{"id":3314,"date":"2025-07-15T12:18:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/?p=3314"},"modified":"2025-07-15T12:18:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T12:18:24","slug":"track-owner-interview-brad-wheeler-and-montgomery-international-dragway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/?p=3314","title":{"rendered":"Track Owner Interview: Brad Wheeler and Montgomery International Dragway"},"content":{"rendered":"

DragCoverage is proud to bring you monthly track owner interviews. Last months article can be found here<\/a><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a familiar rhythm to the stories of so many dragstrips across the country these days \u2014 closures, uncertainty, dwindling attendance. But every now and then, a different story emerges. A story about someone stepping up not for profit, not for praise, but simply because they care<\/em>. That story is playing out at Montgomery International Dragway, and the man behind it is Brad Wheeler.<\/p>\n

When asked why he bought the track, Wheeler\u2019s answer was refreshingly simple:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t want to lose a track<\/strong><\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That sentiment cuts deep in today\u2019s drag racing landscape. Track closures are hammering the sport, ripping up the roots of local racing communities. For Wheeler \u2014 a lifelong racer himself \u2014 the thought of another racing facility going dark was too much to bear<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And so, he took action.\"\"<\/p>\n

From Racer to Track Owner<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Brad Wheeler isn\u2019t some corporate investor or weekend hobbyist. He\u2019s a racer, born and bred. Many of us grew up racing alongside him at places like Silver Dollar Raceway, where the atmosphere was always family-first and racer-centered. That legacy stuck with Brad. Now, as the owner and operator of Montgomery International Dragway, he\u2019s carrying it forward \u2014 and adding his own unique touch.<\/p>\n

His approach is working. While other tracks are struggling to fill lanes, Wheeler is packing them in, regularly turning out 200+ cars<\/strong> for weekend bracket races. It\u2019s not marketing gimmicks or big-money purses bringing racers in \u2014 it\u2019s trust.\"\"<\/p>\n

When asked what he attributes that success to, Brad replied with the kind of humility that defines him:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m open to listening and suggestions. I want to run a track the way I would want it run if I was racing there.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That racer-first mindset is exactly what sets him apart. Brad doesn\u2019t see Montgomery as a cash cow or a business venture to squeeze \u2014 he sees it as a place for the racing community to thrive. And it shows.\"\"<\/p>\n

A Kindred Spirit to Ed Swearingen<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In many ways, Brad Wheeler\u2019s approach mirrors that of another name we recently highlighted: Ed Swearingen<\/strong> of Silver Dollar Raceway. Like Ed, Brad believes in treating racers like family. He understands their struggles, respects their dedication, and builds around their needs \u2014 not above them.<\/p>\n

Both men prove that it doesn\u2019t take corporate dollars to build a successful dragstrip. It takes care. It takes consistency. It takes showing up for the racers, time and time again.\"\"<\/p>\n

Hands-On Hospitality<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Brad isn\u2019t just a name on the lease \u2014 he\u2019s on the ground, in the lanes, and sometimes even under the hoods.<\/p>\n

Walk through the pits at Montgomery and you\u2019ll see it firsthand. Need a part? Brad will check his stash. Got a computer issue with your car? He\u2019ll let you use his. Something broke? Pull into the shop on-site \u2014 Brad might be in there turning wrenches with you.<\/p>\n

He doesn\u2019t brag about it. He doesn\u2019t post about it. But ask any racer who\u2019s been to one of his events, and they\u2019ll tell you the same thing: Brad Wheeler shows up for the racers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Investing in the Future<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wheeler has already upgraded the timing system and track surface per racers requests, but he has other plans as well. Wheeler wants to pave more of the pits, to implement an on-site part store, and wants to put lifts in the shop on-site to make it easier for racers to work on their cars if needed.<\/p>\n

And let\u2019s not overlook a hidden gem: Montgomery\u2019s concession stand is among the best in the game<\/strong>. The food is top-tier, and the staff runs it like clockwork \u2014 a small but powerful touch that adds to the track\u2019s welcoming atmosphere.\"\"<\/p>\n

Always Listening, Always Improving<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Through all the success, Brad remains grounded. He says he\u2019s grateful for the community\u2019s support and wants racers to know that he\u2019s always listening<\/strong>. Got an idea? Bring it to him. Need something? Ask.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the beauty of Brad Wheeler and Montgomery International Dragway \u2014 it feels like a track for<\/em> racers, because that\u2019s exactly what it is.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Got a story about racing at Montgomery with Brad Wheeler? Drop it in the comments or message us \u2014 we\u2019d love to hear it!<\/strong>
\ud83d\udccd Follow DragCoverage for more stories like this \u2014 where the real racers and track owners shaping the sport get the spotlight they deserve.<\/p>\n

until then, see you all at the next super 7’s race in Montgomery<\/p>\n

-Kline<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DragCoverage is proud to bring you monthly track owner interviews. Last months article can be found here There\u2019s a familiar rhythm to the stories of so many dragstrips across the country these days \u2014 closures, uncertainty, dwindling attendance. But every now and then, a different story emerges. A story about someone stepping up not for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3317,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[55],"class_list":{"0":"post-3314","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-track-owner-interview"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/montgomery2-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/montgomery2-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Kline Whitley","author_link":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/author\/klinewhitley"},"authors":[{"term_id":55,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"klinewhitley","display_name":"Kline Whitley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Me.png","url2x":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Me.png"},"first_name":"Kline","last_name":"Whitley","user_url":"http:\/\/www.DragCoverage.com","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3314"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=3314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}