March 15, 2024

NEIL HANSEN SERVICES, MARCH 21

Neil Hansen, a popular local drag racer who made the huge leap from driving his Ford Falcon and Pinto wagons in bracket competition to piloting nearly 300 mph jet cars, passed away March 1.

Hansen, born Aug. 31, 1959, will have a memorial service Thursday, March 21, 11 a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home 508 N. Government Way, Spokane.

Photo Caption: Neil Hansen receives the Lloyd Scott Memorial award from Orville Moe at a date unknown. File photo

Starting in Spokane Raceway Park’s Street Eliminator class back in the mid 1990s, Hansen’s need for speed gravitated quickly to his jet dragster, “Brain Damage” and reportedly set a world record for a J34 jet car in 2002 at 274 mph.

Upon hearing news of his passing, tribute poured in over social media.

“Neil was always smiling, happy to see you and help out wherever, whenever, especially at the race track,” one friend wrote.

In another post, “I’m sad to hear that Neil passed away. He’s now drag racing in the sky, catching lights and telling stories with Sugarbear, Mark Bell and Jim VanDoren,” another friend said.

The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Inland Northwest Honor Flight or Meals on Wheels of Greater Spokane County.

Photo Caption: Hansen awaits a run at Spokane in his “Brain Damage” jet dragster. File photos
 

See schedule and more info about Walla Walla Drag Strip at: wwdragstrip.com.

WALLA WALLA DRAG STRIP 2024 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

WALLA WALLA — Walla Walla Drag Strip will present 15 Napa Point Series races in 2024 over a six-month calendar at the eighth-mile facility.

Located on the edge of the Walla Walla Air Terminal regional airport, the track offers seven classes of competition in racing that starts April 27 and concludes Sept. 29.

Most races take place on back-to-back weekends, with exception of a three-day race over the Independence Day holiday, July 5-7. That race also features the regional NHRA Jr. Dragster Challenge where this entry-level class runs on consecutive days, July 6 and 7.

Another special race weekend will feature two days of the NHRA Division-6 Super Quick series, June 22-23.

Walla Walla Drag Strip has been operating since 2009 under its current name but goes back well over 50 years. The track has been hosting races since 1970 when it was originally known as Bonanza Raceway.

In late 2008 it was made known that the drag strip was going to be closed. Not wanting to see this happen, five local businessmen, who were avid racers and fans themselves, decided to purchase the track.

In 2011 we won the Summit Racing Track of The Year Award.

According to the track website, “They wanted to keep the track going for the diehard spectators and racers, both the current and future.”

At that time the track was renamed Walla Walla Drag Strip.

Since 2009, with support from local businesses, spectators and racers, the track has been able to make improvements, the first was to lay down 1/8 mile of new concrete in 2011.

In 2013 new display signs were purchased because a lightning storm had destroyed the original one.

Following years as an NHRA-sanctioned facility, Walla Walla briefly changed to the International Hot Rod Association — along with Spokane — in 2015.

The track is located at 1212 Middle Waitsburg Rd. In Walla Walla.

Photo Caption: A two-day junior dragster event is one of the events in 2024 at Walla Walla Drag Strip. Walla Walla Dragstrip photo