The future of the former Atlanta Dragway took a major step forward this past Tuesday when the Banks County Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval for the continued use of the historic property as a racetrack. The vote followed an emotional and packed public hearing that highlighted the track’s deep roots in North Georgia as well as its potential economic and community benefits if reopened.
The application, which was submitted by the Banks County Board of Commissioners, included a summary explaining how the property has operated as a racetrack from 1975 until operations ceased around 2021. Planning staff explained that the conditional use application was initiated by the county to allow the property to return to its use as a racetrack while aligning it with modern zoning standards.
Public comment opened with overwhelming support from residents, racers, business owners, and motorsports professionals from across Georgia and neighboring states. IHRA Chief Operating Officer Scott Woodruff spoke first and expressed encouragement about the opportunity to restore the racetrack.
“I’m here from the IHRA and just really wanted to say we’re encouraged about the property possibly being rezoned for future use to help bring back the racetrack and safety to the area,” Woodruff said. “And obviously there’s a lot of passion in this room as we can all tell. So just want to say thank you very much and we intend to do good things if good things happen.”
Much of the public testimony focused on the economic ripple effects the racetrack historically brought to Banks County. Speakers described packed hotels, busy restaurants, and thriving shopping centers during race weekends and major events. Louis Kellett, who traveled from Greenville, South Carolina to attend the meeting, noted that Atlanta Dragway has been a staple in Banks County for nearly 50 years.
“It’ll take a lot of work to put it back together, but it can be done,” Kellett said. “When it opens back up, the restaurants are going to fill back up, hotels are going to fill back up. All these people that come to town eat, stay, and shop. It would be a big benefit for Banks County.”
Brad Ocock presented data reinforcing those claims, including estimates from the Georgia Department of Tourism that states out-of-town visitors bring $98 to a local economy. If they spend the night, it’s $178 per day in the local economy, he explained to the Commissioners.
“I put on the Northeast Georgia Swap Meet 12 times a year at the Atlanta Dragway. My swap meet brought about 25,000 people annually. The Southern Nationals brought between 30,000 and 50,000 annually. The NMCA race brought 8,000 people in annually. Bracket finals brought about 2,000 people annually. That’s only four organizations, not races,” Ocock stated. “It was about 95,000 people. At $98 per person per day, that’s a little over $9 million that they left in the local account. So that’s not counting overnight stays, that’s not counting all the other events that come here.”
Many residents also spoke about the track’s cultural and personal significance. Ashley Hancock, who lives directly behind the racetrack, described the motorsports community as an extended family.
“We are all like family,” Hancock said. “Just like the Banks County community is a family, we are a family. We all want to come back home. That’s what we want – to race, to see our family, to help the community.”
Others emphasized the role the racetrack played in their early years of development and the important public safety aspect. Speakers noted that organized racing provides a legal, controlled environment that helps keep young drivers off the streets while promoting discipline, technical skills, and mentorship to teens and young adults.
“We all talk about how we want to get kids off of iPads and video games. Having something like this close by definitely helps with that,” Kline Whitley, of Commerce, Georgia stated. “I can honestly say that I would not be the person that I am today without it. My dad found different ways to motivate me. Drag racing was the way that he found to motivate me to help me become a better person.”
After the public comment period concluded, all speakers in favor and none in opposition, the Planning Commission closed the hearing. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of the application, passing unanimously by a 5-0 vote. The decision was met with applause from the packed room and overflow crowd outside.
Commission members emphasized that their decision is only a recommendation, and that the final decision will rest with the Banks County Board of Commissioners. That vote is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th at 6:30 p.m., at the same location.
This story was originally published on February 7, 2026. 
