Yucatán’s New Drag Strip Opens With Crash

Mérida, MX — The State Government has inaugurated the first official drag racing strip in Yucatán at X’matkuil, a space designed to guarantee the safety of those who practice this motorsport and address the demand of a community that for years requested a suitable venue for its competitions.

However, the inaugural event was marked by an incident: during one of the first races, a vehicle lost control just at the start of the run and crashed into the containment wall. The driver emerged unscathed and was attended to immediately by paramedics, an event that underscored the importance of having safety protocols for this type of event.

The new dragstrip, constructed with an investment exceeding 2.4 million pesos, features 402 meters of paved track, protective barriers, solar LED lighting, starting lights, and a gravel runoff area. According to official estimates, it will directly benefit more than 5,600 people, in addition to attracting visitors who will boost the local economy.

During the opening, Governor Joaquín Díaz Mena stated that the project responds to a legitimate request from the drag racing community, which for years used streets and highways under risky conditions. He emphasized that this space is not a luxury but a measure for road safety and family recreation.

For their part, representatives from automobile clubs such as Aceleración Mérida Club and Mustang Mérida Club celebrated the opening of the venue, which they hailed as the "drag racing cathedral of the southeast." They acknowledged it is a long-awaited project that positions Yucatán as a regional reference for infrastructure dedicated to this sport.

The inauguration of the dragstrip marks a step in the consolidation of Yucatán as a state with safe spaces for recreation and sport, while the initial incident made clear the value of having a controlled environment and preventive measures to reduce risks in such competitions.