--- title: "You Can Bid on This Drag Strip in Kansas for Super Cheap, But You Better Hurry" date: "2024-07-18" modified: "2024-07-18" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/you-can-bid-on-this-drag-strip-in-kansas-for-super-cheap-but-you-better-hurry" categories: - "News" --- # You Can Bid on This Drag Strip in Kansas for Super Cheap, But You Better Hurry ![]() *Chesney Motorsports Photography. Heartland Motorsports Park. Facebook \Photography by Chesney\* Buying a [race track]() seems like it could be fun. If you forget the stress of running such a massive facility for just a minute, the idea of owning the place where loud cars go vroom seems incredibly cool—especially when you can bid on one for less money than a Macbook Pro. Right now, the property auction for Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas, is live and the current bid for it sits at just $1,000. Heartland Motorsports Park shut down in 2023 after nearly 35 years of action [following the tax troubles]() of its owner, Shelby Development LLC. Now there are 29 different lots being auctioned off, all containing different tracts of land. Most of those tracts are wide-open, filled with acres of green grass, but [Lot 13 contains]() all of the racing surfaces and relevant buildings. Better yet, at the time of publishing, Lot 13's current bid is just $1,000. Since bids are made in $500 increments, the next hopeful buyer can bid on the entire track for just $1,500. Initially, the auction’s deadline was set for July 17. However, a $500 bid was made as a last-ditch effort to extend the auction, which now ends at 6 p.m. CT on July 24. That means there’s less than a week for this place to find a new owner. ![]() **Heritage Brokers and Auctioneers** Lot 13 features the largest bulk of the total property’s 621 acres, 89,000 square feet of building space, and existing utilities such as municipal water, sanitization, and electricity. So whoever ends up with the winning bid will have a full race track in their possession. It's unclear what condition the facilities are in, so there may be some renovation needed, but since the track was operating last year, it should be close to good, working order. Now, just because the current bid is at $1,000 doesn't mean someone can get it for that much. While most of the lots are being sold with no reserve, Lot 13's sale needs to be confirmed by the seller. If the bid doesn't meet the seller's requirements, it won't be finalized. Additionally, such venues are incredibly expensive to run and have high taxes to be paid. Chris Payne, owner of Shelby Development LLC, told [*The Topeka Capital-Journal*]() that the company owes Shawnee County $3.2 million in back taxes but intends to pay it back. Even if the sale price turns out to be comically low, it comes with a hefty financial burden. But if you have the means and the desire to save a dead racetrack, now’s the time to pay up. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()