As Houston Raceway Park is demolished, these old photos show 35 years of raceway fun

Houston Raceway in Baytown is currently being demolished, but the park’s three-and-a-half decades of history will never be forgotten. The race park that first opened in 1988 was full of fun and electric finishes as racers across Houston broke records and made history. As this staple disappears, take a look at the legacy of Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Howard Castleberry, Houston Chronicle

A green light starts a Pro Stock race during the inaugural NHRA Fram Supernationals at Houston Raceway Park in 1988.

Photo Credit/ Ben DeSoto/Houston Chronicle

Part of garage area at Houston Raceway Park is shown during the inaugural NHRA Fram Supernationals in 1988.

Photo Credit/ Ben DeSoto, Houston Chronicle

Part of the garage area at is shown at the Houston Raceway Park during the inaugural NHRA Fram Supernationals.

Photo Credit/ Ben DeSoto, Houston Chronicle

Crowd surfing at Lollapalooza in 1994. The raceway was home to concert festivals and other events aside from racing.

Houston Chronicle file

Houston Chronicle file

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People dance to live music during the Texas Salt Dome Festival at Houston Raceway Park in 1989.

Photo Credit/ Richard Carson, Houston Chronicle

Pantera guitarist Darrell 'Dimebag' Abbott plays at Ozzfest in 2000 at the Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Dave Rossman, The Chronicle

Pantera singer Phillip Anselmo stirs up the crowd Sunday Aug. 20,2000 at Ozzfest at the Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Dave Rossman, The Chronicle

Houston Raceway Park was also known for its Sunday night races open to the public. Paul Brogdon gets off to a jumping start during a street and pro modification drag racers meet in 2004 at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown.

Photo Credit/ Bill Olive, The Chronicle

Photo Credit/ Bill Olive, The Chronicle

Jessica Parchman of Girl Speed Racing, an all-women's drag racing club, is seen racing her '95 Honda Del Sol at Houston Raceway Park in 1999.

Photo Credit/ Nicole Fruge, Special To The Chronicle

The front of Eddie Hill's Top Fuel dragster pops up as he tries to take off during the Pennzoil drag races in 1998. A drivetrain problem caused the car to lift up and nearly flip over.

Photo Credit/ Howard Castleberry, Houston Chronicle

A Baytown Police race car from the ‘90s, a Chevrolet IROC that could reach speeds of 160 mph, gets the once over by Bobby Dodge, left, Stephanie Heller, Kara Shelton and Officer Steve Denton. Under the Race-A-Cop program, teenage drivers were invited to compete against the police at Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Paul S. Howell, Houston Chronicle

Photo Credit/ Paul S. Howell, Houston Chronicle

Race car driver Don Prudhomme takes off with world-record-setting time at the National Hot Rod Association Supernational qualifying trials at Houston Raceway Park in 1989.

Photo Credit/ Steve Ueckert, Houston Chronicle

Brandon Glidden, age 6 months, gets a close up view of his grandfather's drag racer as he is held by drag racer Bob Glidden prior to a race at Houston Raceway Park in 1989.

Photo Credit/ King Chou Wong, Houston Post

Tom Conway sets two national marks for alcohol dragsters at Houston Raceway Park in August 1989.

Photo Credit/ E. Joseph Deering, Houston Chronicle

Rachel Jackson checks out one of the racers featured in the National Hot Rod Association Penzoil Nationals in 1998 at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown.

Photo Credit/ Steve Campbell, Houston Chronicle

Drag racing at Houston Raceway Park in 1998.

Photo Credit/ David Fahleson, Houston Chronicle

Top Fuel racer Doug Herbert was one of many drivers burning up the track during qualifying runs for the Pennzoil Nationals in 1998 at Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

Drag racing at Houston Raceway Park in 1998.

Photo Credit/ Howard Castleberry, Houston Chronicle

Dean Skuza's race car was smoking at the Matco Tools Supernationals qualifying race in 1998.

Photo Credit/ Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

Larry Dixon in the Miller Lite car starts off his Top Fuel run and finishes with the fifth-fastest time at the Supernationals drag racing in 1998 at Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

Top fuel driver Joe Amato signs autographs during a rain delay at the Matco Tools SuperNationals NHRA in 1999 at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown.

Photo Credit/ Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle

Fans stayed at Houston Raceway Park despite heavy rain that delayed the finals in November 1998.

Photo Credit/ Kerwin Plevka/Houston Chronicle

Godsmack singer Sully Erna belts out one of the band's hits Sunday Aug. 20, 2000 at Ozzfest at the Houston Raceway Park.

Photo Credit/ Dave Rossman, The Chronicle