MEMBERSHIP LOGIN
JOIN PRI
Mike Blackmer Purchases Merritt Speedway
Image
Mike Blackmer, the former promoter of Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan, and more recently a car owner in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, purchased Merritt Speedway in time for the 2015 racing season. Blackmer, who owns the Pines Sports Bar & Bowling Center in Cadillac, Michigan, and is a partner at Boyne Machine Company as well as owning several businesses throughout Michigan, will now call the shots at the Lake City, Michigan, speed plant and plans on continuing the tradition of Saturday night dirt track racing in northern Michigan.
“This is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” stated Blackmer, 52. “When I promoted Berlin, it was so different because I didn’t actually own the facility. With this purchase, it’s a complete turn-key operation as I will own everything associated with Merritt Speedway. Plus it’ll be completely paid for. There will be no worries about a monthly payment on the track, I own it completely and 100% and that is huge, which in turn means I can focus more on the drivers in terms of purses as well as facility upgrades.”
In 2014, Blackmer and his Boyne Machine Racing Team raced in the ARCA/CRA Super Series with Ross Kenseth, the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth. At the end of the season, Blackmer sold the entire racing operation to Boris Jurkovic, which allowed Blackmer to make an offer on the race track.
Known as Northern Michigan’s Premier Dirt Track, Merritt Speedway is a fast 3/8s (0.375) semi-banked dirt oval located west of Houghton Lake on Houghton Lake Road off of US 127 and just 30 minutes east of Cadillac in Lake City, Michigan. The track was built in 1968 by Gene and Mary Ann Kregear, who turned their ‘back 40′ into a race track to have some fun with during the summer. In 1979, Gene and Mary Ann sold the track to Phil Fuller who ran it for two years.
It was in 1981 when Ed and Carmen VanDuinen bought Merritt Speedway and began the process of bringing the track to prominence in the world of dirt track racing in Michigan. In 2006, the VanDuinen’s leased the track to brothers; Rod and Ricky Ancel and the Ancel’s would become the promoters in 2009 and stayed at the track until the 2012 season. In 2013, the track came back to the family as Steve and Potter, the son-in-law and daughter of Ed and Carmen VanDuinen were the new promoters. At the end of 2014, the Potter’s stepped back from their roles and Carmen VanDuinen put the track up for sale.
Merritt Speedway has hosted such major events as the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, Sprints on Dirt and more, along with the traditional Wood Tic 100 Weekend. During the 2014 racing season, the Track Champions were; David Hilliker – Late Models, Andrew Terrill – Modifieds, Tom Hunt Jr. – Lightning Sprints, Mike Nelson Jr. – Pro Trucks, T.J. Erickson – Pro Stocks, Rick Stewart – Factory Stocks and Brendan Powell – Four-Cylinders.
“The Wood Tic 100 is the one event I’m really looking forward to hosting. I hope to continue that tradition and keep it growing to make it one of the premier race weekends in the state of Michigan,” added Blackmer. “We have some big plans for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to get started.”
Some of the innovations Blackmer spearheaded at Berlin Raceway while he was there from 2008-2011, that are still in use today, include the Template Super Late Model Series, which boasts 25-30 cars a week, the Modified division, double-file restarts, the Rowdy 251, now the Battle at Berlin 251 and several modifications within the infield of the Marne, Michigan, oval.
As for the 2015 season at Merritt, rules, schedule and divisions that will be racing and much more will all be announced at a later date. There will be a Meet and Greet at the Pines Sports Bar & Bowling Alley with a targeted date in February, which will be announced soon.
For more information about Merritt Speedway, go to the soon to be revamped website located at: www.merrittspeedwaymi.com.
“This is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” stated Blackmer, 52. “When I promoted Berlin, it was so different because I didn’t actually own the facility. With this purchase, it’s a complete turn-key operation as I will own everything associated with Merritt Speedway. Plus it’ll be completely paid for. There will be no worries about a monthly payment on the track, I own it completely and 100% and that is huge, which in turn means I can focus more on the drivers in terms of purses as well as facility upgrades.”
In 2014, Blackmer and his Boyne Machine Racing Team raced in the ARCA/CRA Super Series with Ross Kenseth, the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth. At the end of the season, Blackmer sold the entire racing operation to Boris Jurkovic, which allowed Blackmer to make an offer on the race track.
Known as Northern Michigan’s Premier Dirt Track, Merritt Speedway is a fast 3/8s (0.375) semi-banked dirt oval located west of Houghton Lake on Houghton Lake Road off of US 127 and just 30 minutes east of Cadillac in Lake City, Michigan. The track was built in 1968 by Gene and Mary Ann Kregear, who turned their ‘back 40′ into a race track to have some fun with during the summer. In 1979, Gene and Mary Ann sold the track to Phil Fuller who ran it for two years.
It was in 1981 when Ed and Carmen VanDuinen bought Merritt Speedway and began the process of bringing the track to prominence in the world of dirt track racing in Michigan. In 2006, the VanDuinen’s leased the track to brothers; Rod and Ricky Ancel and the Ancel’s would become the promoters in 2009 and stayed at the track until the 2012 season. In 2013, the track came back to the family as Steve and Potter, the son-in-law and daughter of Ed and Carmen VanDuinen were the new promoters. At the end of 2014, the Potter’s stepped back from their roles and Carmen VanDuinen put the track up for sale.
Merritt Speedway has hosted such major events as the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, Sprints on Dirt and more, along with the traditional Wood Tic 100 Weekend. During the 2014 racing season, the Track Champions were; David Hilliker – Late Models, Andrew Terrill – Modifieds, Tom Hunt Jr. – Lightning Sprints, Mike Nelson Jr. – Pro Trucks, T.J. Erickson – Pro Stocks, Rick Stewart – Factory Stocks and Brendan Powell – Four-Cylinders.
“The Wood Tic 100 is the one event I’m really looking forward to hosting. I hope to continue that tradition and keep it growing to make it one of the premier race weekends in the state of Michigan,” added Blackmer. “We have some big plans for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to get started.”
Some of the innovations Blackmer spearheaded at Berlin Raceway while he was there from 2008-2011, that are still in use today, include the Template Super Late Model Series, which boasts 25-30 cars a week, the Modified division, double-file restarts, the Rowdy 251, now the Battle at Berlin 251 and several modifications within the infield of the Marne, Michigan, oval.
As for the 2015 season at Merritt, rules, schedule and divisions that will be racing and much more will all be announced at a later date. There will be a Meet and Greet at the Pines Sports Bar & Bowling Alley with a targeted date in February, which will be announced soon.
For more information about Merritt Speedway, go to the soon to be revamped website located at: www.merrittspeedwaymi.com.
