NASCAR trucks series driver Rick Crawford says he is interested in buying the dormant Montgomery Motor Speedway. Crawford, who is from Mobile, said he considered submitting a bid during an auction of the track property last month but decided against it. The half-mile asphalt track didn’t sell during the auction and Crawford said Tuesday that he is still interested. “I looked into it but I didn’t pursue it,” Crawford said of the auction, which failed to produce a bid that met the minimum price. “My ultimate goal when I retire is to own a race track,” he said, adding he would prefer to own Mobile Speedway. He said he made an offer on the Mobile track but the owner was not interested in selling at the time. “The wheels are turning but I’m not as interested in Montgomery Speedway as I would be if Mobile Speedway was available,” he said. (Everything Alabama.com)(6-12-2008)
UPDATE: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Rick Crawford has reached an agreement in principal to buy the half-mile track, according to Doug Carwyle, a local businessman who helped broker the deal. The only stipulation to the sale is that the city of Montgomery grant a license allowing the track to hold races. Kevin Radvany, who handles public relations for Crawford’s race team, said track representatives will make the request with the city licensing board July 17. “Outside of that one thing, it’s a done deal,” said Carwyle, who is expected to help manage the track once Crawford takes ownership. “Rick and (current owner) Bill Manfull have agreed on the price. Rick sent the retainer — $50,000 — to the auction company. All that’s left is getting that license. If that happens, we go back racing.” Carwyle said Crawford, a Mobile native who is currently fifth in the Craftsman Truck Series points standings, has been involved in the sale of MMS since the auction a month ago. Radvany said Crawford’s purchase of the track would have no effect on his participation in the Truck Series. “This is no different than Tony Stewart owning Eldora Speedway (a small dirt track in Ohio),” Radvany said. “This is something Rick has always said he wanted to do.”(Montgomery Advertiser)(6-24-2008)
UPDATE 2: The sale of Montgomery Motor Speedway might be in trouble. A group of approximately 25 to 30 homeowners, all of whom own property located near MMS, have hired an attorney and plan to argue against potential new owner Rick Crawford being issued a license that would allow him to hold racing events at the track. Should they be successful in blocking the issuance of the license, it would kill the sale of MMS. “In simple terms, my clients don’t want the racetrack operational again,” said Montgomery attorney Doyle Fuller, who is representing the group of homeowners. “There are a number of problems. There are literally hundreds of people negatively affected if this license is granted.” Crawford, a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, said there are solutions to most of the problems and that he would be willing to work with the homeowners. Crawford said if the city failed to issue a license to him on Thursday, he was moving on. “This is my dream — to own a track like this and do something good for a community,” he said. “If this passes, Montgomery will be proud of this track. We’ll do it right and it will be something that could help revive a part of town that really needs it. “But I’m not going to fight. There’s some other place out there that wants what I’m offering. I’m a good neighbor. I do things right. I hope that’s good enough for Montgomery.”(Montgomery Advisor)(7-16-2008)
UPDATE 3: On Thursday evening [July 17th], Rick Crawford met with the Montgomery Licensing Board along with local constituency in attendance regarding the proposed reopening of MMS. The Licensing Board did not make a final determination on whether to issue the operating license to Crawford, instead opting to hold the matter over for further consideration to be addressed at their next meeting in approximately 30 days.(7-18-2008)
UPDATE 4: In the wake of the decision, or lack of a decision, from the Board of Adjustments for the City of Montgomery, Ala., Rick Crawford has decided not pursue the purchase of Montgomery Motor Speedway. “It is still my dream to own a race track but I want do it without confrontation, ” said Crawford. “I appreciate the support that the racing community in Montgomery gave to me and I hope that racing will return to Montgomery in the near future.” (Circle Bar Racing PR)(7-24-2008)
