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The man who built Dome Valley Raceway is gone. His son kept the race on the calendar.
Ernesto Juarez built a sand drag strip out past the Gila Mountains in 1996. Racers called him Mr. Dome Valley. He died in August. This weekend's championship carries his name.
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Dome Valley Raceway's Arizona Sand Drag Championship starts Friday. Racing begins at noon.
It's the final race of the track's points season. It was on the calendar before August, when Ernesto Juarez died at age 65.
Juarez built the track in 1996. Racers called him Mr. Dome Valley. His obituary says he died Aug. 16 in Glendale. KYMA reported he died in a Phoenix car crash.
This weekend, the event carries his name: the DVRW Ernesto Arturo Juarez Memorial Arizona Sand Drag Championship. The track's family says the race means more to them than ever. They wrote, “For years, our dad poured his heart into DVRW.”
They described a dream that grew into something that brought racers, families and friends together from across the country.
The son who kept it going
Esteban Juarez has served as the track's race director. Now he runs the place.
The championship was scheduled before his father died. Esteban told KYMA that in most situations, an event like this would have been canceled. He said he knew what needed to be done to keep the track going, and was willing to take up that responsibility.
In August, Esteban told KYMA that he spent his last day with his father working on a race car they were building together.
What he built
Sand drags are what they sound like: two machines line up side by side and race down a short strip of sand. Dome Valley's track is 300 feet long.
That short run has drawn racers from across the country and Mexico for nearly 30 years.
In 2014, the National Sand Drag Network reported on rumors the track might close. Juarez said it was still alive and would race again. It did.
His sons told KYMA their father also used the track to help people. He hosted events for families who were struggling, held fundraisers for churches and gave the proceeds away.
Art Juarez called his father one of the “forefathers of this beautiful sport of sand drags.”
Ernesto Arturo Juarez was born March 19, 1961, in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. He lived in Wellton. His funeral was held Aug. 29 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
If you go
When: Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 8. Racing starts at noon Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. The track lists Sunday as championship day.
What: The fifth and final round of the 2026 DVRW Points Series, with classes including Top Alcohol and Top Eliminator.
Tickets: The current ticket listing shows Friday adult admission at $12 and Saturday and Sunday adult day passes at $20. Adults are ages 13 and up. KYMA reports children's tickets start at $5. Buy tickets through TheFOAT: https://tickets.thefoat.com/DomeValleyRaceway/2026+DVRW+Arizona+Sand+Drag+Championship/tickets/id-m7PpSCugmLUd/. The listing says tickets are confirmed at the gate.
Camping: Spectator camping is $25 a night. Racers pay at the gate.
Pit reservations: Through the track's Facebook or Instagram pages.
Esteban and his family told KYMA they want to thank everyone who has supported them since August.
Racing runs through Sunday.
Where this comes from
Ernesto Arturo Juarez obituary, Yuma Sun via Legacy.com, published Aug. 23, 2026. Family-published obituary. Source for age, birth date and place, date and place of death, and funeral. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/yumasun/name/ernesto-juarez-obituary?id=62251766
Ernesto Juarez, “Mr. Dome Valley,” passes away, KYMA, Aug. 26, 2026. Reporting with family interviews. Source for the car crash, 1996 founding, charity events, Art Juarez's quote and Esteban's last day with his father. https://kyma.com/lifestyle/community/2026/08/26/ernesto-juarez-mr-dome-valley-passes-away/
Dome Valley Raceway to honor founder through weekend event, KYMA, Nov. 5, 2026. Reporting with an interview with Esteban Juarez. Source for the event being scheduled before Juarez's death, Esteban's quote, the noon start and children's ticket price. https://kyma.com/lifestyle/community/2026/11/05/dome-valley-raceway-to-honor-founder-through-weekend-event/
Dome Valley Raceway homepage. The track's own website, written by the family. Source for the event's full name, the family's statement and the featured image. https://domevalleyraceway.com/
2026 DVRW Arizona Sand Drag Championship ticket page. The track's event listing. Source for the dates, current ticket prices, camping, classes and points series. https://tickets.thefoat.com/DomeValleyRaceway/2026+DVRW+Arizona+Sand+Drag+Championship/tickets/id-m7PpSCugmLUd/
Dome Valley Raceway hosts the Arizona ATV Nationals, KYMA. Reporting. Source for Esteban's race director role and racers from Louisiana, Washington and Puerto Rico. https://kyma.com/?p=1053370
Dome Valley Raceway update, Aug. 2014, National Sand Drag Network. Racing trade site. Source for the 2014 upgrades and closure rumors. https://nsdn.us/index.php?id=120&option=com_content&view=category
Dome Valley Raceway YouTube channel. The track's own description. Source for the 300-foot strip. https://m.youtube.com/@Domevalleyraceway
SPECIAL REPORT: Drag racing, the family business, KYMA. Reporting. Source for racers coming from across the country and Mexico. https://kyma.com/?p=979581