Greg Brummer didn’t know what he had gotten himself into. His investment in Interstate Dragways is starting to come around.
After a rocky start with low car counts, Brummer has had around 100 cars at each of his last two Sunday shows at the drag strip outside of Moorhead.
“On the first of June, we had only 30 cars show up. The last two Sundays, we’ve had 107 and 97,” Brummer said. “We started a little slow, but now it’s getting to be pretty good turnouts.”
The Dragways run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and this weekend’s event is a big one.
The strip hosts its National Dragster Challenge Aug. 7-9, where winners in four classes can earn a Wally.
The Wally Trophy is an
18-inch tall statue of NHRA founder Wally Parks. It’s considered one of the most sought after trophies in drag racing.
“There’s one event per year when tracks can give them out,” Brummer said. “Ours is this weekend, so this weekend is a pretty big thing for us.”
Interstate Dragways will give out four Wallys this weekend, in the Trophy, Sportsman, Pro and Super Pro classes.
Brummer, a 36-year-old mechanic from Pelican Rapids, Minn., has always been a car nut. He used to race at the track from 1999-2002, and took over as the owner in May.
It’s taken him a lot of time to get things going, but he is confident he’s got things going in the right direction.
“I don’t know why I did it. I must’ve got a stupid idea,” Brummer said with a laugh. “We’ve got it going now, but it’s been a challenge.”
Between the Dragways and his business – GB Exhaust in Pelican Rapids – Brummer said he’s been working seven days a week to keep things going.
“I haven’t slept in something like three months, but things are going smoother now,” Brummer said.
One of the main draws for Interstate Dragways has been a payment format Brummer has introduced.
His pots are guaranteed. He pays out on the spot. In cash.
“On Saturdays, we have guaranteed jackpots, and I pay them right there,” Brummer said. “That’s been one thing we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from.”
The steadily increasing car counts – which have tripled in the last two months – have shown Brummer other positive feedback.
“I’ve got more ambition than money right now, and if it fails, it fails,” Brummer said with a laugh.