By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Issues with the SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend have been ongoing for the past two and half years. Following a $1.6 million reconstruction of the dragstrip in May 2021, there have been problems with the surface meeting required standards for racing. The project was part of a Kansas Department of Transportation Cost Share program, where the city approved Suchy Construction as the contractor.
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The SRCA Board canceled their race season last year because they deemed the track unsafe.
City Administrator Brandon Anderson said in April 2021, the council approved a loan to the SRCA for retaining walls and new time systems. The terms of the loan call for annual payments on Dec. 31.
"Since the dragstrip is not operating, the SRCA's ability to generate the funds to make the 2023 payment have been impaired," said Anderson. "SRCA is asking to defer this payment during the pendency of the legal actions concerning the dragstrip."
The Great Bend City Council approved the request to defer SRCA’s loan payments. In December, the operational agreement with the SRCA to maintain the track and facility switched over to the city’s responsibility since the track is not operating.
The legal issue to determine responsibility on the track’s issues is awaiting arbitration. Administration did not expect arbitration to begin until June 2024.