The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Racetrack owners look forward
Racing season at Painesville Speedway to see improvements
With their first full season as racetrack owners under their belt, the Maggio family is looking forward to an enhance and improved second year of racing at Painesville Speedway.
Randy Maggio, his wife Denise, and their son Randy Jr. leased the racetrack for a couple of months prior to purchasing it Nov. 1, 2017.
“It was just one of those things that came up,” Randy said of the Brook Park family’s decision to purchase it. “I used to be involved with Mansfield Motorsports 1819 years ago. It was one of those things that came up and I wanted to try something different. Plus Junior (Randy Jr.) here loves racing.”
According to Denise, the first year of ownership had plenty of ups and downs.
“It was definitely a learning year, and a learning season for us, but I think we came out strong,” she said. “We did good.”
The family agrees though that there is room for improvement and that’s what
“It was definitely a learning year, and a learning season for us, but I think we came out strong. We did good.” — Denise Maggio, co-owner of Painesville Speedway
they are working on during the off season.
“This year was kind of thrown together because of different parts moving around and stuff that was out of our control,” Randy Jr. said. “But now we will have a full off-season to plan, prepare and get our employees and pieces together. We all had to learn procedures and stuff like
that. But next year now that we have had a full season under our belt will be better.”
He said both fans and drivers can look forward to an exciting 2019 racing season.
“There will be a lot more things happening to get different people involved,” he said. “We are already in the process of contacting high
schools to have marching bands come play the national anthem.”
The family also plans to hold events such as stuff the race car for Toys for Tots or other charitable organizations.
The 2019 season will open at the end of April and will have races every Saturday through the end of September. Freedom Fridays which feature reduced admission prices, $1 hot dogs and a post-race firework display will be held in May, July and September. The 2019 racing schedule is expected to be release in mid-November.
Randy Jr. notes that he is currently working with other Ohio racetracks so division schedules don’t conflict.
“If we have a big street stock race scheduled here, the other tracks are all off that night for that division so they can all come here,” Randy Jr. said.
Next season drivers and spectators can expect more professionalism as well.
“It’s not like we weren’t professional this year but we will be more professional next year.” Randy Jr. said. “Everyone will be on top of their game and everyone will know their roles and stuff like that.
“This year some pieces dropped out a the last minute and we had to throw some stuff together just to get through it, but this off season will be a time to rebuild and reboot.”
The speedway has one last race scheduled for this year. The Turkey Leg scheduled for Nov. 17, is a 150-lap endurance race around a kidney bean-shaped track. The event will be held rain or shine and has a payout of $2,500.