Neighbors, police and Irving and Grand Prairie officials press Dallas County over noise, safety at Yellow Belly drag strip

Residents of Grand Prairie and Irving told the Dallas County Commissioners Court on Tuesday that activities at the Yellow Belly drag strip at 4702 E. Main Street are causing sustained late-night disturbances, with amplified, low-frequency music, large crowds and repeated calls for law enforcement.

“It's mostly loud, low frequency music sounds,” said Tony Shotwell, a Grand Prairie resident and council member, describing a shift over the last two years from race-focused events to amplified entertainment that “shakes windows, shakes doors” and runs well past 1 a.m. on some nights.

Chief Szesny of the Grand Prairie Police Department told the court that his officers have been repeatedly dispatched to the site and that Grand Prairie officers were the first to respond when a report of an active shooter at the property prompted a large multi‑agency deployment. "Our officers were the first to respond when we, or as you can imagine, that was a pretty large response," the chief said.

Irving City Council Member David Pfaff and multiple neighbors described chronic sleep disruption and public-safety concerns. "It's more than a nuisance. It's a public health and, in my opinion, a quality-of-life issue," said Jorge Villa, a Grand Prairie resident who said his family recently measured sound levels with a decibel meter and found readings that exceeded local thresholds.

Speakers asked the commissioners to consider conditions on any renewal of county permits for the site, or to require enforceable mitigation measures. Public-safety requests included requiring trained security at events, limiting hours (several suggested a 10 p.m. curfew for entertainment), requiring enforceable noise abatement plans tied to measurable sound thresholds, and limitations on alcohol sales.

Court staff read the county's public-speaker rules into the record (Dallas County Code Sec. 74-71), and commissioners told residents they would pursue options "within the limits that the law provides." County officials repeatedly noted that the property is located in the unincorporated county area and that municipal ordinances have only limited reach; some speakers cited state law on unincorporated areas as a possible enforcement avenue.

There was no immediate regulatory action or vote. The court directed county staff and law enforcement to continue coordinated enforcement and to report back; commissioners also asked staff to explore options for permit conditions, investigation of complaints, and any statutory tools the county can use.

Why it matters: the issue sits at the intersection of land-use, public-safety and county permitting authority. Residents said the noise and crowd behavior have measurable effects on sleep and school attendance and that the problem has escalated in the last two years. Law enforcement officials said the site has generated numerous calls for service and occasional violent incidents.

What happens next: county staff and law enforcement will continue enforcement actions already underway and return with legal options the court may have for conditions on permits and operations in unincorporated areas. Commissioners emphasized they are constrained by existing statutes but will pursue possible remedies and coordination with Grand Prairie and Irving officials.

Key quotes: Tony Shotwell: "For decades, we coexisted very well ... until the last couple of years. I believe there may have been an operational change out there, and, things have just gotten rough." Grand Prairie Police Chief Szesny: "Our officers were the first to respond when we...that was a pretty large response."