b'TRACKSPOTLIGHTTHERE IS NO TRICK FOR SUCCESSOF MAGIC CITY INTERNATIONAL DRAGWAYIts no illusion at Magic City International Dragway. It is a unique situation, located inside Minot City limits. The trio bought the track as an owners group of seven The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) memberin 2007. Two years ago, it got down to the three, who track in Minot, N.D., truly does disappear at times onlyeach bring different strengths to the table.to be seen again a few days later. Its no trick, but the efficient work of track owners Jimmy Grote, CoryThe motivation for being involved in the only IHRA-Evenson and Pat Keating. sanctioned drag strip in North Dakota is different for each.Located on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, they work around other events scheduled on the property. Grotes came out of tragedy. He was at a drag race on the highway on Christmas Eve during his younger days In September, we develop the schedule for thewhen one of the cars went across the road and struck following year, Grote said. We working around theanother vehicle, killing a father of five. Since then, hes events with the state fair, Jimmy said. With the statepushed hard to get drag racing off the streets.fair, we have to completely evacuate the property, except for our guardrails, our basement and tower. ItEvenson is one who truly appreciates the history of hot turns into a parking lot. After the state fair, we have torods and racing them.turn it back into a drag strip.I like the drag racing history and the history of the It happened again in early August, when there was asport, Evenson said. I grew up without having a drag motor coach convention with over 3,500 recreationalracing track. The closest drag strip was about 300 vehicles on the property miles away. When the opportunity came up to be a part of the ownership, I wanted the children in this area to The Magic City staff had to pull the timing sensors,have the opportunity to race that we didnt have in this remove the sand trap, starting line and other trackpart of the country.equipment where nothing can be damaged or in the fairs or events way. They have become incrediblyKeating fell in love with the idea of competing and efficient putting it all back together and recently gotbecame a racer as soon as the track first opened.the track ready to race again in four days.I got started late, wasnt into drag racing until I was in my 30s, Keating said. All of sudden, the drag strip was created and I started racing the first day the track opened. I raced quite a bit until we got together and started running it. Im excited about it. We plan on continuing the drag strip forever. To me, drag racing is the best motorsport there is.24'