Stay tuned to the new website and like us on our new Facebook page for all the latest information of the upcoming 2013 race season at Merritt Speedway.

Jordan Erickson

New owners, Steve and Stacey Potter have been working feverishly to get the New Merritt Speedway ready for the 2013 race season. Steve and his crew have done a phenomenal job resurfacing the track and it showed during practice this past Saturday. Every class was represented including the Lightning Mini Sprints with a total car count near 50. The father son duo of Larry and Jeff Cade (UMP Modified) had just one of many spirited battles during the night. Past Champions, Cody Bauer, Caleb Kill and T.J. Erickson were all on hand fine tuning their equipment and driving skills in an effort to gain an advantage on the competition come opening night. Many of the drivers in attendance raved that the track was very racy and had plenty of bite and are all excited for the season opener this coming Saturday, May 11^th.

The rest of the staff has also been busy getting the grounds, concessions, Pit Stop Novelty Shop and the Tailgate Bar and Grill ready for this Saturday’s, “Mother’s Day Special” season opener. All five of the regular classes, UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Pro Trucks, Pro Streets and Factory Stocks will be joined by the Lightning Mini Sprints to complete the full 6 in 1 show.

The Pit Stop Novelty Shop has been stocked with all New Merritt Speedway apparel and souvenirs so be sure to arrive early to give yourself ample time to browse before the racing begins. The Tailgate Bar and Grill will be serving up specialty burgers and fresh baked pizza along with your favorite ice cold beverage while the main and pit concessions will feature all the Merritt goodies you have come to expect at Michigan’s premiere dirt track racing facility. Gates will open at 4:00 PM, Time Trials at 6:00 PM and racing starts at 7:30 PM.

JT Anderson

Grab your stadium cushions and get geared up for a night of action packed racing this Saturday, May 11^th and help the new owners celebrate the beginning of a new era at Merritt Speedway.

See ya at the races.

The biggest addition you will see to the schedule is two full nights of racing. The Michigan Dirt Cup UMP Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Pro Trucks, Pro Streets and Factory Stocks will take the track Friday night. You will also see the Michigan Dirt Cup UMP Late Models and Michigan Dirt Cup UMP Modifieds, Pro Trucks, and Pro Streets race Saturday night. A live band will keep you entertained after the races Friday night, and Wood Tic would not be complete without all of the entertaining kids activities Saturday morning. Camping is allowed during the weekend. So load up the kids, park the camper, and get ready to enjoy a weekend full of excitement.

With Merritt Speedway returning to the Kregear/VanDuinen family, it would only be appropriate to bring the title back to its original name. Merritt Speedway originated with Gene Kregear in 1968, but the name was changed to Merritt Raceway under the management of Rick Ancel. This year Steve and Stacey Potter are proudly returning the name to Merritt Speedway. When you pull into the race track, you will see our new logo displayed on signs throughout the facility.

In addition to returning the name to its former glory, the Potter’s are also working to make many other positive changes to the facility. Steve and his team have been working to resurface the race track. They have removed the top of the race surface, compacted the base, and added over 1,200 yards of new clay. The sprinkler system has been removed, and Steve will be using the water truck to properly water the race track. A new piece of equipment has been purchased that will help maintain the racing surface. Stacey is planning on bringing back many of the concession items that were sold in previous years under Ed and Carmen’s management. Traditional race track goodies like hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken strips will be offered, but Merritt Speedway wouldn’t be the same without their famous cinnamon and sugar breadsticks and pizza sticks, homemade caramel corn, and roasted almonds. They will also offer specialty burgers and pizza at the Tailgate Bar & Grill. When you come to visit, don’t forget to make a stop at the novelty shop to pick up your new Merritt Speedway apparel and a bag of fresh cotton candy.

The new season of exciting dirt track racing at Merritt Speedway is upon Northern Michigan. May 11^th will start the 2013 race season and a new chapter at Merritt Speedway.

The vision of Merritt Speedway became a reality in 1967 under the construction and management of Gene and Mary Ann Kregear. Gene built the, then 1/4 mile, track and entertained fans for one race during its first season. In 1968 the doors opened for its first full season, and Gene and Mary Ann continued to run it for several more years. In 1979, Gene and Mary Ann sold the track to Phil Fuller who ran it for two years. Ed and Carmen VanDuinen, son-in-law and daughter of Gene and Mary Ann, became the owners and promoters of the race track in 1981. For the next twenty-five years, Merritt Speedway grew and became the premiere dirt track in Michigan under Ed and Carmen’s management. In 2006, Ed and Carmen leased the track to Rod and Johnna Ancel. Rick and Sally Ancel became the promoters in 2009. The 2013 season will see, yet again, a new set of owners. This time, however, Merritt Speedway is back in the family. Steve and Stacey Potter, son-in-law and daughter of Ed and Carmen VanDuinen, are excited to promote this prestigious race track and have it return to the family once again.

Steve and Stacey have been around racing most of their lives. Stacey began working at Merritt at an early age, doing everything from making cotton candy and cleaning restrooms to helping her mom manage the concession stands. Steve began working at the track while he was in high school. With Stacey’s background as a high school teacher and Steve’s experience of running his other company, Xtreme Advantage Motorsports, working with people is second nature, which is one of the main reasons the husband and wife team got involved in promoting. “It’s all about the people,” Stacey explained. “We are excited to be here and keep the race track operating for our fans, drivers, and sponsors.” You can bet that the couple’s family will be involved as well. Steve and Stacey’s daughters, Alexis (13) and Katelin (10), will help out during the week and on Saturday nights. They are very excited to be a part of this experience.

Spectators can experience first-class dirt car and truck racing every Saturday night from mid-May through Labor Day weekend. The 3/8-mile clay-surfaced track is home to Michigan’s top drivers. Merritt Speedway hosts several classes including: UMP Late Model, UMP Modified, Pro Truck, Pro Street, and Factory Stocks. In addition, special traveling series like the World of Outlaw Late Models, Sprints on Dirt, and Lightning Mini-Sprints are also set to take the stage throughout the racing season.

Short tracks like Merritt Speedway are the backbone to the sport and provide a rugged proving ground for young drivers. Almost every major racing champion began his career on a short track much like Merritt Speedway. Late Model superstar Jeep VanWormer and NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran Tim Fedewa both began their racing careers at Merritt. Even NASCAR Sprint Cup series driver, Ryan Newman, and World of Outlaws champions, Josh Richards and Tim McCreadie, have won races at Merritt Speedway.

The 2013 season will be Merritt Speedway’s 45th Anniversary and its 25th “Wood Tic 100″ Anniversary. We look forward to celebrating these major milestones with you this season, so come on out and experience Northern Michigan’s premiere dirt track!