An Iowa drag racing landmark is up for grabs. Eddyville Raceway Park, an eighth-mile strip in Oskaloosa just an hour southeast of Des Moines, has been put on the market after nearly two decades of steady ownership.
Built in 1965, Eddyville quickly earned a reputation as one of the country’s premier ?-mile facilities. Operating first under AHRA rules, the track became a haven for grassroots sportsman racing while also attracting the sport’s biggest stars. Over the years, legends like Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, “Dyno Don” Nicholson, Vern Moats, Ron Capps, and Tommy Johnson Jr. have blasted down its lanes.
Decades of Investment and Upgrades
The track’s history is one of constant reinvestment.
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1993: Businessman Carl Moyer buys Eddyville and immediately pours hundreds of thousands into facility improvements.
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2006: Gerald Kramer and Scott Gardner take over, bringing the track under NHRA, IHRA, and later WDRA sanctioning.
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2014: Gardner sells most of his stake to Kramer, who continues to operate it today.
Under Kramer and Gardner’s stewardship, Eddyville has seen nearly $250,000 in upgrades in recent years, including:
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Fresh asphalt and concrete paving
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Concrete safety walls
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Accutime Timing System
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Musco lighting upgrades
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New track sprayer, power scraper, and FOD mat
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Upgraded concessions and grounds equipment
Home to Iconic Events
Eddyville’s calendar has featured some of the Midwest’s most exciting drag racing spectacles:
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The Night of Fire – a summer night of jet cars, flames, and packed grandstands.
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World Fuel Altered Nationals – wild, wheelstanding nostalgia drag racing.
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Funny Car Chaos Series – nitro and alcohol floppers battling it out on the eighth-mile.
These marquee events, paired with a solid sportsman base and strong marketing partnerships, have made Eddyville a financially stable operation—something rare in the racing world.
Why It’s for Sale
“I have spent most of my life in racing and race track ownership and operations,” said Kramer. “I’m now at the age where I want to slow down a bit. We have a strong financial foundation and tremendous support from many marketing partners.”
The track remains open with a full racing schedule for 2025. Qualified buyers can request a prospectus by contacting Scott Gardner at sgardner5472@gmail.com.
Bottom line: Eddyville Raceway Park isn’t just a race track—it’s a slice of drag racing history, turnkey-ready for the next generation of owners.
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Tags: Eddyville Raceway Park, drag racing, Iowa motorsports, NHRA, IHRA, WDRA, race track for sale, Night of Fire
