Quaker City Raceway sold at auction

By D.A. Wilkinson

wilkinson@vindy.com

SALEM

Quaker City Raceway will continue under new management.

Dan Swindell, the owner, sold most of his property at an auction.

Norman Fox, the owner of Fox Auto Salvage & Parts in Malvern, bought the property for $460,000.

Fox said Wednesday one of his children was trying to create a new web site for the strip. The new name is Quaker City Motorsports Park.

He said he may create new entrances off of state Route 62 or state Route 165.

He said he would also fix problems with the men’s restroom and give the strip “a little bit of freshening up.” He said he would also improve a play area for kids.

Fox said he planned to meet with the drag strip staff and get their ideas.

Swindell, who had run the racetrack for 11 years, had tried for years to sell the property at 10359 West South Range Road with no success.

Swindell said he sold 160 of the 182 acres. He kept his house, shops, a barn, and an oil well.

He also kept buildings where for storage of boats and other vehicles during the winter.

Still, he said, “It’s time to kick back.”

He said he had no regrets.

“I want to thank everyone who came to participate and a group of dedicated employees,” he said.

The land that was purchased by Fox is part of a referendum that will be on the November ballot in Salem. Mayor Jerry Wolford was the agent for an annexation of land in Perry Township in Columbiana County and Green Township in Mahoning County.

Although a court approved the annexation of the 99 acres, residents successfully circulated petitions to have placed it on the ballot.