the staff answer questions directly in the comments, which is the fastest way to confirm whether a particular class or points structure applies to you.

The season runs April through November, so the calendar is longer than most outdoor motorsports venues in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the track?

It is a quarter mile concrete drag strip.

Is it really the only drag strip in Nebraska?

That is how the track and state tourism describe it. Nebraska has no other operating quarter mile drag strip, which is why KRP draws entries from across the state and beyond.

When is the season?

April through November, with events running on weekends.

Can I race my own car?

Yes. Test and tune sessions and gamblers races are open to anyone whose vehicle passes tech, and no season commitment is required.

What is a Wally race?

An NHRA event where the winner receives the Wally, the trophy named for NHRA founder Wally Parks. KRP hosts these alongside its regular points program.

What is a gamblers race?

An informal bracket race with an entry fee and a payout to the winner, run outside the points championship. It is the low pressure way into competition.

How much does it cost to watch?

Admission is inexpensive, with adult and child rates and free entry for the youngest children.

Where is Kearney Raceway Park located?

4860 Imperial Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska 68847. From Kearney take US Highway 30 about three miles east, then north on Thunder Road. The phone number is 308-750-2049.

More information on Kearney Raceway Park; Click here https://www.krpi.com/

For more venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/auto/