When you think of Albuquerque, New Mexico, you don’t think of racing first, but New Mexico City has a passionate racing fan base for their favorite sport. The Southwest Motorsport Highway Racing Association is the place to enjoy the thrill of racing. Located just 14 miles west of Albuquerque, the facility was formed in 1999 to give car enthusiasts a place to pursue their passion. Its home track is Sandia Speedway. The facility is used for test days, autocross, Solo, drifting and private tests.
The Speedway is home to three tracks, two ovals, a 1/2 mile and a 1/4 mile track, and a 1.7 mile track. Each track has various events throughout the year starting in January. The racetrack hosts more than 40 racetrack events with a wide range of makes and models. Clubs from all over New Mexico come to Sandia Track because of its flexibility and variety of tracks. Everything is state-of-the-art, from the family-oriented spectator building to the hospitality area and a children’s play area, Southwest Motorsports has it all.
Clubs and races include; Legends Cars, SMRI Track Day, Porsche Club Autocross, Soren Loree, NM Drifters Club, ASA Indy Cars, Nissan Infiniti, SCCA Events, PJ’s Triumph Day, Corvette Club and NASA, Rio Grande Sports Club, Sandia Motorcycle Racing. BMW, Miata, Ferrari and more call this track home. There are special events throughout the season with many opportunities for car enthusiasts to get out there and enjoy their hobby and develop their skills.
The two oval tracks host weekly Saturday night races featuring late model, super trucks, mods, street stock, hobby stock, factory 4, VW beetles, mini-sprints, legends, and gunpowder. There is a name that is synonymous with racing and that name is Unser. Fans around the world know and love Al Unser, one of the most successful drivers in racing, and the Unser Museum at NW Los Ranchos in Albuquerque is family owned and operated and its exhibits reflect a love for cars and cars. racing that is deep in Unser’s hearts. for generations.
The exhibits in the museum are constantly changing, some remain on display permanently and others rotate in and out. The museum is divided into sections and each one shows a different era in history. Area 6 is the welcome center and the main entrance to the museum. Area 1 is “Pikes’ Peak” and the displays are geared towards the history of the Unser family and the early days of Unser racing. Area 2 is the “Unser Dynasty” and the exhibits address family success in racing and the excitement of Indy Racing. Area 3, “Jerry’s Garage,” tells the story of hard work and dedication with a garage exhibit and movie area. Area 4, “Special Features,” looks at the friends and racing figures who have impacted the Unser family. Area 5 displays “Technologies”, Area 7 is the “Winners Circle” with Unser highlights and memorabilia. Museum admission is $ 7.00 for adults with discounts for seniors and children.
