Sandusky Speedway Has Plenty of Potential

Imagine leaving Cedar Point or the Lake Erie Islands and heading to a car race, that’s the potential that Sandusky Speedway has. Imagine a showplace where local, regional and national stars can gather and race together at a historic race track. It takes alot of imagination, but that’s what Duke and Rhonda Thorson of ThorSport Racing could do with the historic facility. As of the writing of this article, no plans have been announced for the property, which sold for a reported $1.1 Million at auction in late October.

Motor Racing Network commentator and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host Dave Moody believes Thorson purchasing the speedway property is a good thing. “Good news. Duke and Rhonda love racing and are the last people I would expect to bulldoze a race track.” Moody commented on a Facebook post last week.

Given his track record of building beautiful buildings including turning a former meat packing plant into the state of the art race shop for six time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship team ThorSport Racing and the stunning ThorSport Farm. If Thorson wants to have a race track it will surely be a showplace.

And the bones are there for Sandusky to become a destination race track, nestled in the region known as “America’s Vacationland” just minutes from Cedar Point and less than a half hour from the Lake Erie Shores and Islands region, the half mile track has the potential to grab many fans from the hundreds of thousands of tourists in the area during the racing season. While the facility would need a complete rebuild, the track itself is in good condition. It would take a massive undertaking, one similar to what Mansfield Speedway went through between 2002 and 2003 or what Owosso Speedway is currently undergoing to bring the facility up to today’s standards, but Thorson is no stranger to massive projects, rebuilding his shop nearly ten years ago after a fire damaged much of the interior. Another option would be to do like North Wilkesboro Speedway did, keeping the old school charm of the track while updating the amenities. If there ever was a perfect person for this type of project it would be Duke Thorson.

Owosso Speedway Photo courtesy of Levi Photography

The investment would be massive, atleast ten million dollars and that’s being conservative. The Speedway would need all new structures, new bathrooms, new grandstands and suites along with all new lighting and wiring around the facility. The track would require new walls, new fencing, and new safety lighting. Other than the physical asphalt half mile, the track would require a complete rebuild in order to attract top series to the facility. Construction of a pit road in the infield would come with a sizable price tag.

Battle of the Harvicks CRA Jegs All Star Tour at Owosso Speedway. Photo courtesy of Koty Geyer (KG Media)

A benefit to Thorson owning a race track is that the facility could essentially be a testing facility for his ThorWorks businesses that includes Sealmaster, Farm Paint, Sealbest and other paving and coating brands. Having a proving ground right behind the manufacturing facility opens opportunities to do research and development of new products, however the facility could not serve as a test track for the ThorSport racing team as NASCAR rules prohibit testing at any facility outside of tire tests and NASCAR open tests.

Racing is not all of what Sandusky Speedway could be, the facility could be built up to host concerts, graduations and other entertainment options like rodeos, carnivals and festivals along with summer camping and more. All right in the shadows of Cedar Point’s rollercoasters and thrill rides.

What Thorson could bring is a national NASCAR race back to the state of Ohio, which last hosted the Craftsman Truck Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in 2023, a race dominated by Thorson’s drivers before a late battle handed the lead and win to Corey Heim. Ohio has hosted 14 Craftsman Truck Series races in the past with Mansfield hosting the series from 2004-2008, Eldora Speedway hosting from 2013-2019 and Mid-Ohio hosting in 2022 and 2023.

Mansfield Speedway hosted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2004-2008 with crowds in excess of 20,000 at each race

Imagine a track where Ohio Pro Compact Champion Dylan Napier could race on the same track that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Ty Majeski raced on the week before or a track that could host the up and coming stars of tomorrow that race in the ARCA Menards Series East one week and host the Outlaw 350 Supermodifieds the next week, giving fans the opportunity to see various racing series and the rising stars of motorsports, that’s something that Daytona, Indianapolis and Michigan can’t offer and it would position Sandusky in the national spotlight, along with the local and regional stars. While a weekly racing program wouldn’t necessarily pay the bills it would create a consistent schedule for the track to be running and give locals and tourists a chance to check out the revamped track.

A revamped Sandusky Speedway would need to be active in the community, much like Thorson does with his open house events at ThorSport Racing. Donations to the community, a sense of community pride in the track and race team would be incredible to see. Thorson is the man to do it, if he wants to.

Toledo Speedway hosts the ASA STARS National Tour annually at the Glass City 200, a fan favorite event for Toledo race fans

So, what could a revamped Sandusky Speedway schedule look like? It would take a year or two to gain the trust of the community and to earn a sanction from NASCAR for a Craftsman Truck Series race. In the meantime as renovations are completed, the track could play host to a multitude of regional and national series. ARCA, ASA STARS, Must See Racing Sprint Cars, 500 Sprint Cars and USAC could all be headliners. The Outlaw 350 Supermodified Series, CRA Jegs All Star Tour, Ohio Wheelman Series, Great Lakes Truck Tour and Ohio Pro Compacts could join as well. A schedule of say 12-18 events including Monster Trucks, a rodeo and a concert would make for a great launching pad for the new Sandusky Speedway.

Anything is possible, but Thorson holds the keys to the place. It’s ultimately his decision what he does with his latest purchase. One thing working for racing at the facility is that Thorson seems to love racing, he and wife Rhonda, own the longest tenured NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team, fielding five full time entries in that series. It would be hard to believe he wouldn’t want to see racing continue on at the historic Sandusky Speedway.