Twin Falls Automotive Enthusiasts Propose Leasing County Land for Industry-Standard Drag Strip in Idaho
A group of automotive enthusiasts in Twin Falls, Idaho, is pushing to bring a legitimate, industry-standard drag strip to Magic Valley — giving local racers a safe and legal alternative to street racing on public roads.
Thomas Tillotson, who owns a performance automotive shop, appeared before the Twin Falls County Commission alongside members of South Hills Raceway to present the proposal. The group is seeking to lease 70 acres of county land to construct a 660-foot drag strip, along with supporting infrastructure including a start tower, bleachers, and concessions.
Six Years of Grassroots Racing — and a Growing Need
The proposal didn’t emerge out of thin air. For the past six years, Tillotson and his group have hosted Saturday drag races on a dead-end county road south of Twin Falls, operating with county approval. But conditions on that road have become increasingly problematic. The roadway is crowned in the middle, and a fresh chip-seal applied last summer raised the risk of vehicles sliding into the borrow ditches along the edges — a safety concern that helped motivate the push for a dedicated facility.
“Drag racing is a sport just like any other sport,” Tillotson said in remarks reported by Idaho News 6. “Unfortunately, in the Magic Valley, there’s nowhere to perfect our sport, so what South Hills Raceway is trying to do is bring a playing field for that.”
Tillotson also cited a steady rise in participation over the years. “We’ve seen an increase in attendance over the last six years — both in racers and spectators, and so with that increase, we as a group agreed that the need for a track was evident,” he said.
The growth in interest hasn’t been limited to established enthusiasts. Tillotson described an incident in which a group of more than 30 illegal street racers showed up on the county road just as South Hills Raceway was wrapping up for the night. Rather than disperse, organizers reopened the races to accommodate them — and the street racers became regulars. “It is having a great effect on them and giving them a place to perfect their sport,” Tillotson said.
Law Enforcement Sees a Public Safety Benefit
The proposal has drawn support from local law enforcement, who view a sanctioned drag strip as a practical tool for reducing dangerous street racing in Twin Falls County.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Eden of the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office has participated in Beat the Heat — a community outreach program pairing law enforcement officers with car and motorsports enthusiasts — for 15 years. The program is designed to channel the passion for speed into a structured, legal environment.
“Street racing has been a big problem in the history of this country,” Eden said, according to Idaho News 6. “Beat the Heat is law-enforcement drag racing. It’s a way to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community. We find those who like building cars or bikes, and that’s just that adrenaline of going fast, and then we try to show them that there’s proper ways to do it where you’re not endangering your neighbor and or yourself.”
The alignment between the South Hills Raceway vision and law enforcement’s Beat the Heat goals underscores the broader public safety argument behind the proposal — that a dedicated, controlled facility is a smarter and more cost-effective community solution than continued reliance on patchwork enforcement of illegal street racing. As gas prices across Idaho continue to influence driving habits and car culture, the appetite for motorsports events in the region shows no signs of slowing.
The proposal reflects a broader pattern of economic and recreational investment in Twin Falls. The city has seen new hotel construction and commercial expansion in recent years, suggesting growing regional confidence in Twin Falls as a destination — one that a motorsports facility could further enhance.
What Comes Next
Monday’s meeting before the Twin Falls County Commission was informational only, and no decision was made. Several conditions must still be met before the South Hills Raceway project can advance. County officials will need to evaluate the proposed lease terms, site logistics, and any land-use or zoning considerations tied to the 70-acre parcel. Tillotson and the South Hills Raceway group are expected to continue working through those requirements as the proposal moves forward. Twin Falls County residents interested in following the project’s progress should monitor future commission agendas for additional hearings or public comment opportunities.