Building a Home for Motorsports: The Story of BIR

Brainerd International Raceway’s story begins in 1968, when Donnybrooke Speedway first appeared in what was then little more than a clearing in the northwoods. George Montgomery carved a three‑mile road course through the trees on the south side of North Long Lake, creating a bold new destination for road racing at a time when the Brainerd Lakes Area was far from the motorsports hub it is today. With no permanent restrooms, no grandstands, no safety barriers, and only a small timing tower, Donnybrooke was rugged, raw, and full of promise. Yet even in its earliest days, racers recognized something special in its long straights and flowing corners.

Through the early 1970s, Donnybrooke gained momentum, attracting well‑known drivers and national‑level road‑racing events. When Jerry Hansen, the winningest amateur driver in SCCA history, purchased the track in 1973 and renamed it Brainerd International Raceway, BIR entered a new era. The road course quickly became home to major sports car weekends, drawing crowds as large as 17,000 for events like the Uncola Nationals. Rising talents and recognizable names from NASCAR, IndyCar, and Hollywood all found their way to Brainerd, including racers like Ken Schrader, Tom Sneva, Bobby Unser, and actor‑turned‑driver Paul Newman, who set a lap record here in 1977 and earned multiple victories on the road course in the years that followed.

In the early 1980s, BIR became a key stop on the national motorcycle racing circuit. Superbike racing exploded in popularity, and fans packed the facility to watch future legends compete. Riders like Wayne Rainey, Doug Chandler, and Miguel Duhamel thrilled spectators and helped solidify BIR’s reputation as one of the most exciting and challenging motorcycle venues in the country. For many fans, the superbike era remains one of the most memorable chapters in BIR’s history.

Drag racing was part of BIR’s identity from early on, beginning with NHRA’s regional points race in 1969 on the mile‑long straightaway that still doubles as today’s drag strip. By the late 1970s, BIR was investing heavily in the sport, hosting the Crown Auto Funny Car Championships and later the Crown Auto Winston Points event. Those events drew the biggest stars in the sport, from Don "The Snake" Prudhomme to Shirley Muldowney, and crowds grew into the tens of thousands.

In 1982, with motorsports booming across the U.S., BIR acquired bleachers from the demolished Metropolitan Stadium and prepared for what would become one of the track’s defining milestones: the inaugural Quaker State NorthStar Nationals. More than 50,000 fans attended, watching legends like Muldowney and Kenny Bernstein battle for wins and witnessing world‑record performances. The event quickly became a staple of the NHRA tour and eventually evolved into today’s NHRA Brainerd Nationals—still the largest annual drag racing event in the Upper Midwest. The BIR Zoo campground, famous for its spirited community and unforgettable race‑week culture, remains one of the most iconic features of BIR, and a unique bucket list experience on the national NHRA tour.

The facility continued to grow through the 1990s and early 2000s, expanding paddock areas, improving infrastructure, and diversifying event offerings. The introduction of the 2.5‑mile Competition Road Course added new dimensions to the property, offering a more technical layout ideal for instruction, drifting, and club racing. This flexibility allowed BIR to support more types of motorsports than ever before.

A major turning point came in 2006 when the Copham family purchased the facility. Their leadership brought stability, modernization, and a renewed focus on guest experience across all disciplines. Upgrades over the years have included improved surface quality, expanded drifting areas, enhanced safety operations, and ongoing plans for elevated hospitality and spectator amenities. These investments honor BIR’s past while ensuring the track continues to thrive for future generations.

What truly defines BIR’s history isn’t just the big events or famous racers—it’s the people. Families who first visited in the 1970s now bring their children and grandchildren. Drivers who cut their teeth on Donnybrooke’s long straights still return to compete, teach, or reconnect with their racing community. Fans who discovered drag racing at the NorthStar or NHRA Brainerd Nationals continue to gather along the fence every August, becoming part of a tradition that spans five decades.

Ever evolving, Brainerd International Raceway stands as a rare blend of heritage and evolution. From its humble beginnings in the woods to its growth into a multi‑discipline motorsports campus, BIR has helped shape racing history in the Upper Midwest and beyond. It remains a place where stories begin, traditions continue, and the love of motorsports is shared across generations.