Utah State University - » Miller Motorsports Park racers and businesses feeling anxious

Miller Motorsports Park racers and businesses feeling anxious

February 10th, 2016 Posted in Sports

By Brian Petty

The decision to put the sale of Miller Motorsports Park on hold has racers and business owners feeling anxious about the future.

“I think we are all a little worried,” said Rhett Panter, a patron of Miller Motorsports Park since its opening in 2006. “We just want what’s best for the community and whatever is going to keep the track open and available for everyone.”

In mid-December, District Judge Robert Adkins put the sale of Miller Motorsports Park on hold. The offer that was accepted from the purchasing company, known as Mitime Utah Investment, was much lower than other offers.

Little regarding the park’s future has transpired in public since the ruling, though, and some local racers are reasoning it doesn’t matter who owns the part so long as new owner shares the Miller vision.

“I would like to see it go in the same direction Miller’s dream has always been,” said Travis Byington, a racer at Miller since 2014. “Open for the public and great spectator sports. The kind of stuff you don’t get to see anywhere else. It’s a matter of the long-term goals of the company. I support whoever as long as it is in the best interest of the public and the community.”

The racetrack has a large impact on Tooele County and much of the surrounding area, especially businesses like Raceco, which helps drivers design, build and maintain their vehicles.

 

“Raceco’s livelihood is based on the track,” Byington said. “Their future has been up in the air because of what has been happening. People could very well see a change in their community from the loss.”

Even with an uncertain future, the 2016 schedule is full of racing events. The racetrack brings people from all over the country to its facilities.

“I choose to race at Miller because of how welcoming they are,” said Cliff Schuldt, a racer from Idaho. “The staff has taught my father and I so much. They treat everyone like one big family no matter how inexperienced you might be.”

“It is one of the nicest facilities in America,” Panter said. “It’s like going to Disneyland. Everyone has a smile on their face. They want it to be memorable and they want you to come back. You don’t have to be a car enthusiast to enjoy it.”

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-mdl