Estrella Mtn BMX To Usher in 2010 Under ABA Flag. NBL Coyote Nats Canceled.

**November 18 -SEE BOTTOM OF ARTICLE FOR UPDATE**

Estrella Mountain BMX in Goodyear, AZ announced on November 11 that they will be changing sanctions and running as an ABA track effective 01/01/2010.

“Why,” you might ask, is the changing of a local track’s sanction worthy of “Top Story” prominence on an internationally-read website? Well, Estrella Mountain is on the 2010 NBL National schedule as the site for the Coyote Nationals, scheduled for Jan 16 – Jan 17, a mere 64 days away.

BMXNEWS thought we’d get this development out wide while there is enough time to head off early air and hotel buyers.

An email to NBL President Ken Masters early Thursday went unreturned as of this writing, so there may be a contingency location in the making. We will report on that as soon as we have the details.

The sole NBL track in the state of Arizona, Estrella Mountain is widely-heralded as one of the finest BMX racing facilities, of any sanction, in the USA. Estrella now joins the long-established circuit in ABA’s hometown which includes ABA Track 001 (Chandler), Black Mountain (site of the ABA Winternationals for many moons), as well as Speedworld BMX in the Phoenix metro area.

The Estrella Mountain Track Operator posted the following on VintageBMX.com to announce the news:

As many of you are aware there has been a rumor going around the discussion boards that the track was going to move from NBL to ABA. We finally want to put that rumor to rest. After much thought, we have decided to join the ABA effective 01-01-2010.

This decision is in no way a negative reflection of the NBL or it’s staff. It is simply a business move we feel we need to take in order to continue offering the families in the far west valley the oppoprtunity to race BMX. The NBL has been a great organization to work with and they have done so much for us in the past. However, in an ABA rich state it was very difficult to fight an uphill battle to remain NBL.

We are looking forward to working with the ABA, it’s staff and other tracks in Arizona to continue to promote and increase participation in the sport of BMX.

It bears noting that NBL site still shows the Coyotes at Estrella Mountain, but, with this news so fresh, it is likely it simply has not yet been updated. Stick with BMXNEWS.COM for details as they unfold as to both EM’s first ABA race shortly after the turn of the new year, and the all-but-certain re-location of the Coyote Nationals.

Photo courtesy of VintageBMX.com member joshAZ. Thanks for your help!

UPDATE: November 18. NBL Announced today that the Coyote Nationals would be canceled for the January date, but that efforts were underway to select a west coast location to host a national later in the spring.