History of Bonneville Raceway 66'-86' Rocky Mtn Raceway 86'-2018
The History of Bonneville Raceway (1968–1986)
In the mid-1960s, drag racing was exploding in popularity across America. Utah had already caught the fever, with racers and fans gathering at smaller local tracks and the earlier Bonneville Drag Strip near 2100 South and 3200 West. By 1966, a group of Utah racing enthusiasts—including Dick Godfrey, Bob Gee, Jim Campbell, and the Howard Haynes family—had bigger dreams. They envisioned a modern motorsports complex that could rival facilities anywhere in the West.
To make that vision real, they purchased 60 acres of land west of Salt Lake City and invested $250,000 into building a new, state-of-the-art racetrack. What they created was more than just a drag strip—it was a true multi-use racing venue. The new Bonneville Raceway featured:
A half-mile stock car oval, perfect for wheel-to-wheel Saturday night racing.
A 1.8-mile motorcycle and sports car road course, one of the few in the region designed for twisting, technical racing.
A nearly 3,000-foot-long paved drag strip, built to National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) standards.
The grand opening came in the summer of 1968, when the track held its first official drag race on July 23–24. Excitement was electric. Racers from across Utah and neighboring states brought their hot rods, dragsters, and muscle cars to the fresh strip of asphalt. Fans responded with enthusiasm—by August 1968, over 5,000 spectators packed the stands to watch thundering engines launch down the quarter-mile. Bonneville Raceway quickly established itself as the beating heart of Utah motorsports.
Growth and Glory Years
For racers, Bonneville Raceway was more than a track—it was a proving ground. It gave Utah drivers a professional-grade facility where they could push their machines to the limit, whether in drag racing, stock car events, or motorcycle road races. Weekends became a ritual: the smell of fuel, the rumble of engines, and the cheers of thousands created an atmosphere that drew both die-hard racers and casual fans.
From 1973 to 1986, the track entered a new era under the leadership of Bob Ipson, who leased Bonneville Raceway from the Haynes family. Ipson poured more than $600,000 in improvements into the grounds, upgrading the racing surface, safety features, and spectator amenities. His efforts elevated the facility’s reputation, ensuring that Bonneville Raceway wasn’t just a local attraction but a recognized stop on the regional racing circuit.
During these years, Bonneville hosted not only weekly races but also larger special events, bringing in competitors from across the western United States. The facility became a centerpiece of Utah’s car culture, nurturing a community of racers, mechanics, and fans who built lifelong friendships around their shared love of speed.
The Transition to Rocky Mountain Raceway (1986–2018)
By the mid-1980s, the Bonneville name was legendary in Utah racing circles, but the track was ready for a new chapter. In 1986, Ipson stepped aside, and Dick Godfrey—one of the original visionaries—took over the lease. A decade later, in 1995, businessman Spencer Young purchased the facility, giving it a fresh identity: Rocky Mountain Raceway (RMR).
Under its new name, RMR expanded its reputation as Utah’s premier motorsports park. The facility hosted drag racing, oval racing, motocross, and special events, drawing thousands of fans every season. For more than two decades, Rocky Mountain Raceway was the place where Utahns spent their summer nights—cheering side-by-side in the stands as drivers chased speed and glory.
In 2014, the property was sold to Freeport West, a development company, but the racing community was granted a five-year extension. This allowed RMR to continue hosting races through the 2018 season. On the final night, the stands were filled with fans and drivers who had grown up at the track, celebrating not just the races but the memories forged there.
When the facility was finally demolished—razed for commercial development—it closed a remarkable half-century chapter of Utah racing history. From its bold beginnings in 1968 as Bonneville Raceway to its final checkered flag as Rocky Mountain Raceway in 2018, the track embodied the state’s love of motorsports.
