A new valley of speed

After months of teasers on social media and an extensive behind-the-scenes search, in May 2024 RARA announced Roswell, New Mexico, as the new location for the races. Just about the only thing anyone knows about Roswell is aliens, but now, with the races there, thousands of fans, plus racers and volunteers, will get to explore a new world of speed in southern New Mexico (see “Briefing: Out of This World,” August 2025 AOPA Pilot).

Close encounters

The week we visited in July was the Pylon Racing School (PRS), an annual training seminar that qualifies rookies and requalifies veterans who haven’t competed in the past three years to race in September. All the racing classes are here, and when the airplanes aren’t on the course, they’re staying out of the sun in a lofty hangar, tinkering on their aircraft with their teams while a flock
of birds, who seem to be the only permanent residents
in these hangars otherwise, sing from the rafters. This PRS is extra special because it is the racers’ first chance to get a look at the new course, and the first proving of Roswell as NCAR’s new home.

A key factor in the Roswell decision was this new
course and how safe it could be. Racecourse designer Matt Setty created mock courses for each of the finalist cities. Ultimately, the terrain-free Roswell location with little threat of encroachment or development, plus key support from a nearby ranching family that was happy
to contract with NCAR to put pylons on their land,
helped make the decision. Setty notes that safety of
both racers and the crowd is always the top priority in course planning.

“Matt’s done an excellent job and he’s really good at
what he does, setting these things up and creating a
very safe environment,” says Greg Gibson, marketing director of NCAR. Gibson also notes that the fastest part of the course, what was called in Reno the “Valley of Speed,” will now be directly in front of the grandstands,
giving spectators a better view of the thrilling “non-cooperative formation” straightaway. 

Even watching practice runs on this course, some of which are a typical simulated race, and some of which are abnormal procedures and simulated emergencies, is heart-poundingly thrilling. Getting a closer look at the action will surely be one of the best parts of Roswell.

In addition to the new fast course, there are a few more upgrades. While we were there, construction was well underway to pave the apron and provide a huge area for spectators. Where Reno had approximately 55 acres, Roswell will have more than 80. This extra space means that everything will be in one spot, and that all the racing pits for the seven classes will be together now as well.

Arrival

The eviction from Reno was less than ideal, although organizers anticipated eventually outgrowing the field.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t our decision to move. We got decided,” says Tony Logoteta, president and COO of NCAR, while the Formula 1 class taxis out for their daily practice round. “But we knew we had a shelf life there. We just thought it was at least five years away.

“So, when we got the news at the end of ’22 that ’23 was going to be our last year, we argued for a minute and then realized we were going to lose that argument,” he says. “So, let’s just have a blowout, wonderful, bucket list type—let’s do it one more time in Reno.”

From there, NCAR looked at about 39 possible host cities before narrowing it down. 

“We looked at many locations, had six finalists. In the end, Roswell was selected in part because it’s the safest place. I mean, you look out in the field, it’s almost flat as a pancake, right? And so even if you had to put down in that terrain, it would, at least in a T–6, I would safely say, it would be survivable,” CEO Fred Telling says. In addition to being the CEO, Telling is the T–6 class president, and the first CEO to be a former racer.

If the new course is the highlight, there are still a few challenges.

“Hotel space here is limited. We’re not hiding from that fact at all,” says Gibson, referencing the fewer than 500 hotel rooms available in Roswell, most of which booked up months in advance. “It’s one detractor from the space that is unavoidable, but we have to be able to race. We have to be able to have the facilities and everything to grow into what will be the next 60 years of the National Championship Air Races. Come and enjoy it with us. Help us grow it. Enjoy the venue for what it is.” Gibson promises there will be ample parking, and that there are plans to increase camping space over the next few years, changes they wouldn’t be able to make without support.

“And at the end of the day, when it came time to really decide where we’re going to go, you know, Roswell stood out because it was so welcoming. Everything from the state, city, county, the region, were absolutely, the answer was always yes,” says Gibson, referencing their plans on what they need to grow, including the in-progress ramp and more RV hook ups.

Mike Espiritu, president and CEO of the Roswell Chavez County Economic Development Corporation, spearheaded the effort to get the air races in Roswell after he saw on the news that the races would have to leave Reno. After many months of effort including a visit where NCAR was given the keys to the city and the locals rolled out the red carpet, he learned that Roswell was selected.

“I almost cried. It was so much work,” he says. “So many hours of meetings and contemplation and really digging down deep in ourselves. And we said, you know, we’re just thankful that they chose us. But we also believe, and I tell people this all the time, that their culture as these racers and these people, these families, that they’re a part of, much like we are down here in southeast New Mexico.”

The races will bring a significant economic impact to Roswell, where census data estimates about 24 percent of the population lives in poverty, approximately double that of Reno’s and the national average.

Gibson notes that one of the things he’s most proud of is that NCAR is bringing its scholarship program with it. In addition to its flight training scholarships and mentorship programs, NCAR will now be offering A&P scholarships in conjunction with Eastern New Mexico University. Several scholarships will remain in Reno, as will the race’s headquarters, at least for now.

“And the intent is to be here long term, forever. Like, we don’t want to do this again,” says Logoteta. “This isn’t something you can just keep moving. There’s way too much to it. It takes so much to prepare an airport to do what we do. We were 60 years in Reno. We’ve said we want to do 60 years here. You know, we don’t want to move. This is our home now.”

I want to believe

Not everyone is excited about the move to Roswell. It’s isolated, hot, different, far, and most important to some, it isn’t Reno. Volunteers who for years had been driving to the races from their homes in Nevada now are trying to figure out how to make it work several states away. Some racers didn’t want to make the move at all. But the support outweighs the detractors, and this week, pylon volunteers are training Roswell locals, the race committee is setting up sights to judge pilot altitude, city officials stop by every day, and there are even a pair of local food trucks ready to make sure no one goes hungry. Everyone is giving it their best effort, and if one thing is certain, everyone who has stuck around really, really wants to see this work. But will it survive long term?

“I have sleepless nights. I’d be a fool if I didn’t say I don’t,” says Telling, who believes the folks who have always loved the races best are their best future chance for success.

“Well, to the September family, as I’ve said many times, Paul Poberezny, I stole it from him, and he always said, 'People come to the airplanes, but they come back to the people,'” says Telling, emotion thick in his voice. “And that family that’s gathered together and we know all these years, we’re praying that you’ll all find a way to make the trip because we love each and every one of you, and we want to see this iconic event continue. And I thank you for all your support in the past. I look forward to seeing you all here in the future. And whatever you decide, we’re deeply indebted to everything you’ve always done for us. And we hope it continues well into the future. So, thank you.”

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