Network
Shelby LLC and its affiliated company, Monopoly Acquisitions, LLC, announced that it has acquired the National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio from the National Hot Rod Association. The track will be the second such property in the portfolio of Shelby LLC, operated by business partners Chris Payne and Todd Crossley, as they also purchased the Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas in December of 2015.
“The opportunity to add an additional property allows us to accelerate our growth plans within the industry. We have been aggressive with acquisitions in the past couple of years,” noted Payne. “The plan is to continue to improve Heartland Park Topeka – while completing the acquisition of National Trail Raceway by identifying and completing specific areas for facility improvements and introducing new event content.”
“We’re excited that historic National Trail Raceway will be in the hands of an experienced track group committed to continuing to invest in the facility,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA president. “Chris Payne and his team have done a great job at Heartland Park and we’re looking forward to what they will do at National Trail Raceway, which they’ll operate as an NHRA Member Track.”
Scott Gardner, President of Heartland Park Topeka and the former President of the Cordova Dragway Park and the International Hot Rod Association, will serve as the Chief Operating Officer and oversee the operational staffs at both facilities.
“It’s important that we approach this opportunity to learn as much as we can about National Trail Raceway, it’s staff, racers and sponsors and build a plan to improve on what we have.” said Gardner.
Built in 1964, National Trail served as host for the NHRA Spring Nationals for more than 30 years, from 1972 to 2006.
Under the guidance of Shelby LLC, National Trail will continue its traditional schedule that includes the Spectacle of Speed, NMRA Ford Super Nationals, McLaughlin Oil Night of Thunder, Super Chevy Show, Mopar Nationals and the Buckeye Fuel Wars NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, and the Chrysler Power Classic.
