SALLISAW, Okla. — Today a popular drag strip in Oklahoma reopened its doors for the first time in almost three years.
For the first time since August 2021, the Outlaw Dragstrip in Sallisaw saw cars racing down the strip Saturday morning.
Marcus Willsey, the new owner, bought it on May 1 this year and has been getting the track ready for racing ever since.
He says the track has had a bit of an unsteady history with its ownership, so when the opportunity came to buy it, he knew what he had to do.
"It's had several different young owners throughout the years, with young people leasing it and you know, rent it out and stuff for several years and it went for sale and me and my family decided we thought we'd make the move over here," Willsey told 5NEWS.
Willsey's daughter Izzy says that she loves seeing her dad fulfill his dream.
"I spent the last three years watching my dad honk every time we drove past this track, and now we're living here and so I'm just really excited for this to become his 'dream come true,'" Izzy said.
Since he bought it, Willsey hasn't let anyone go down the track until today.
"I've not let a single car take off from the starting line yet. This is just how the track was when it closed down. So it's gonna be an exciting race today because I mean the surface is by far not prep. And it's going to be just like your average back you know, back country street race," Willsey explained.
Many people in the community say that they're grateful for the return of the strip and Willsey opening it back up. The reopening is giving the local drag racing community a little piece of its heart back.
"This place means so much, like he already knows how much I can thank him and his family for doing this, but I mean, I really just don't even have words to say here," one community member said. "To be honest I don't even care if I go out first round just to be back here at this place. It means so much."
More than anything, they're ready to get out on the track. Willsey says he wants everyone to come check out the new strip, which is now being worked by his family.
"Come out, hang out. It's run by family, you know, family owned and operated. Got all my kids working, every station on the place. Nephews even. I mean we're all operating by family," Willsey said.
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