Ease dropping on a conversation led to a report that the track has since denied
A week long show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has just concluded in Greenwood, Nebraska. I-80 Speedway payed out over a half-million in purse money over the course of the five day show.
The track is a 4/10-mile dirt oval. It’s become a fan favorite.
On Saturday, the week ended with an 80-lap race paying $53,000 to the winner. Kyle Bronson raced Chase Junghans for the lead and Bronson grabbed the large pay day victory.
The Silver Dollar is the second-highest purse for the entire LOLMDS schedule. Only the $100,000 to win Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park pays more to win a feature.
A day after the checkered flag fell, a report was posted about the current owner’s plans to sell the track.
Related: Silver Dollar Nationals results from July 24, 2021 – $53k to win (Lucas Late Models)
Joe Kosiski
I-80 Speedway opened in 1994. Land Developers Inc purchased the property in 2004. Joe Kosiski and his brother Steve remain the owner/operators of the facility.
After the races, the Journal Star used the following quotes to print a story about the track closing in 2022.
“This will be the end of it,” Kosiski was quoted in the Journal Star. “That’s what hurts me the most, because I love this place. I love it with all my heart, I love the fans, I love the racers. How can I be happy (to see it shut down)?”
Related: I-80 Speedway promoter Joe Kosiski talks the big money payouts for Silver Dollar Nationals
“I’ve given years between me being a racer for the fans and being a track owner or promoter for the fans, so it’s time. I have to do some things for my wife and Steve has to do some things for his wife, and we both want to go be a fan for a few years before we get too old.”
Kosiski can regularly be found at various race tracks with the family packed into the RV. Every time I’ve been to the North/South 100, he’s also been there, making the trek from Nebraska to Kentucky.
“This is the greatest racetrack in the Midwest,” he said. “I don’t want to get rid of it, but … how do they say it? When the old man upstairs tells you it’s time, and we’re starting to feel like it’s time.”
Track denies the report
On Monday night, the track posted via it’s social media account that the track is not being sold. At least, there’s nothing signed.
The track commented, “Wow, way to add your own words there @journal star!! The only quote by Joe which is the same quote he has given at many pit meetings is that there are people interested but nothing is complete.”
“Don’t you think if the track was officially closing after 2022 we would have announced it OURSELVES last night with our grandstands packed??? Instead some … journalist ease dropped on a personal conversation Joe was having with his friend about wanting to spend time with his family in his old age and spun the words to his liking to be the, first to report.”
They added, “We can’t even get the journal star to cover our events why in the heck would we give them this??? IF AND WHEN THE TRACK SELLS AND THE FINAL RACE IS SET YOU WILL HEAR IT HERE FIRST!”
The post above confirms that the current owners are exploring options of a sale with people interested in buying the property. However, no sale have been finalized or confirmed.
East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Florida is another fan favorite for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. That track also plans to close, in 2024.
Related: East Bay Raceway Park to be sold in 2024
