I would like to take this time to thank everyone that has been a part of Five Mile Point Speedway for the past 73 years. We've ...

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Five Mile Point Speedway

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I would like to take this time to thank everyone that has been a part of Five Mile Point Speedway for the past 73 years. We've had tons of questions about this year, the future and beyond. We have tried to answer those questions honestly with the limited information that we really have had.

After a conversation with the buyer/developer earlier today we were informed that there will not be any racing in 2024 at Five Mile Point Speedway. This Saturday looks to be the final race.

We have not been able to give any real clarity on things until now. In our sale agreement we did have the first right to run racing events if that was a direction they wanted to go. They do not. Understandably, they want to focus all of their efforts on moving forward with development plans for the property. Those plans will not include racing.

Last year at this time I had made peace with the fact that I thought we were done racing. It was a terribly difficult decision after spending a lifetime at Five Mile Point Speedway myself. I said to anyone that would listen that I was happy the way the final race weekend went last year and could live with that being my own personal final memory. It was a weekend of sadness and reminiscing and fond memories for all of us in attendance.

This past March we held our banquet. We put together a beautiful color yearbook that we handed out to everyone that attended. We had zero expectation that we were going to be running any races this year at that time.

When April came around everything came to a halt with the zoning and process of the sale of the property. We literally became aware that running races was an option eight days prior to the first event that we held. As Saturday's were no longer an option, we felt that we could run some Sunday special races to maintain the track zoning and hopefully create some more fond memories for our teams and fans. I hope that we did that.

I look back on this year with mixed emotions. Part of me wishes that we hadn't run in 2023 as again last year's finale ended on a high note. A much larger part of me however is glad that we ran races. We were able to raise some money with collections for people that were in need at different times this season. We had several first-time winners in different classes and many people captured life-long memories with these extra races. I guess we will have to look at this year as a bonus for all of us.

Personally, last year I had all season to prepare for what I thought was going to be the last race. It gave me time to absorb it all. Learning today that 2024 is not an option truly hits hard and abruptly as I'm sure it does for everyone reading. A part of me is somewhat relieved to at least have some clarity on all of it and to finally be able to have an answer for everyone that asks. The overwhelming feeling I have now is profound sadness.

We would like to say that the buyer/developer has been nothing but professional and courteous with us throughout this process. With the ever-changing landscape and re-engineering and things they have done to make their project potentially work they worked with us. They enabled us to be able to have this 73rd race season. They didn't have to do that. As more delays occurred on zoning and things out of our control, we thought maybe there was a chance that 2024 may be a possibility. It is not.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your world for so many years. From a five-year old kid riding a bicycle behind the water truck (until I could no longer pedal from the mud) to today. I have loved the racing at Five Mile Point Speedway and idolized the drivers from my childhood. There will forever be a void. My grandfather Irv Heath had a vision that few could have ever imagined would have carried on for 73 years. Anna Heath kept his dream alive after his passing in 1965. We were able to provide 19 more years of memories after her passing. Thank you to "mom" for allowing all of us that.

Thank you to everyone that has been a part of the 73 - year history of Five Mile Point Speedway. Although it was owned by one family through those years, it took the contributions of thousands to make it what it has been.

- Andrew Harpell

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