Brainerd International Raceway

What Brainerd International Raceway does

Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) is a privately held, multi-discipline motorsports facility located in Brainerd, Minnesota, founded in 1968. The facility operates a championship quarter-mile drag strip — site of Tony Schumacher's 337.58 MPH Top Fuel world record set in 2005 — alongside two road course configurations: the original 3.1-mile, 10-turn Donnybrooke Road Course (featuring the country's fastest road-course turn) and a 2.5-mile, 13-turn Competition Road Course added in 2008. The venue also includes dedicated drifting and autocross areas, on-site camping, and tower-suite lodging.

BIR generates revenue through seven primary streams: spectator admissions (NHRA Nationals, Octane Autofest, specialty events), racer entry fees (10-race ET Bracket Series, Muscle Car Series, track days), sponsorship (Kwik Trip title, Scag preferred partner, Summit Racing, plus class-level sponsors), on-site camping and lodging, private track rentals, concessions, and gift cards. Ticketing is sold direct-to-consumer through the venue's website and the Showare platform; private events and track rentals are booked via inquiry forms. Pricing is event-based and not publicly disclosed.

The venue serves four primary customer segments: motorsports enthusiasts (racers, spectators, car clubs), event spectators and families, corporate/private event organizers, and grassroots and amateur racers including junior dragster participants. BIR hosts the annual NHRA Nationals as its flagship national event and operates an April-through-October seasonal calendar anchored by weekly Wide Open Wednesdays, three major Muscle Car Series holiday-weekend events, and the recently launched Octane Autofest motorsports and automotive lifestyle festival. The company employs 101–250 staff and is led by General Manager Sara Walker under family-owned, privately held ownership with no disclosed institutional investment.

Name

Brainerd International Raceway

Legal name

Brainerd International Raceway

Website

https://birmn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Brainerd International Raceway is a privately held, multi-discipline motorsports facility in Brainerd, Minnesota operating a championship drag strip and two road courses. Founded in 1968, it hosts the NHRA Nationals and serves racers, spectators, families, and corporate event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motorsports Venue / Racing Facility

NAICS

Racetracks (711212), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsports Tracks & Racing Facilities (MPAKAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Race Tracks, Circuits & Motorsport Venues (MPAKAGAE), Race Promoters & Event Organizers (Race Weekend Operations) (MPAKAGAC), Motorsport Event Promoters & Race Organizers (MPAKADAE), Motorsports Events (F1, NASCAR, Rally, Moto) (MPAGAMAD)

Keywords

• Drag racing events
• Motorsports facility
• Road course racing
• Track rental services
• Racing event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Brainerd

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Spectator Admissions: Revenue from ticket sales to major events including NHRA Nationals, Octane Autofest, Street Car Showdown, and other racing events throughout the season.
2. Racer Entry Fees: Fees collected from participants in bracket racing series, road course track days, drifting events, and other competitive programs.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Partnerships with sponsors including Kwik Trip (Muscle Car Series title), Scag Power Equipment (preferred partner), and class sponsors for specific racing categories.
4. Camping and Lodging: On-site camping facilities including campsites and tower suites for event attendees.
5. Track Rental: Private track rental for car clubs, racing groups, or individuals wanting exclusive use for events or testing.
6. Concessions and Vendors: Food, beverage, and vendor fees during events.
7. Gift Cards: Digital gift card sales for event tickets and concessions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Brainerd International Raceway operates a multi-discipline motorsports facility featuring a championship quarter-mile drag strip, two road course configurations (3.1-mile Donnybrooke and 2.5-mile Competition), and dedicated drift areas. The venue sells spectator admissions, racer entry fees, track rentals, on-site lodging/camping, concessions, and sponsorships around a year-round calendar of NHRA-sanctioned national events, regional bracket series, and lifestyle festivals running April through October.

Product overview

Brainerd International Raceway (BIR) is a multi-discipline motorsports facility offering a comprehensive portfolio of racing events, track facilities, and experiential services. The facility operates two road course configurations (the 3.1-mile Donnybrooke Road Course and 2.5-mile Competition Road Course), a championship quarter-mile drag strip, and dedicated drifting competition areas. The racing program is anchored by flagship events including the annual NHRA Nationals, the 10-race BIR ET Bracket Racing Series, and the 3-race Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series. Supporting offerings include weekly Wide Open Wednesdays street legal events, Apex Track Days driving experiences, private track rentals, on-site lodging/camping, and VP Racing Fuels sales. The facility also hosts specialty events such as Octane Autofest (motorsports lifestyle festival), Overdrive Drift, motorcycle racing, and water sports events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series: A signature summer drag racing series featuring street car competition across holiday weekends, including the Street Car Showdown, Show N Go, and Muscle Car Shootout events.
• BIR ET Bracket Racing Series
• Octane Autofest
• NHRA Nationals

