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Thursday, November 29, 2001

By Chris Dolack, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Five months after the general manager decided to move on and the track was put up for sale, an era at Motordrome Speedway finally came to a close.

James "Red" Miley, president of Miley Motorsports, Inc., has purchased Motordrome, a half-mile asphalt oval in Smithton which participates in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge.

The Mileys, who formed their first race team in 1969, also have operated Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in Imperial since 1988.

"We are looking forward to doing some creative things, marketing-wise, with the two tracks," Miley said in a statement.

Motordrome will continue to run a Friday night program with the same divisions as the 2001 season -- late models, pro trucks, modifieds, street stocks and chargers. The charger class will compete weekly, and the Pennsylvania Legacy Series also is expected to return in 2002.

The Mileys run five divisions Saturday nights on the clay at PPMS -- late models, limited late models, e-mods, pure stocks and amateur stocks.

One of Miley's plans is to lengthen the season at Motordrome, which started in late March and ended in mid-September last season.

"Our plans are to expand the schedule at the beginning and end of the season to give the racers a few more chances to enjoy what they do," Miley said. "We are also looking to do some concerts, car swap meets, cruises and seasonal events around Halloween and Christmas. But we are racers, and the racing will be first and foremost, with the emphasis placed on our family atmosphere.

"There will be minimal rule changes with the chance of us adding some different divisions. Plus, maybe sprinkling in some special attraction races and a few demolition derbies. It will be fun."

In addition to Miley taking over the speedway, Tim Callahan was hired as marketing director for Motordrome and PPMS. Callahan has worked as everything from traffic director at WDVE and WXDX to editor of Pittsburgh PRIDE Sports Magazine.

Without a sponsor for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series since R.J. Reynolds' Winston brand was forced out after the 1999 season, Dodge stepped in earlier this month. Dodge will back a total point fund of $1.7 million for weekly racers nationwide. The 2002 season marks the 20th anniversary of the NWRS. Motordrome has featured the regional champion seven times since the 1990 season.

Motordrome's annual awards banquet Jan. 12 will serve as the opening of the next era in the track's history.