This abandoned racetrack is nearly 30 miles away from the closest paved road.

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      In the Arizona desert, a stretch of asphalt contrasts sharply with the surrounding barren terrain. This is a racetrack that has been inactive for about fifteen years.

      Known as Competition Ridge Race Ranch, it is located in Yucca, situated between Kingman and Lake Havasu. However, it’s not a place you’d likely discover by chance. The YouTubers from DZAdventures recently surveyed the area, estimating that the track is roughly 30 miles from the nearest paved road. From ground level, the only signs of its existence are fences and “No Trespassing” notices. Yet, aerial drone footage reveals a fully formed road course.

      Established around 2010, Competition Ridge was intended to be a country club racetrack that ultimately failed. A blog post from DragZine at the time reported that sports car racer Randy Lyles aimed to sell parcels of five acres or more around the track for owners to construct their homes and race shops. These owners would have had the option to use the track at their convenience, which Lyles believed would be more economical than making specific trips for testing. Nevertheless, it required a significant financial commitment. Around the same period, Lyles advertised a lot for $70,900 (or best offer) on a St. Louis Motor Racing News forum.

      As detailed in the DragZine article, Lyles envisioned a 1.7-mile road course, a 3/4-mile oval, and a 1/4-mile drag strip on the 400-acre property, along with 48 housing lots. Residents would have paid a monthly fee of $100 for maintenance, equipment, and staffing but would reportedly have been permitted to host racing events with outsiders and collect a portion of the fees from those attending.

      The reasons for the failure of these plans remain unclear, though the remote location of Competition Ridge likely played a role. Racetracks are typically situated away from urban areas due to their large size and the noise and disruption they create. Its remoteness means that only those truly dedicated to the racing lifestyle would find it attractive.

      Maintaining a racetrack’s viability is also challenging. In recent years, many have closed down, including smaller venues such as Custom T’s drag strip near Washington, D.C., and the 190-acre Grattan Raceway property in Michigan. In contrast to many other tracks, Competition Ridge’s isolated location could protect it from being acquired by real estate developers and demolished. It might continue to exist in a state of limbo, serving as an intriguing spot for overlanders and those browsing Google Maps.