It’s always encouraging when a vintage dragstrip undergoes an extensive remodeling, and Shadyside Dragway is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when restoring a time-honored facility. Tucked away in rural Shelby, North Carolina, the Buff family – who’s owned the facility since 1980 – has poured tons of time and resources into this fabled dragstrip in recent years.
[Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in DI #191, the 30 Under 30 Issue, in November / December of 2024.]
Perhaps the most visible upgrade is the sprawling aluminum bleachers just installed in 2024. For Lennie Buff and his kids, the upgrade, while impressive, was bittersweet since Lennie and his dad, the late Ronnie Buff, together poured the concrete bleachers that had previously accommodated race fans for decades.
Next came the replacement of Ronnie’s beloved Chrondek timing system, in favor of the much more modern Accutime platform. “Grandpa would kill us if he knew we replaced his Chrondek system,” laughs Seth Buff, who along with brothers Bryson and Zackary make up a trio that Ronnie lovingly referred to as “his grandbabies.”
Among the other surprising moves was when Shadyside joined IHRA, which raised more than a few eyebrows since this track had never once been sanctioned since it opened in 1958! “The whole sanctioning body experience has been a learning curve for us,” says Lennie.
In mid-summer 2024, the guys broke out the earthmoving equipment and began grading the top of the property, expanding the pits to better accommodate massive modern race rigs. Additional spectator parking is also being performed, as the track is hosting larger events of late. Updated scoreboards and fencing also complement the ongoing improvements. A litany of other updates is being discussed and include things such as redoing the top end, installing concrete guard walls, building a new tower, and eventually designating a portion of the stands for VIP.
The Buff family has admittedly embraced the changes that are necessary if they want to continue moving forward, but they also haven’t forgotten that they’re walking on hallowed ground of drag racing folklore. Legends such as Scotty Cannon, Tommy Mauney, and many others did some of their earliest racing at Shadyside. Marching into the future while preserving the vibe of yesteryear can be a tightrope walk, but the Buff family is navigating the course in impressive fashion.
After all, Shadyside Dragway continues to be among the most period correct-appearing venues to host the mega-popular Southeast Gassers organization, and the fans completely pack the place to come watch year after year. “What can you say about that series? Anyone who hasn’t seen the Southeast Gassers needs to get up off the sofa and come see these guys!” says Lennie.
In May, the headlining attraction for the Ronnie Buff Memorial race was the $50,000-to-win 28×10.5-inch tire class, and the result was the largest event in track history. “We were excited to put a new spin on that old stuff, the 28-inch slick tire stuff,” Lennie says. “We’ve been wanting to bring the OG 28 back and have been talking about it for a while. We tried to step up in a big way with that race, and the turnout was incredible! The new bleachers came in handy that weekend, and the portable bleachers were full. The hill was full. It was a really good race.”
Another class that’s showing a lot of interest is the 5.30 Index class, which the guys hope to build upon in 2025, along with some larger bracket races.
Lots of great events were on the schedule in 2024, although the weather wreaked havoc on many tracks in the Southeast for the first half of the year. “We lost some good ones to rain early on, like the Carolina Nitrous Nationals,” says Lennie.
Tons of great grudge events also go down at Shadyside, in addition to Harley-Davidson meets, music festivals, Classic Gear Jammers, as well as Steel in Motion, which is dubbed “Best Hot Rod Show in the South,” and features a car show, vintage campers, music, and lots of racing.
“We’ve got a lot going on here at Shadyside, and our rule of thumb is that if it’s 50 degrees and sunny, we’re open practically year-round!” concludes Lennie.
This story was originally published on January 15, 2025.