Products and services

• NHRA Brainerd Nationals
• BIR ET Bracket Racing Series
• Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series
• Octane Autofest
• Drag Strip Facility Rental
• Competition Road Course
• Donnybrooke Road Course
• Wide Open Wednesdays
• Apex Track Days
• Overdrive Drift
• Private Track Rental
• Lodging and Camping
• VP Racing Fuels Pre-Order
• Gift Cards
• Street Car Showdown
• Show & Go
• Muscle Car Shootout

Quantifiable outcome

• Near-perfect .000 reaction times and dead-on runs achieved at BIR events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scag Power EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2026Preferred Partner providing commercial-grade lawn care and grounds maintenance equipment for use throughout the facility including drag strip, road course, and drift areas. Equipment includes Liberty Z and Turf Tiger II zero-turn mowers and Windstorm stand-on blowers. A division of Metalcraft of Mayville Inc.
• PACE IncminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 June 2026Wholesale distributor of Scag Power Equipment in the northern U.S., supplying equipment to Brainerd International Raceway. Family-owned business established in 1982 headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan with 450,000+ sq ft of warehousing across multiple states.
• Kwik TripcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 May 2026Title sponsor of the Kwik Trip Muscle Car Series - BIR's signature summer drag racing program spanning three holiday weekend events. The partnership connects two family-owned Midwest organizations with deep regional roots. Kwik Trip operates 900+ locations across the Midwest with 36,000+ employees.
• NHRA (National Hot Rod Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body for professional drag racing. BIR hosts the annual NHRA Nationals national event and operates NHRA Summit Racing Equipment ET Bracket Series. Also partners on Junior Drag Racing League Challenge and special anniversary celebrations.
• ResTech SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass sponsor for Super Pro category in BIR ET Bracket Racing Series. Specializes in smart home integration, automation systems, audio/video technology, and high-end simulator experiences throughout Twin Cities and Brainerd Lakes Area.
• Track Stop Food & FuelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass sponsor for Pro ET category. Located directly outside the front gate at BIR, providing fuel, food, ice, VP Racing Fuels, and race-day essentials for racers and fans.
• Thunder Valley Classic CarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass sponsor for Sportsman category. Business operating since 1984 specializing in restoration, performance, and classic automotive craftsmanship.
• D.O.A. DragSledsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass sponsor for Bikes & Drag Sleds category. Founded by Travis Neyssen, designs and builds full-custom asphalt drag sleds for high-horsepower competition.
• Feist Automotive & TowingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass sponsor for Stock/Super Stock category. Automotive repair and towing business serving North Metro Minneapolis Area with long history supporting grassroots drag racing.
• Vesel ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClass sponsor for Jr. Dragster Novice category (new in 2026). Family-run restoration and reconstruction company based in Duluth investing in next generation of racers.
• Summit Racing EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the ET Bracket Racing Series and JDRL Challenge. Races lead to Summit Racing Equipment ET Finals where racers can compete for national championships.
• Midwest Class RacersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Paul Bunyan Classic Stock/Super Stock event paying $2,000 to win and $1,000 runner-up each day.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sonoma Raceway: Northern California motorsports complex with a drag strip and road course that hosts an NHRA national event. Comparable to BIR's multi-discipline model and NHRA national event status.
• Pacific Raceways: Washington State motorsports facility operating a drag strip and road course that hosts an NHRA national event. Comparable to BIR as a multi-discipline venue with national NHRA programming.
• Heartland Motorsports Park: Topeka, Kansas drag strip and motorsports facility serving the central Midwest. Comparable regional competitor to BIR for drag racing participants, sponsors, and spectators in the central US.
• Gainesville Raceway: Florida drag strip that hosts the NHRA Gatornationals. Directly comparable to BIR as an NHRA national event host with a championship drag strip and grassroots racing programming.
• zMAX Dragway: Drag racing facility at Charlotte Motor Speedway that hosts an NHRA national event (Four-Wide Nationals). Directly comparable to BIR as an NHRA national event host operating a championship drag strip.
• World Wide Technology Raceway: St. Louis-area multi-discipline motorsports facility operating a drag strip and road course and hosting an annual NHRA national event. Closely comparable to BIR as a Midwest multi-track venue on the NHRA national event calendar.
• Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park: Indianapolis motorsports facility operating both a drag strip and road course and hosting an NHRA national event. Closely comparable to BIR as a multi-discipline Midwest NHRA host with deep grassroots and heritage racing programming.
• Houston Raceway Park: Southeast Texas drag racing facility hosting an NHRA national event. Comparable to BIR as an NHRA national event track with championship drag strip programming.
• Rockingham Dragway: North Carolina drag racing facility that has hosted major NHRA and grassroots bracket racing events. Comparable to BIR as a destination drag racing venue with active grassroots programming.
• Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park: Norwalk, Ohio drag strip that hosts an annual NHRA national event and is tied to Summit Racing Equipment sponsorship (overlapping with BIR's NHRA Summit ET Bracket Series partnership). Highly comparable Midwestern NHRA national event host.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/birrace
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcZnHqSi_0HSVRLsVagLJcw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrainerdRaceway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brainerd-international-raceway
• Instagraminstagram.com/brainerdinternationalraceway/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brainerd International Raceway