Milan Dragway in Michigan Closing

[Frosty]

I just saw a Facebook posting this morning on Milan Dragway's Facebook page stating that they are closing. There will be no 2021 season. Their statement reads:

"Dear Loyal & Valued Customers:

With heavy hearts, we must announce that we will not be opening as scheduled for the 2021 racing season. 

We appreciate all of your support over the years. We have always operated with the best interests of our racers and fans in mind. Current circumstances do not allow us to operate the track safely, and so we are not able to open the track at all.  

We will provide any pertinent updates that we may have as they are available to share.  For now, however, we will be closed until further notice. 

Stay safe and good luck to all of our racers and fans in your 2021 racing endeavors.

Sincerely,
Milan Dragway"

 

Obviously any lost drag strip is a loss for us all.

[Frosty]

Here is an update on Milan Dragway - perhaps there is hope for it re-opening next season.

https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/07-16-2021/milan-dragway-sale-will-not-host-races-2021

"Milan Dragway, the 136-acre motorsports facility featuring a 1/4-mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip in Michigan, is for sale. 

The facility has been placed in receivership, and a Monroe County Circuit Court judge has appointed David Findling, a Royal Oak lawyer, to find a buyer and go through a judicial review to close the deal.

Findling has reported several interested buyers—including an unnamed drag race team owner—all from within the automotive and racing community. He expects the sale to be finalized sometime this year, according to CKIW Radio. Due to needed track maintenance, however, racing likely won’t return to Milan until the 2022 season.

“I think we will see a one-year sabbatical for the track, and next year is going to come back bigger and stronger,” Findling told CKIW. “I would fully expect whoever buys it to be open in the spring and have a very well-equipped refurbished facility.”   

The track, which sits about 50 miles southwest of Detroit, Michigan, first opened in 1964 with Cliff Riley serving as one of the first owners. An IHRA-sanctioned facility for many years, the track gained prominence in 1977 as the site where Don Garlits defeated Dick LaHaie to take the Pro Dragster title at the IHRA Northern Winston Nationals. 

In 2020, the track hosted its mini-series featuring Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman, and S/P Bike categories and regular “Pour Your Own Puddle” events featuring small tire and big tire classes. In addition, grudge races, Heads Up, Nostalgia Drags and Funny Cars, bracket racing, Stock, and Super Stock also appeared on the schedule. "

[Frosty]

It seems that Milan Dragway has new owners now that it has gone thru receivership. I am not certain who owns them yet. However, I am hopeful that it will resume operations better than ever. They have updated the website.  It now states:

"IT'S OFFICIAL!
The NEW Milan Dragway is here!

Welcome to the NEW Milan Dragway! It's official & we are excited for the upcoming 2022 season. We are still working out a number of details, but as soon as we have them we will post it right here, so please check back often for all of the OFFICIAL announcements! We have a lot of work ahead of us, however you can be sure that we are committed to continuing to work hard to improve & enhance the entire facility throughout the year.

Our team is very excited to open the track & host the racing community. We are new & can’t tell you how much we appreciate all the welcoming support we (& the track) have been receiving.  We look forward to serving the racing community, all the patrons & the community. If you have any questions, comments or concerns; please feel free to send us an email!

Stay tuned here!

Our new website IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION! Thank you for your patience!

Email:  [email protected]"

[dualquadpete]

Just read this post and that is not the out come I expected but good that it didn't go the way most of drag strips & Stock car tracks, here in Ontario go!! which turns them into subdivisions!! Police are always saying "take your street racing to the track" but they neglect to say that there's no drag strips local to Toronto [GTA] Shannonville about a 100 mikes east and a small operation, and not sure if GrandRiver & Cayuga to the west are still open or houses, North Bay opened one but that's 4 1/2 hours north!!! With ever encroaching building of homes the complaints rise [ like buying a house near airport, then complain about the noise] Tracks are becoming a dying Breed here!!

[Frosty]

Tracks are struggling for sure around here too. We will see if the new owners of Milan can make it profitable over the next few seasons. They had a big presence at the Detroit Autorama, passing out flyers and such for this year's season. So there is hope at least.