Wayne County Dragstrip Set to Reopen in 2026

Jan 30, 2026 | News

After sitting dormant for several years, Wayne County Dragstrip in central North Carolina is reopening under new operators on a one-year lease, bringing grassroots motorsports back to an 18-acre site.

What’s happening:

  • New operators focused on no-prep, bracket, and outlaw racing
  • Incremental capital improvements—not a full redevelopment
  • Facility positioned as a regional draw, not a destination mega-track

Real estate takeaway:

  • Specialized, experience-driven uses can reactivate underutilized land
  • Short-term leases allow testing demand before committing long-term capital
  • Community-oriented assets can stabilize value through consistent local traffic, not peak events

A reminder that nontraditional uses can play a meaningful role in local land strategy.

Dylan Cunningham

J Dylan Cunningham, CCIM is the founder of Oak Street Commercial Real Estate, LLC, a firm located in Apex, NC on a mission to help business owners and commercial real estate owners create long-term strategies that align with their objectives through real estate.

We believe in going beyond the transaction, taking a deep look at where you want to be in five, ten or even twenty years from now—and how we can help you get there with thoughtful, strategic decisions today.