Motordrome Speedway

Affordable family night out at Motordrome Speedway

by Karen Fetter

If you want an affordable family night out while enjoying one of America’s top-rated sports, then Motordrome Speedway in Smithton is what you are looking for! Beginning April 8 through September, there will be races every Friday night. Get together with family and friends and go see community racers compete.

“It’s an exciting three hours of fun.” said Red Miley, president of the Motordrome Speedway. “A family of four can have a great night out for easily under $50.00.” Miley also owns Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway near Pittsburgh Airport along Route 22.

The gates open at 5:30 pm and races begin at 7:30 pm. All concessions are family priced and people can bring their own drinks and food. Parking is also free. And the location is easy to find and to get to – it’s exit 49 on I70. There is a race every Friday night from April through September. Visit www.motordromespeedway.com for more race specifics.

• All concessions are family priced
• Free parking
• Food and beverages permitted inside of track

The track is a ½ mile asphalt oval. There are six divisions of race cars. Beginning with the most advanced is NAPA Late Models, Davies Ford Pro Trucks, SMAIL Pontiac GMC Modifieds, Subway Street Stocks, Yellow Book Chargers, and the Advance Auto Parts American Flyers. Each division runs a preliminary heat race which is about 8-15 laps in length. Then the main event is the feature race which is about 10-40 laps, with the most advance racers racing the most laps. Winners receive the purse money that is supplied from the Speedway. So come see great races with:

• NAPA Late Models
• Davies Ford Pro Trucks
• SMAIL Pontiac GMC Modifieds
• Subway Street Stocks
• Yellowbook Chargers
• Advance Auto Parts American Flyers

“Many people do not realize that most of the race teams are local teams all ranging from within 30 miles. Racing is their hobby and they bring their entire family to the track,” said Miley. “I stand at the gate and shake hands and say hello to everyone leaving. Most people’s first reaction to a race is Wow!”

There is always something fun planned for a night at the races at Motordrome Speedway in Smithton. In July there will be a race car box race where children dress up like a race car and race each other by age group. After running one lap they would change their shoes as if they had to change their tires, and then stop for a drink as if they were refueling. Miley said he looks forward to hosting the event.

There is a lot of history behind the Motordrome Speedway. It originally started in 1972 when Floyd "Butch" and Pearl Overly purchased a 51 acre farm near Smithton just off exit 23 of Interstate 70. They moved 300,000 yards of dirt in building the new "Motordrome 70 Speedway." The track opened for the first day of racing on May 28, 1972 and featured a full half mile dirt (sand loame clay) track. The new track was 80 feet wide all the way around with the turns banked at a fantastic 18 degrees. The first feature winners were Late Model driver Herb Scott and Semi-Late driver Don Masi.
Then in 1981 Bruce and Nancy Rhinehart took over the operation of the race track. The Motordrome kept a dirt track until 1989. At this time the Overly's maintained ownership of the facility while the Rhinehart's continued as the Track Promoters. According to Miley, 1990 brought about an amazing transformation for Motordrome 70 Speedway. The Westmoreland county race track was purchased from the Overly's by six investors with diversified business backgrounds. Three of the new owners, Dan White, Bob Arsenberger, and Bill Krause, had at least 58 years of racing experience between them. The other investors include Ted Beahr, Kenneth Keslar, and Dale May.
The second change was the conversion from dirt track to asphalt track. Other improvements included relocating the pit area to the infield and the redesigning the old pit area into a drive-in theater style parking for fans to view the races from their automobiles. A new lighting system was installed for improved visibility for night time racing. Also completed were the construction of new restroom facilities, the addition of hospitality suites, a new public address system, the repair and addition of more seating, and the concession stands.
Also with the new asphalt track allowed Motordrome Speedway to become a part of the NASCAR sanctioned Weekly Racing Series. This made Motordrome the Tri State area's second NASCAR sanctioned asphalt track, teamed up with Jennerstown Speedway.
The Motordrome Speedway in Smithton stays involved with the community and Westmoreland County. Miley said that he works with non profits and churches to promote community events such as the Yough School District and the Smithton Fire Department. The Motordrome also pays an amusement tax to South Huntingdon.

“Our business is a financial draw to the community. People who come will stay in hotels and eat at restaurants,” said Miley. “I love being in Westmoreland County and we want to continue our involvement in the community,” said Miley.

Start to make your Friday nights a night at the races and visit the Motordrome Speedway!

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