Welcome to “the Original” Firebird Raceway

A Legacy of Speed and Family for fifty-seven years!

Founded by Bill and Ellanor New in 1968, Firebird has grown from a dream to become one of the premier motorsports destinations in the great northwest. Our quarter-mile drag strip, stretching parallel to Highway 16, stands as a testament to their vision and dedication to the sport.

Today, the second generation of the New family—affectionately known as the “New Crew”—carries forward their parents’ legacy. We maintain their founding principle: providing a first-class, family-friendly venue where racing thrills come with small-town hospitality. The “Firebird Experience” isn’t just about speed—it’s about creating affordable, action-packed entertainment that brings families together.

From April through mid-October, Firebird roars to life with nearly fifty racing events each season, drawing tens of thousands of passionate fans and racers from across the region. As an NHRA member track, we’re proud to uphold the highest standards in drag racing competition and safety.

Our commitment to motorsports extends beyond the track. Each March, we kick off the racing season with the prestigious Boise Roadster Show at Expo Idaho. This ISCA-sanctioned event, the largest motorsports gathering in Idaho, transforms the second weekend of March into a three-day celebration of the finest rods, customs, street machines, trucks, motorcycles, classics and more.

In recognition of our contribution to American motorsports culture, Firebird has earned its place in the National Register of Historic Places. After more than five decades of operation, our facility is preserved in the National Parks Department archives as a significant piece of racing heritage.

Join us for a season of speed, family fun, and the unique atmosphere that makes Firebird a treasure of Idaho motorsports.

In the first person, meet the management team who help to run the Firebird race track:

Scott New, General Manager

A Lifetime Dedicated to Firebird

My connection to Firebird runs as deep as the quarter-mile itself. Starting in 1972 at age 11, I earned my first racing stripes working the front gates and helping with track maintenance. What began as childhood chores grew into a lifelong passion that has shaped better than five remarkable decades in the world of drag racing.

Today, you’ll find me wearing multiple hats at the raceway—from event director to track announcer, starting line official to tech inspector, and occasionally capturing the action through my Nikon camera lens. Each role has deepened my appreciation for this extraordinary sport and the community it creates.

Brought up in the Treasure Valley, my local roots run deep. I progressed through Jefferson, South, and Borah schools before earning my Marketing degree from Boise State University. This education, combined with my hands-on experience at Firebird, has helped shape our facility into what it is today.

When I’m not at the track, I share life’s adventures with my wonderful wife Debbie and our adorable dog Baxter. The Idaho outdoors calls to me through fly fishing, hiking, and biking in the warmer months, while winter occasionally finds me on the ski slopes. Summer evenings are often spent enjoying performances at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

The journey from that young boy picking up trash to helping guide Firebird’s future has been nothing short of extraordinary. It’s a privilege to continue the legacy of this remarkable facility and the sport that has given me so much.

John New, Facilities Manager

Keeping Firebird Racing Forward

Every day at Firebird brings a new adventure, and that’s exactly how I like it. As a lifelong Boise native who grew up with racing in my blood, I’ve transformed my childhood experiences at the track into a career that demands both versatility and dedication.

My role at Firebird defies a single job title. From managing our food and beverage operations to overseeing capital improvements, I embrace the challenge of wearing multiple hats. The hands-on training I received from my father and our extended racing family has proven invaluable in maintaining and improving every aspect of our facility.

You might find me fixing a water line one day and supervising the construction of concrete retaining walls the next. This diverse skill set, honed through years of practical experience, has become a crucial asset to our operation. While I attended Jefferson, South, and Borah schools in Boise, my real education came from the track itself—learning through experience and rising to meet each new challenge.

The racing spirit runs strong in my family. My wife Anna and our children, Connor and Colin, share my passion for drag racing, making this more than just a business—it’s our way of life. When I’m not at the track, you’ll find me on the ski slopes or enjoying various sports and activities with my kids, passing along the same love for athletics and motorsports that my father shared with me.

