Engines to roar again at Millstream
By LARRY ALTER
SPORTS EDITOR
Racing is finally returning to Millstream Speedway.
Track
owner Greg Roe and promoter Dean Miracle announced an agreement
Wednesday which will bring a sanctioned race to the facility for the
first time since the 1999 season.
The O'Reilly All-Star Circuit of Champions will invade the 3/8-mile oval on Sunday, July 20.
"It
only took seven years to do this," Miracle said. "I've been talking
with Greg over the years, trying to lease the facility or help him get
the track open.
"He kept tell me that maybe in the future we would get together. Well, we've finally worked out something."
As
the lessee, Miracle will handle the race promotion and direct all the
operations on July 20 along with performing other tasks that Roe felt
needed to be completed before a race could be held.
"We have
been out there doing some work on the bleachers, mowing the parking lot
and pit area in hopes of having it look like a track again by week's
end," Miracle said. "We will be putting up the front-straight wall,
preparing the track and doing some painting, too."
Roe, who
purchased Millstream from Bill Paxton in October of 2000, has spent the
past seven-plus years extensive repairs to all aspects of the dirt oval.
"I will make sure the grandstand is repaired and the proper lighting is installed," Roe said. "That is my part of the bargain.
"This is all very interesting. The advantage for us is that we get things fixed that I haven't been able to complete."
Miracle,
who owns Miracle Motors in Findlay, is president of the Independent
Racing Series, a late model series he has developed over the last seven
years. This year's schedule features 34 events.
"Dean has a good background with what he does," Roe said. "His own series is doing very, very well.
"I want to see how it all goes first (at Millstream). If this works out we may do a second show, perhaps in late August."
Miracle said a second date could include late models, 360 and 305 sprints, trucks, stocks and modifieds.
"I
have been out there (at Milstream) forever," Miracle said. "I worked
and learned so much from Earl Baltes when he owned the track. I leased
some shows from Ken Langhals and I worked with Paxton as well.
"I've
been all over the country with my own series and I am proud to say we
have one of the best racing surfaces in the country right here and we
need to be racing out there instead of somewhere else."
The July 20 show will be a full All-Star sprint program as well as a 360/305 challenge.
Gates
are scheduled to open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and qualifying
to follow. Cost of admission will be $20 for the grandstand and $30 for
the pit area. Tickets are expected to be on sale at Miracle Motors
beginning next week.
In preparation for the July racing program,
a test and tune has also been scheduled June 29 at Millstream. It will
be open to any class of car.
The All-Star series is expected to
feature regulars like Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge and Paul McMahan, who
is driving Rick Ferkel's "0".
Lance DeWease currently sits atop
the All-Star points list (1,730), ahead of Dale Blaney (1,563), Randy
Hannagan (1,559) and Wilson (1,548), who is coming off a May 24 victory
at Fremont Speedway.
Contact sports editor Larry Alter at:
(419) 427-8407
Former Owner/President of FAST and Black Swamp Media
Group. Currently just another fan in the stands.
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