Speedway set for opening night
DRESDEN - Opening night at the Muskingum County Speedway is Saturday, and the Moran family is working hard to make sure the facility is ready.
Ronnie Moran purchased the speedway in 1980, and it was family operated until the last couple of years when Ronnie began leasing the speedway. However, starting this year, the speedway will be managed by Ronnie's son, Donnie Moran.
Donnie Moran said he came to an agreement with his father about three weeks ago to become the new manager.
"My dad was the second owner of the track when he bought it in 1980, and we wanted to keep it going in the family," he said.
Donnie Moran is famous for winning a dirt track race at Eldora Speedway in 2001 that paid him $1 million, earning him the nickname The Million Dollar Man. He was the first driver to win a dirt late model race with a $100,000 purse at Log Cabin Speedway in 1982, and he is a member of the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.
Donnie Moran said he has made changes at the track to promote safety for spectators and drivers. He moved the infield wall back, made sure the grandstands were safe and moved tires around the track. He said they have also made improvements by cleaning up around the speedway, including tearing down an old ticket booth and smoothing out the dirt track.
"As a first-time manager, I'm not nervous about the racetrack side of the event, but this is my first time doing the promoting," Donnie Moran said. "I've raced all over the country, and when I go region to region, I've seen what works and what hasn't worked at other racetracks."
He said the Lucas Oil races on July 3 will be the speedway's main event and will include a $12,000 purse, the biggest in the speedway's history.
He also said there will be a combined 80 and 100 cars in the races with drivers coming from Zanesville, Coshocton, Newark, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. There will be five classes of racing Saturday, including late models, modified, street stocks, four-cylinders and mod lites.
The pit gates will open at 4 p.m. Saturday, the grandstands will open at 5 p.m. and racing will start at 7 p.m. General admission is $15 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 11 and free for ages 5 and younger.
"This is a family-friendly event, and I want to pre-thank the fans for helping to keep this alive," Donnie Moran said.
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If you go
What: Opening night at Muskingum County Speedway
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: 7985 Frazeysburg Road, Dresden
FYI: For more information, call 740-754-9199.
2016 Schedule:
- May 21: Memorial Night
- June 17: Jim Dunn Qualifier
- July 3: Lucas Oil races and fireworks
- Aug. 6: Kids Night