My greatest satisfaction comes from knowing that each improvement, repair, or upgrade helps create better experiences for our racing family and fans. It’s a responsibility I’ve grown up with and one I’m proud to continue.

Brad New, Marketing Director

Marketing Director & Second-Generation Racing Professional

Drag racing isn’t just a business for me—it’s woven into the fabric of my life. Growing up in the New family meant learning every aspect of the sport from the ground up. My journey at Firebird began in the water box, where I first experienced the raw energy of drag racing up close. Those early experiences led me to become our chief starter, a role that taught me invaluable lessons about precision and safety in motorsports.

Today, I oversee our front gate operations with our dedicated staff while serving as Firebird’s Marketing Director. In this role, I have the privilege of working with more than 200 companies who partner with our facility through various advertising and promotional programs. My greatest satisfaction comes from helping these partners grow their businesses through our shared connection to motorsports.

The relationships we’ve built with our marketing partners go beyond traditional business arrangements. Over the years, I’ve had the fortune to work with outstanding people and companies who share our passion for racing and community engagement. These partnerships have become an integral part of the Firebird experience.

As a lifelong resident of the Treasure Valley, my local roots run deep. I progressed through Jefferson, South, and Borah schools before earning my Management degree from Boise State University. This education, combined with my hands-on racing experience, helps me bridge the gap between motorsports excitement and business success.

My son Austyn continues to be my greatest inspiration as I watch him grow and achieve his goals. When I can steal a moment away from the track, you’ll find me exploring Idaho’s outdoors on my bike with my wife Katie and her family—though “free time” is a rare commodity in the racing world!

The future of Firebird excites me as we continue to innovate and grow while maintaining the family-focused atmosphere that makes our facility special. It’s not just about preserving a legacy—it’s about building new traditions for the next generation of racing enthusiasts.

Contact Brad

Debbie New, Track Administrator

From Fox Hunt Fan to Firebird Family

My maiden experience with Firebird began in 1984 when my brother Rick and I attended our first Fox Hunt. I’ll never forget sitting in that miles-long line of cars, not realizing I was about to experience one of the most significant events in track history—or that it would change the course of my life. The year before, I had met Scott New, and together these experiences would spark my affinity and connection to drag racing.

As a native Idahoan, I followed the traditional path through Franklin grade school, South Jr. High, and Borah High before earning my Business degree at Boise State University. My early career led me into banking, where I developed valuable skills as a teller and loan processor that would later prove instrumental at Firebird.

Over the years, my involvement with the raceway naturally grew alongside my relationship with Scott. Today, I manage Firebird’s accounting, payroll, and ticketing operations—both before, during and after events. You might also find me helping at the front gates, in the tower, or assisting in our souvenir stores. In racing, as in life, adaptability is key!

Scott and I have shared nearly four decades together, building both a life and a racing legacy. When we’re not at the track, we enjoy spending time with our adorable West Highland Terrier, Baxter, who’s become quite the fixture in and around Firebird  as the track’s mascot.

What started with that memorable Fox Hunt has evolved into a lifetime of racing experiences, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being part of the Firebird family means every day brings new opportunities to create unforgettable moments for our racing community.

Baxter, Track Mascot

I have a vast array of responsibilities with the company. First, I’ve been assigned squirrel patrol, trying to fend off the insurgence of any and most all squirrels in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, they have a decided advantage on me called trees!

My favorite thing to do aside from napping on the laps of every member of the New family is to go on extended walks in the Eagle foothills. This is my perfect chance to “meet `n greet” fellow hikers and dog buddies. I love the outdoors! Occasionally I get to go to Firebird. I really love drag racing.  It’s a real honor to be recognized as the Firebird Mascot…aka – the track DOG.

See you at the RACES!!

Job Opportunity
If you have interest in joining the Firebird team, please fill out the link to the job application and either email it or fax to 208 938-8961.