Scott Quick, general manager of Brainerd International Raceway, talked about the preparations for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, which start Thursday. (Dispatch Photo by Nels Norquist)

By MIKE BIALKA
Sports Editor

Brainerd International Raceway is one of the favorite stops for the National Hot Rod Association.

The lakes area offers drivers and their teams, families and fans an opportunity to golf on courses that rank among the finest in the nation, fish on the state's most pristine lakes and patronize top-flight restaurants, taverns and hotels.

For this week's Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, which begin Thursday, there's an added attraction awaiting the influx of people at BIR. About 700 feet beyond the concrete launching pad, an asphalt surface, that includes taconite tailings instead of rock aggregate, may enable drivers to set elapsed time and speed records.

In June, at the NHRA Division 5 race at BIR, the national ET and speed records in Alcohol Dragster were shattered. At BIR's Big Race in July, Larry "Spiderman" McBride broke a motorcycle world record for elapsed time.

"I can't wait for Friday night of the pro qualifying for (the Lucas Oil) event," BIR general manager Scott Quick said. "I think we're going to see even bigger things."

This weekend, the staff at BIR may assure the track's quickness when it will scrape the rubber off the surface and scrub it with detergent.

"We will wash it off to get any residue that's left, there's a ton there from previous races, and we will actually get it down to a virgin surface," Quick said.

Top Fuel points leader Larry Dixon is one prominent NHRA driver who can't wait to race on the surface.

"I think it will be great, rain or shine," Dixon said Thursday from his home in Indianapolis. "I think everyone is anxious to get up there this year. We should be able to show the fans in Minnesota how good all the teams and cars can run."

Improvements awaiting fans include a 160-site RV campground and an additional section of general admission bleachers that seats about 4,500.

"Once people found out it was full-service for RV hookups it (filled) right after the first of the year," Quick said. "We've added general admission bleachers on the spectator side of the track. We've widened some roadways, made it easier for travel within our infrastructure. We've added signage, sponsors, local sponsors, which is very important to me in regard to our community relations."

The event will transform BIR into one of the state's largest cities. About 120,000 fans, about 20,000 of whom will camp inside the facility, are expected to flow through the gates Thursday through Aug. 17 to watch the finest drag racers on the NHRA circuit.

To handle the crowd, BIR will employ about 225 people for four days. Most BIR employees are from the lakes and metro areas. Many of them work at the track during sportsman and motorcycle races.

"For an event like this we bring them all together," Quick said. "All these people consider BIR their second home. They're up here quite often during the race season, and we're glad to have them as part of our staff."

The event makes a gigantic impact on the area economy, estimated by Quick to be in the neighborhood of $30 million. The event will impact every area business.

"I'm not one to blow our horn a lot," he said. "We know what we do every day and the impact it has on the community."

Quick is in charge of many events in a season but he eagerly awaits this race more than any other.

"I've been asked many times before what's my favorite event," he said. "I'm hesitant to say I have a favorite event. My response has always been it's not just another race, but it involves a lot more work in putting it together and making sure it comes off successfully.

"It brings a lot of old friends, racers that we get to see once a year, who I talk to on the phone many times, old friends like John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Don Prudhomme. These people were my racing idols when I was a kid. They can't wait to get to Brainerd.

"They love the lakes, they love the golf. There's so much to offer here for these folks. Some even come back to ice fish."