Veteran NHRA drag racer Kenny Koretsky and his family, including sons Kenny, Jr. and current Pro Stock competitor Kyle, finalized an agreement this week to acquire the iconic Maple Grove Raceway near Reading, Pennsylvania. The longtime Northeast venue, opened in 1962 in the quaint heart of Amish country in the eastern part of the state, has been actively seeking new ownership for a number of years. As reported by Dragzine, various parties had entertained purchasing the property, but none had materialized before the Koretsky’s scooted to the table.

Koretsky, a business entrepreneur with real estate development holdings in multiple states, as well as gravel pit quarries, concrete crushing operations, and even the Nitro Fish racing apparel brand to his resume, will provide racers and fans in the region with the continuity they sought, at one of the sport’s most recognizable and historic facilities.

“It’s still kind of a surreal feeling,” Kyle Koretsky said. “Our family bought a facility we’ve been going to our entire lives and doing what we love to do. We see this as a huge business opportunity, and we’re looking to grow the business and give the racers a great experience. We’ve got a lot of great ideas and we’re looking forward to this.”

The Koretsky family sees this as a unique opportunity to build on the 30-plus years of history and remarkable performances that have taken place at one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit. The track is surrounded by trees and boasts a wonderful, scenic backdrop for the massive fanbase in the area. It’s also been the longtime hometown track for the Koretsky family and as track owners, they’re eager to do their part to add to the legacy that’s already been built at the track.

“I grew up racing there and I watched everyone race at the track. I have so many good memories there, from racing Jr. Dragster growing up to racing Pro Stock there for the first time last year,” Koretsky said. “It’s such a cool atmosphere being out in the country. You come up over that hill and see the track and it’s just so cool. It’s going to be a lot of time and commitment, but this is a dream come true for our family.

“The fans in that area are diehard fans. They love drag racing, especially Pro Stock. It’s a great facility, the track is fast and it’s just a great vibe when you roll over that hill and get to the track. We just want to continue to enhance that experience for everyone.”

Kyle says his family will immediately begin making several renovations to the facility, including general clean up, landscaping, paving, and upgrading the bathrooms. They will also look to make continuous upgrades and improvements to Maple Grove Raceway with the hope to make it an overall entertainment destination for fans.

“The sky is the limit,” Koretsky said. “You look at some of those historical pictures on the wall at the track and it’s something we just want to continue from generation to generation. We’ve got a lot of big ideas. It’s such a family-friendly environment at the track and we’re really looking forward to this opportunity.”

Under the guidance of its new owners, Maple Grove will host the NHRA Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil September 15-18. The facility has a strong schedule beyond its national event, as well, including an upcoming stop on the Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings tour, along with the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the PDRA, the long-running Pennsylvania Dutch Classic, and a full slate of bracket racing, test-and-tune, and special events.