NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

With heavy hearts, NHRA extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jed Copham, owner of Brainerd International Raceway, who passed away Nov. 11 after a boating accident in Florida. He was 46.
 
“Twelve years ago, Jed and his wife Kristi took over what has become a legendary race track on the NHRA national event circuit.  On behalf of everyone at NHRA, we send our deepest condolences to Kristi, their children and all of their family and friends,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell.   “Jed looked forward to the future of the sport and innovations in racing. We appreciate all of the ideas and forward thinking that he brought to NHRA racing.  We will sorely miss him and our thoughts and prayers are with Kristi and his entire family.”
 
Copham and his wife Kristi took over the fabled Minnesota track in 2006 and turned it into a world-class racing facility that provided a stage for record-breaking drag racing..
 
A true racing enthusiast at heart, Copham first came to the Brainerd track in the 1990s, competing in drag racing and road racing events at the multipurpose facility.

 "If someone would have told me back then that I would own this place one day, I would actually have believed that,” Copham told the Brainerd Dispatch in 20106. “This place is such a part of me and where my passion lies. I think the NHRA learned early on that I was an enthusiast and had a passion for the business.”