The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Track owners revving for 1st
Lorain Raceway Park plans grand opening
There are new races to be won under a transition of ownership and a grand opening of Lorain Raceway Park, previously Lorain
County Speedway, 9100 Leavitt Road in South Amherst.
The racetrack, opened in 1949 and owned by the Bonnema family, was sold to Denise and Randy Maggio Sr. in May.
The new owners will celebrate their first race July 5.
Randy Maggio Jr., who heads marketing and is the general manager of the track, said the purchase was special for his family.
At the age of 16, the Lorain County Speedway was the first track that he raced on, sparking his career in the industry.
“We’ve been very busy with a lot of improvements and upgrades,” Maggio said.
Family business
Maggio said his parents met in the racing industry when Randy Maggio Sr. owned the Mansfield Motor Speedway.
By the time he was born in 2000, Maggio said, his father temporarily left the industry.
Other family members raced at Sandusky Speedway from 2001-06, but it wasn’t until Maggio was 10 years old that he saw races firsthand at Lorain County Speedway.
“I fell in love,” he said. “It was awesome.”
With the purchase of the racetrack, Maggio said he and his father are thrilled to work on a track with family roots.
The transfer
Maggio said discussion surrounding his family taking over the racetrack began late last year.
After getting the approval from Denise Maggio, the family bought the track.
They purchased the Painesville Speedway in Painesville in 2017.
Over the past month, Maggio said he and his family have been at the new track every day to prepare it for opening day.
A hefty financial investment has included the patching of potholes in parking lots, a newly paved ramp, new fencing and guard rails, electrical work, moving a propane tank and demolishing a building.
“We put quite a bit of money and time into it,” Maggio said.
Now, the track is all set for race day.
Before the event at 4 p.m., Maggio said his family will honor Nick Bonnema and his family.
“They’re great people, so we want them to be involved,” Maggio said.
As for the rest of the season, he said five events are planned for 2020, with races twice a month in 2021.
While the age required to race is 16, Maggio said his family plans to integrate its Rising Stars program from Painesville into the racetrack next year, which gives 12 to 15 year olds an inside scoop of how to race and take care of cars.
Protocol
Maggio said the racetrack will follow standard procedure to reduce the spread of novel coronavirus when it opens July 5.
This includes allowing about half its capacity of about 1,800 to attend, as well as accessible hand sanitizer, capacity limit in bathrooms, attendees wearing masks and employees, except those working on the track, and social distancing.
“We stress that people wash their hands,” Maggio said. “We want to keep everyone safe.”
The race on July 5 will have pit gates opening at 10 a.m. and practice starting at noon.
For general admission, tickets for adults cost $12; seniors 65 years and older, $8; youngsters ages six through 12, $5; and children ages 5 years and younger are admitted free.
Pit admission is $30 for adults and $15 for those ages 12 and younger.
A fireworks display will follow the five divisions of racing.