Brainerd International Raceway

Brainerd International Raceway is a 3.1-mile road course, dragstrip and kart track near Brainerd, Minnesota, USA. The raceway hosts the National Hot Rod Association Nationals and is a popular racetrack for the Trans Am Series. Opened in 1968 as Donnybrooke Speedway there were no safety barriers, run-out areas, grandstands or even restrooms. George Montgomery and Bud Stall cleared the racetrack through a wooded area on the south side of North Long Lake. With the help of St Paul Sports Promoter Dennis Scanlan It hosted a 2 heat USAC Indy Car race in 1969. In 1973 Jerry Hansen bought the track and renamed it Brainerd International Raceway. It played host to CanAm races in 1970, 1971, and 1972. These races were won by, respectively, Denny Hulme, Peter Revson, and François Cevert. John Force, who races Funny Cars, has won 10 races since 1989. In the summer of 2006, Jed and Kristi Copham of Forest Lake, Minnesota, became the new owners of Brainerd International Raceway. Brainerd International Raceway maintains the original name of the now 40 year old course. The course is used for automotive and motorcycle racing. The 3.1-mile Donnybrooke Road Course has 10 turns and is considered wide – the main straight is 60 feet wide. There is essentially no elevation change. BIR is a high-speed course; vehicles can reach speeds of nearly 180 mph and take the slowest corners around 80 mph. There are wide runoff areas at most of the corners, which makes BIR’s road course extremely safe. (Featured track/location for 2014 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing)