As one can tell, there’s a huge emphasis on creativity and having fun at Kentucky Dragway. The drag strip, which is operated by second-generation racer Aaron Sipple and his wife, Carrie, originally opened in 1963. Aaron has built race cars and done engineering work for decades. He brings that same mindset in running the track.
“When it comes to the track, I approach it like a race car,” Aaron said. “I’m out here searching for my heads-up, tune-up, and I have a great staff here that helps me.”
To say they stay busy is an understatement as Aaron also delivers freight throughout the week. But, he loves the time working as a promoter and said much of the creativity comes from his family’s heritage as blacksmiths. He and Carrie also use their backgrounds of working for outside companies to promote events.
“Our social media thought process came from the dynamic of being a part of some really good companies,” he said. “Michael Beard does our professional flyers, but on a normal basis, I do our Kentucky Dragway page. It’s not glitz and glamour, but it gets the job done.”
Aaron often uses Beard’s work to create a spectator flyer for each event. But the promotion was just a part of why the Ken-Mor (short for Kentucky-Morehead) Bluegrass Nationals turned out to be a big success.
There were multiple winners at this year’s race including four drivers — Travis Arnett, Gage Stultz, Matt Roth and Chris Moore — who took home the $5,000 big checks. Although there was a huge turnout of cars and drivers, the race was run efficiently thanks to Sipple’s great staff.
“It was an awesome race,” Aaron said. “Saturday was a 12-hour race and Sunday, we started at 11 and were done by 6 or 7 p.m. When other tracks get that big car count, they finish at 3 in the morning. That speaks volumes of people coming to the race track and not waiting around forever. There’s a lot of value in keeping the track consistent. It provides a great dynamic.”
While the term family is often thrown around in the sport, it’s truly the case at Kentucky Dragway. Families such as Sipples, the Ruths, the Roes and others have helped build an incredible racing tradition that extends well beyond the borders of the Bluegrass State.
For example, Sipple’s father, Doc Sipple, was named IHRA Track Operator of the Year in 1997 and the IHRA Sportsman of the Year in 2002. Jim Ruth was a former owner of the IHRA while the Roe family has won a ton of big races throughout the country.
“It’s one big family. My whole life, my heart has been with the IHRA,” Aaron said. “We went to another organization for three years, but our racers almost saw it as an extension outside the family. Once we came back to IHRA, no one has looked back.”
Looking forward, Sipple sees the IHRA headed in a good direction.
“I’ve talked to Larry Jeffers and he has a good vision. He’s a businessman. To bring Kenny Nowling on as IHRA President, that’s a bold move. I really think he’s the man needed because racing in this economy, it’s been hurting.”
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