MMP open, with just one race planned
By Rob McCurdy
May 24, 2010MANSFIELD -- The black flag waving over the season at Mansfield Motorsports Park has changed to green.
According to track owner Mike Dzurilla, the half-mile oval will be open in 2010 and the push to expand the facility with a drag strip remains unchanged.
"We never closed. We just lost our races," he said. "Right now we're still going forward with the ARCA race. That's the only event we're going to do. The flea markets are still on for Saturdays, but we've had rain on four of five and Saturday looks like it will be another rainout."
For the second straight year, the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 -- the 10th of 20 races on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Re/Max and Menards -- will be in Mansfield on July 17. The race is promoted by Joe Mattioli.
Kevin Ruic, a contracted promoter from northern Ohio, said Thursday he got a call from Dzurilla on Wednesday night telling him he would not be opening for 2010. Dzurilla did not return messages the News Journal left at his office and on his cell phone Thursday.
Ruic was bringing two holiday monster truck and thrill shows to MMP and promoting four regional touring late model races and a supermodified race. As promoter, Ruic called the affected sanctioning bodies to say their races in Mansfield were called off.
"My job was to give him a successful season, and this season was going to be a success with the schedule. It was going to be a great year," Ruic said. "As of this very moment, I have no idea why he closed it. I hope he opens up and has a successful season."
Dzurilla said he again has to fight the perception he's closing.
"When I pulled out of the NASCAR (Truck Series) race and USAR (Hooter Pro Cup Series) and ASA closed their doors (at the end of 2008), the perception was we were closed, but that wasn't the case. We just didn't have any more races to hold."
Mattioli came forward last year in need of a place to host an ARCA race that used to be held in Tennessee but lost its home. Besides ARCA, the track also hosted a street stockers national race and a Labor Day weekend thrill show in 2009.
"It took Joe and I a lot of time last year to convince people we aren't closed," Dzurilla said. "I'm still here in Ohio and I'm still at the office today."
Dzurilla and Mattioli will meet with ARCA officials this weekend at Toledo Speedway for the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care. They will discuss the July event in Mansfield.
As for the expansion of the facility to include a drag strip and more motor sports-related amenities, Dzurilla said he's as committed to it today as ever. The chore is coming up with the $7 million to $9 million needed to complete the project, which was started three years ago.
He said a potential deal for a bank loan with Ohio Department of Development backing was scuttled last weekend. That means he's back to square one.
"I still believe in Phase 2, and this is the right time to buy," he said. "I'm all in. I'm in 100 percent. I'm serious about this. This isn't a toy."
Dzurilla said the latest flap will not help him or the track.
"I don't know how much this is going to hurt me. Right now, it's a very unsettling time," he said. "But I'm still here."
rmccurdy@nncogannett.com
419-521-7241
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