From Dirt and Diesel to the Gulf Coast’s Newest Track: Mitchell’s Motorplex

When George Mitchell first got the keys to the Vestry Road dirt track, it was abandoned and broken down — a shadow of the racing community it once hosted. The grass was four feet tall, the fencing washed out, and the roads nearly gone. But George saw more than weeds and worn earth — he saw an opportunity to build something brand new for Gulf Coast racing.

“It’s truly family fun oriented,” George told us on Brown Water Banter. “Some of my greatest childhood memories are at the dirt track, and I wanted to push to get that back for today’s kids.”

$9,000 in Diesel and a Lot of Sweat

Bringing Mitchell’s Motorplex to life wasn’t just about turning on the lights and waving the green flag. In the first seven weeks, George spent more than $9,000 in diesel fuel just moving dirt, cutting grass, and reshaping the track.

From installing bleachers on the back stretch to building stairways for fans and even adding air-conditioned bathrooms (a must-have from his wife Jamie), the Mitchell family put in long days to transform the space into a community hub.

Racing Runs in the Family

George isn’t doing this alone. His son Justin Mitchell, just 16 years old, is already behind the wheel of the factory stock #10 car. “I wanted to give it a shot,” Justin said, explaining how he jumped straight into racing without ever driving go-karts first.

And then there’s Derek “Shrek” Callender, the race director who helps keep the show running on Saturday nights. His own family story includes his wife, who started racing stingers after a little bit of “alleged” street racing in her younger years.

Classes, Culture, and Community

Mitchell’s Motorplex currently runs seven classes of racing, from crate late models to pure stock, factory stock, stingers, and hot shots. Whether it’s entry-level kids in gutted front-wheel-drive cars or seasoned racers in full tube chassis machines, there’s a place for everyone to get on the track.

But it’s about more than horsepower. On opening nights, the young drivers — some as young as 13 — carry American flags during the national anthem. Families bring their coolers, fans cheer from the stands, and the smell of track food mixes with the sound of engines. As George put it: “The people around here live and breathe it. Once you get into dirt track racing, it’s like fishing — it’s a culture thing.”

How to Get Tickets

If you want to come out and experience the action for yourself, tickets are available at the gate on race night. General admission is $15, with discounted tickets at $13 for seniors, first responders, police, fire, and military. Kids’ tickets are $10, and children 7 and under get in free.

Pit passes are also available: $35 for adults and $20 for kids, with ages 5 and under free. Fans can bring a cooler into the grandstands for $25 — whether it’s a six-pack or an ice chest big enough for the whole crew.

Starting next season, tickets will also be available online through the My Race Pass app, making it even easier to plan your night at the track.

Looking Ahead

Right now, Mitchell’s Motorplex races every other Saturday night. The team is working on upgrades to bring in a national traveling series next year — the kind of event that could draw huge crowds and pay out big purses.

But even with big dreams, the heart of the track stays close to home: racing for the community, by the community.

👉 Want to catch the full conversation with George, Justin, and Shrek? Watch Episode 321 of Brown Water Banter - Here.