RINGGOLD, Ga. – The Catoosa County Commission pushed back the curfew for a local speedway Tuesday night.
The commission voted 4-1 to allow Brainerd Optimist Dragstrip to stay open until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. This will put the operation on an even playing field with the county’s other racing venue: Boyd’s Speedway.
In 1991, a judge issued a court order on the latter venue, located on Scruggs Road in Ringgold. The order created a couple of rules, including how loud the speedway can be and how late it may run: 11:30 p.m. After the court order, the commission passed an ordinance to regulate all other speedways.
Thus far, that has only affected Brainerd Optimist Dragstrip, located at 745 Scruggs Road. The ordinance does not regulate sound but sets a curfew at 11 p.m.
Steven Farrow, a co-owner of the drag strip, said the extra 30 minutes would help his operation finish some important races. On some Saturdays, storms cause them to delay the race. And as a result, they have to end it a couple of laps short. This is a big deal, Farrow said, because they are supposed to divide up the winnings based on the finish.