As the sun rises over the flatlands of southern Georgia, the gates of South Georgia Motorsports Park (SGMP) open to the sound of high-horsepower machines and the buzz of anticipation. For many racers, this track is more than asphalt—it’s a sanctuary where memories are made and legends are born. The track also has some of the best sunsets you have ever seen. For owners Raul and Jennifer Torres, it’s a dream they never planned on chasing… until destiny called.
Three years ago, the Torres family was preparing to retire after decades of hard work running an automotive shop and a landscaping business. Racing had been in their blood for over 30 years, but they were ready to slow down—until the phone rang.
On the other end was Ozzy Moya, the previous owner of SGMP, asking if they’d consider buying the track.
“Although we wanted to retire, how often do you have the opportunity to own a nice race track and keep drag racing alive in the South?” Raul recalls.
They gave up retirement to pursue something they thought they would love to do. And love it, they do.
Racer-Owned, Racer-Minded
From day one, the Torres family approached SGMP not as “bean counters,” but as racers who understand what racers and their families need.
“When a racer buys a facility, they have good intentions. They’re not just there to crunch numbers—they’re there for the racers and the fans. Sometimes you have to put numbers aside and do what’s right for the industry,” Raul explains.
That philosophy has resonated. Under their ownership, SGMP has been well-received by racers, fans, and the local community, with strong support from the county and city. Their presence is felt at every event—at the gate, in the tower, walking the pits. They’re not absentee owners; they’re part of the SGMP experience.
Building More Than a Track
The Torres family has already invested heavily in making SGMP a multi-use motorsports destination:
-
A brand-new mud park built from scratch, opening the facility to more than just drag racing.
-
FOD (Foreign Object Debris) mats to keep tires clean and the racing surface pristine.
-
Amenities for racers like misting stations, free cool towels, and complimentary water during the brutal Georgia summers.
They’ve even partnered with a local Mexican restaurant to bring fresh food to the track and invite food trucks like traveling BBQ and pizza vendors, offering fans and racers more than the typical concession stand fare.
State-of-the-art Equipment
Raul took pages from his previous business experience and understands he is offering racers a service. He says it is important that when you run into problems that racers never even know they happened. One way he accomplishes this is by having multiples of every piece of equipment needed to run a racetrack. FOUR tractors as an example. He says its not if, but when, a piece of equipment will break. When it happens you need to be able to immediately transition to another piece of equipment to keep the vent running. It’s not just tractors, he has multiple computers, keyboards, sensors, printers. Every piece of equipment needed to run a race, he has a backup for. SGMP wants to run a weekend race with the same enthusiasm as a national event.
A Vision for the Future
The Torres family is not stopping here. Over the next five years, they plan to invest $3–5 million into SGMP. Planned upgrades include:
-
5,000 new grandstand seats
-
Rebuilt suites
-
A widened return road
-
Relocated scoreboards
Their ultimate goal? To host an NHRA national event. Raul speaks weekly with NHRA, working through the details of what it will take to bring one of the sport’s biggest stages to southern Georgia.
Hosting an NHRA national event at SGMP would be a game-changer—not just for the track, but for the entire region. Currently, there is no NHRA national event in Georgia, Alabama, and several surrounding states, leaving a massive gap in the Southeast for fans and racers alike. Raul and Jennifer Torres recognize this opportunity and are investing heavily—$3–5 million over the next five years—to bring SGMP up to the standards required for such a prestigious event. From expanding grandstands and rebuilding suites to widening the return road and relocating scoreboards, every upgrade is being made with the vision of one day flying the NHRA national event banner over their facility. Their relentless communication with NHRA, paired with their racer-first mindset, positions SGMP as a frontrunner to restore a major national drag racing event to a region that desperately misses it. For the Torres family, it’s not just about SGMP—it’s about bringing a piece of drag racing history back to the Southeast.
Family First, Always
For the Torres family, drag racing isn’t just about cars—it’s about people. They love to have racer appreciation dinners to bring everyone together, with plans of making it a more common occurrence.
“Families should feel safe and comfortable at the track,” Raul emphasizes.
The past two track owners interview‘s we have done both emphasized the importance of treating racers like family, and treating your employees like the valuable asset they are.
Their daughters, Tessi and Kaylie, and his wife Jennifer are integral to the operation. Raul is quick to point out:
“My biggest assets are my girls and my wife. Without them, we wouldn’t survive.”
Raul would like to personally thank his daughters Tessi and Kaylie. Also to thank his wife, Jennifer.
Support Your Local Tracks
Owning a racetrack is a labor of love, but it’s also a financial challenge. Inflation and rising operational costs threaten many facilities across the country. Raul wants racers and fans to understand the reality:
“While we don’t do this for profit, we have to keep our doors open. Support your local racetrack. Help keep a place open that allows you to do what you love. Ask yourself what you can do to help keep drag racing alive for your grandkids.”
SGMP is also experimenting with innovative ways to generate revenue without sacrificing racer experience. For example, racers can pay a small fee to reserve their pit spots—a convenience that allows them to arrive stress-free while helping the track stay financially strong. It is not a requirement, but a service you can pay for.
Keeping Drag Racing Alive
Raul and Jennifer Torres didn’t buy SGMP just to run a business—they bought it to protect a piece of drag racing’s soul. Their care is visible in every detail, from the clean staging lanes to the free water bottles handed out on scorching race days. Their passion is heard in every conversation with racers, and their vision is clear: SGMP will continue to grow, evolve, and remain a home for the drag racing community.
As Raul says, “Sometimes you have to put numbers aside and do what’s right for the industry.”
At SGMP, the industry—and the families who love it—have champions in the Torres family.
DragCoverage will continue to follow SGMP’s journey as it expands and works toward hosting its first NHRA national event. Until then, racers, fans, and families—support your local tracks. They’re the heartbeat of this sport.
