The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
This past weekend was a wash out at many of the tri-state tracks trying to open for their first race of the year. All I can say is follow the area tracks Facebook and web pages. Soon the weather will change, and everyone will be racing every weekend.
Toledo Speedway is set to open Saturday, April 19th with the Twin 100’s. The 2025 season will come to life with the prestigious Hemelgarn / SuperFitness USAC Silver Crown Rollie Beale Classic 100-lap race alongside the CRA JEGS All Star Tour 100-lap event, promising a great day of racing. They will feature three season openers in one day of racing, plus fans can meet the drivers during the combined autograph and photo session before the racing begins. Be sure to check the tracks Facebook page for the schedule of events.
I’m asked a lot, what’s my favorite racetrack. I enjoy every track I cover and report on. I like the excitement of the paved Sandusky Speedway when the Supermodifieds are on the ½ mile, the Winged 410 Sprints at Attica and Fremont. The UMP Dirt Late Models put on good shows at Oakshade. Paved tracks I attend include, Toledo, Flat Rock, Plymouth and Angola. Race fans are very spoiled in our area, and I didn’t mention several other good local tracks.
It might surprise some readers but the track I look forward to attending in 2025 is Millstream Speedway. After being closed for several years, new owners Matt and Beth Cogley brought the Ohio Historic Speedway back to life last year, with the help of race fans volunteering, workers and sponsors. They ran three events in 2024. I was there opening night for Ohio Speed Week. The All Star Circuit of Champions (Winged 410 Sprints) ran on the big 4/10 mile clay track. The width of the track allowed drivers to run 4 wide on the back stretch where I was watching. Inside the big track Matt put in a lightening fast quarter mile clay oval the USAC Thunder Midgets used that night.
Millstream outside of Findlay planned to open the 2025 season, Sunday, April 13th, featuring a great night of open wheel racing with the Fast on Dirt and the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series but cancelled because of the weather and rain. However, they still have 8 nights on the summer schedule. This will include 2 big race dates on the quarter mile track. Saturday, May 10th the Fast on Dirt, BOSS Sprints and USAC Thunder Midgets will be night one, on the Quarter Mile Spectacular. July 5th with be night number two of the Quarter Mile Spectacular featuring the Great Lakes Traditional Sprints, Great Lakes Super Sprints and the Dirt Truck Series.
The 4/10 mile clay track will host some very big race events. Late Models will visit twice, May 24th the Ohio Valley Dirt Late Model Series comes to Millstream and August 8th the American Late Model Iron-Man Series will headline a big show. Sunday, June 15th the All Star Circuit of Champions 410 winged outlaw sprints return. I’m personally looking forward to the USAC Sprints on Sunday, June 29th. The 305 Sprints will also be featured this summer. Except for Eldora, I haven’t seen a racetrack bring in so many car classes and racing series. Visit Millstream Speedway on Facebook or the Web for more information.
Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron out!
