Holt, FL — It’s official — Emerald Coast Dragway is gone. The tower has been torn down, the facility leveled, and another grassroots racetrack has fallen. What was once a hub of Gulf Coast horsepower is now just dirt and memories.
Originally opened in 1998 as Holt Dragway, the eighth-mile facility became a staple for bracket racers, heads-up competitors, and test-and-tune nights. Founded by Chip Kooser, it grew into more than just a racetrack — it was a community built on competition and camaraderie.
After closing in 2011, the track was revived in 2016, bringing racing back to the property and giving local racers a place to call home once again. It later saw time under lease to radial standout Ryan Millikan, but momentum eventually slowed as the facility was listed for sale again.
Sources tell us the property was sold to Insurance Auto Auctions for approximately $4.7 million, signaling the likely end of racing operations. Any hopes of a comeback faded after years of uncertainty and setbacks — including a major break-in in 2022 where key equipment was stolen.
Now, with demolition underway, Emerald Coast Dragway joins the growing list of lost tracks across the country — but the memories made there will live on forever.
Photos by Chip Kooser
